Autographs From The National - A Hockey Hall Of Famer

I know what I said.  I said no autographs.  I said I wasn't going to waste my time standing in long lines for hours on end waiting for a guy to sign something, hoping they don't quit before my turn.  But...An opportunity came my way that I couldn't pass up.  The events of the day resulted in my acquisition of two in-person autographs of important hockey figures.  The first one was a Hockey Hall of Famer.

Bill Gadsby, for those that are unaware, played in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970.  I will spare you the rote details of spewing out his story when it can be read from the source.  Check out a very good quick read biography about Bill over at the Hockey Hall Of Fame website. 

I will say this though, they don't build them like Bill anymore.  He played in an era where defensive minded hockey was key.  He was such a fierce competitor that he was willing to throw caution to the wind and sacrifice himself to protect his net.  At one point in his career, he was even better known for his broken bones, body scars, stitched up face, and various other injuries caused by his "reckless" yet effective play. 

Though he spent most of his NHL career with Chicago, he also played with the Rangers and retired with the Red Wings (even coaching them for one season).  He went out on top, too, leaving the game as the highest scoring defenseman and one of the only players to log 1,000 games (along with Gordie Howe). He also led the all-time points, games, and penalty minutes for defensemen at his retirement (and all time stitches at 600).  Unfortunately, despite all the hard work and 20+ years of service to a game he loved, he was never rewarded with a Cup.  He came close, but both teams he played on lost in the finals (once to Toronto, and another time to Montreal).

So I set out on my mission to find something for him to sign.  I must have walked around the entire floor of the National twice before I finally found someone that had something other than an 8x10.  There was a booth set up not too far from the autograph pavilion selling all sorts of memorabilia and display cases, including Detroit pucks.  I had to have one.  Next stop, find the autograph line. 

When I arrived, it was 10 minutes until signing time and there was a line of about 25 people or so in front of myself and Sal, from Puck Junk.  Or so I thought until I was informed that our line was actually behind the line to the right of us, which was also behind all the Super-Uber VIP ticket holders.  Essentially we went from 25 in line to about 200 in 9.6 seconds.  But it was definitely worth it for the experience of getting the autograph of a Hockey Hall of Famer.  Here is the awesome result.

The glare between the camera and the case sucks but the puck is fantastic.  I love how the old-timers take great care and effort in signing their names.  It makes for such a better experience knowing who signed and not needing a decoder ring to decipher someone's scribble.  Plus, he added the inscription without even being asked.  Very nice guy and a class act.

Victory Is Mine

Just when I thought there was no hope for the future, a bright light shone in the distance like a beacon.  No, I was not on a ship at sea, nor was I part of a political speech that wastes 20 minutes of my afternoon while I would have been watching Maury.  My friends...that beacon was the first card set of 2011-12. 

There is nothing I like better than when the first cards of the year hit the shelves.  We finally get to see players in their new team uniforms, we get to see the first crop of rookies that got to play at the end of last season, and we get a preview of what is to come in future releases.

The Upper Deck Victory set has always been the first set on the market each year almost since its inception. Victory is usually released in two phases.  The first comes in regular release as part of an initial 200 base + 50 rookie set.  The second will be an insert into Series 2 of the Upper Deck flagship brand.  They also have two insert sets, Game Breakers and Stars of the Game which feature all the best players from each team.

This year, Upper Deck brought back the MVP brand and instead of boxing it separate, decided to make it an insert into the Victory packs.  MVP has been away from the scene for a few years but I think it will be welcomed back considering the rate of insertion into boxes is about 18 per box.  Plus, it takes on the design more like the 2009 version rather than the same boring white border/shield design that was recycled year after year from 2005-2008.  Chasing the 100 card complete set (88 base cards, 12 rookies) will definitely give collectors a challenge.

Also, the Red & Black parallels are back.  As most collector's know, the black parallels have always been a huge hit within the hobby considering their scarcity.  This year, regular black parallels are falling 1:720 packs with rookie black parallels falling at a whopping 1:1,440 packs.  Quite a few of the black rookies from previous years can be found selling for north of $100.  Red parallels can be found only in Fat Packs (36 card double blister packs usually in retail).  Although less rare, the Red rookies can still garner a premium over their base counterparts. 

Not one to shy away from a challenge, I once again set out down the path of building this yearly staple of a set when I saw the fresh new product. 

In addition to the photos above, here are a few more for your viewing pleasure...

