Global Connections

Let's get the usual out of the way...though no Leafs, six more base cards that I need...

Well, Alyn isn't too far from a Leaf since this is shortly after his Toronto departure to San Jose.

Today though, we get a new insert set to talk about...

So...wait....okay, I know Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne so I can tell you who they are but why would the design not have their names on the front? Well, apparently from checking and logging this in TCDb, this is actually an error card because the foil is missing which would have the names in the burgundy stripe along the bottom and the 2005 Pacific logo in the middling white box. An unexpected surprise bonus.

Now, back to the card itself, an interesting theme with teammates in the NHL, but talking about the different impact on an international level. Kind of a friends but foes type of look to it.

14 Packs, 98 Cards, 456 Points.

Let's Make It Three

I thought two packs in a row with Leafs was impressive, but let's make it three! Owen was a solid Right Winger for Toronto for about a seasons worth of games played over two seasons. I do remember him much more for his time in Quebec early in his career, but that was also when I was first really following hockey closely, so that is probably related.

Another "standard" insert of the red parallel variety.

All base needs, and let's take a look at the top prospect...well, he ended up well travelled around the world. As far as the NHL goes, he did get the 7 games noted here in Chicago and in 2005-06, added another 10 games there, but he also played in various leagues in Canada, Austria, Russia, and Italy.

13 Packs, 91 Cards, 403 Points.

To end on a completely different one off note...and inoffensive Listia