Base Card design

Red parallel base cards

Game Breakers

Stars Of The Game

Video Box Break - - 2001-02 Pacific Private Stock Titanium Hobby

The National is over and what a fun time it was.  I got to see lots of cool stuff, meet a lot of fun and interesting people, pick up some stuff I didn't think I would, and of course, add to my box break inventory.

All the times I have been on Atlanta Sports Cards website, filling up my cart with all sorts of boxes from an age where collecting was the farthest thing from my mind, and I never once actually completed my order.  I don't know why.  I just didn't.  Seeing that they were actually at the National show, I didn't think for one minute that they would have any of what I wanted.  Well I was wrong.  They had everything, and then some.

I've been a little burned out on new product (that's not to say I didn't get any) so I wanted to boost my collection a bit with early 00's stuff, namely 2000-01 through 2004-05.  The first box I purchased was 2001-02 Pacific Private Stock Titanium.

Not the best year for cards but the Titanium set had such a limited print run of rookie cards, that they all carry a pretty high demand and dollar value. Plus, this was a premium set at the time with only 6 packs and a "hit" in every pack. That hit is a dual sided GU jersey card of various teammates around the league.  There is also usually an insert card in each pack as well consisting of a Premier Date parallel, Hobby parallel, All Star, Rookie Team, Saturday Knights, or 3-Star Selection.

I decided to try my hand at another Video Box Break just because I am a glutton for punishment and really have no idea what I am doing.  So maybe the practice will help.  Check it out if you need to waste 12 minutes of your life on something.

I Caved Like A Chinese Coal Mine

When it comes to technology you pretty much have two choices.  You either get on the train and enjoy the ride or get left behind at the station.  With that said, I did the unthinkable the other day and posted my first ever Tweet.  It was strange.  It felt dirty.  I had to shower afterward.  But I got through it.  Why, you ask?  Well, I figured if I was ever going to make something out of myself as a blogger, or collector, or card seller, or purveyor of cardboard, or expert on something in particular of which I don't know of yet, or all of the above, I was going to have to get with the times.  So there you have it.  Short and sweet.  I'm a Twittererer-like-thingy-person now I guess.

I will be posting updates from the National show on Saturday.  If I enjoy it, I may continue.  If it seems like work.  Well, you know the rest.

If you'd like to follow me, although I have no idea why you would, you can click the link over on the right side of this page or I guess my handle (is that what it's called?) is @therealdfg.

Tomorrow is garbage day...and the first day of the NATIONAL!!

It is.  Wednesday's are garbage days.  Except when there is a holiday prior to the Wednesday.  Then it falls on Thursday.  Which if you ask me, screws everything up because it is one more bag to go to the curb on one week and one less the next.  Speaking of garbage day, I can't forget to take those boxes we got from Costco out to....

Oh, you aren't here to listen to talk about garbage?  Me neither.

Tomorrow is the first day of the National Sports Card Collector's Convention held this year at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, just outside of Chicago.  Don't forget the "E" or else you will be at a different convention center where this years NAMBLA convention is being held.  Rather than waste your time speaking about what is on tap for this years show, I will point your attention here for more information. 

As some of you are already aware, I finally broke my silence on the subject yesterday and gave the world exactly what they have been waiting for...the confirmation that I will be in attendance on Saturday.  I know, I know.  Hold your applause.  While up until yesterday I was kind of indifferent to the whole thing, after making my decision something changed.  The adrenaline started flowing I think and the ideas of what wonders await me began to consume my thoughts.  What would I pick up?  What would I get to see?  Will I participate in any redemption programs?  Will I get autographs?  Will I go into a coma from the shock of 850,000 square feet of cardboard paradise (or high blood sugar)?  I don't know.

I think one thing that has gotten me back on the right track is the fact that these shows are always a good place to meet other collectors.  There are at least three other bloggers that I regularly communicate with that I will be meeting up with at some point over the weekend to do some real live trading.  I will most definitely be blogging about those later on.  Also, there are quite a few others out there in the cyber-card land that will be attending the event that I plan on seeking out, some with their own booths including Card Connection Radio and Freedom Cardboard.  If you are going to the show and haven't already let me know about it, drop me a line and if you are there on Saturday, maybe we can meet in person and talk some shop, maybe even trade if you let me know ahead of time.  That is probably my favorite part of this whole experience. 

Since I am in prep mode at this point, it is always wise when attending a show of this size to have a game plan.  Since I only have about 6-7 solid hours of time on Saturday to do my thing, I have plotted out my goal (although it will probably be tossed out the window within the first 10 minutes).  3 things I plan to avoid to save time/money...

1.  I'm going to pass on the autograph guests.  There are too many good signers there that I can't decide which is the one I want the most so I choose none of the above.  That saves me money, for one and time standing in long lines.

2.  Next are the strictly memorabilia booths and tables.  "Hey, that's cool" or "Whoa, look at that" may be uttered a time or two but I'm skipping them if at all possible.  I'd love to have some nice mounted posters, old school pennants, framed artwork, signed equipment etc. but the reality is I have no space to call my own in order to display them.  I have had a 75th Anniversary lithograph of the Steelers for what seems like six years that is still in a tube without a frame, two All-Penguin and All-Steeler Team Card Displays that aren't properly hung, and a few baseballs and pucks that need a home.  Despite the "Coolness" of all of it, I have other business to attend to.

3.  The manufacturer booths.  Again, unless there is simply something I can't live without, I'm walking.  I did want to participate in at least the Panini wrapper redemption promotion so I may have to seek out something off their lists but the other guys do nothing for me.  That means you Topps, Upper Deck, Tristar.  Beckett...you are pretty much dead to me so I will pass all together just as I do at all the Sun-Times shows.  Supply dealers, if you are there and I'm sure you will be, I have already found my bastion for cheap holders/boxes/albums so I doubt you will draw me in with your siren song.

So with those out of the way, that leaves my goals. I only have four.  We will see how this turns out.

1.  2 boxes.  I always look for 2 boxes of something.  That's not to say I only will get 2 boxes, but 2 is my goal.  I have pretty much overdid it with 2010-11 products so chances are I will be looking for something older unless I find something with a rock bottom price.  I'm thinking something in the way of ITG from a few years back and maybe some early 2000s hockey if it exists.  Pre-2005 hockey is sometimes hard to come by at shows unless of course you are talking early 90s, which I'm not, ever. 

2.  5 cards for each of my main player collections.  Yes I said 5...each.  That's 15 cards that I need for all three of my main hockey player collections including Jagr, Guerin, and Lemieux.  When you think about it, that isn't unreasonable for a show this size.  Someone has got to have something I need.  As for my other player collections, if I get something, so be it.  If not, it isn't high on my priority list.

3.  At least one autograph or memorabilia card for each of my Pittsburgh team collections.  This goal usually spirals out of control and I end up with more than one or two or ten.  Last big show, I picked up 15 TTM/in person on-card Penguin autographs...23 total if you include the manufacturer obtained ones.  I think I should be able to get a few Steeler and Pirates this time around.

4.  Sell something.  I know this one is almost like trying to find a unicorn in a field of barbed wire but I need to do something.  What better place to make an attempt than with an audience of thousands of collectors and dealers.  I don't anticipate enormous success on this one but I am going to try.  I just need some strategery in setting this one up.  Since I don't possess a Bryce Harper Super Duper Auto Refractarama Chrome Zygote Relic card to sell, it's going to take something rare and unusual to get at least the dealers that claim to buy interested.  I really need to think this one through between now and Saturday.

One things for sure.  I can hardly wait.

Oh, and PS...I actually may Tweet this little event if my phone holds up.  Since I have an account, might as well use it, right.  It's over on the right if you want to check it out.

Saturday National, Sunday International?

So Saturday it is.  After months of speculation and conjecture regarding the subject, I have finally decided to grace the National with my presence.  I was on the fence about the whole thing for the last few months.  At the last Sun-Times show at the Rosemont in Chicago I was all gung-ho about the whole thing, being that it would be my first National since 1992 or 1993 I think, whichever year was in Chicago.  It was the first year for the Marlins and Rockies if that helps for reference because Topps gave away some promotional preview cards with players from both teams.

The last few months have gotten me in a rut and turned me more toward the dark side of not collecting at all.  I don't know what it is other than life in general just catching up.  I'm kind of burnt out at work and tired of being so busy all the time.  I haven't had the chance to get the Garage Project off the ground as I had hoped and I have been feeling a little dejected about the whole thing.  Its pretty much my own fault too because I just don't have the time or the energy to inventory and scan, and inventory and scan, etc, etc.

I have had a few trade proposals lately that have caused me to sit back and rethink what collecting is for me.  And I think that I have figured it out.  Collecting is fun.  Plain and simple.  So I'd be a dummy if I didn't take the opportunity to go to the largest show of the year since it's in my own backyard.  What could be more fun than walking around all day looking at cards, talking to collectors, and being around my own kind?  My answer...nothing.

So if anyone else out there is going on Saturday, drop me a line and let me know.  Maybe we can meet up at some point, talk some shop, or if you let me know enough in advance, maybe even do some trading.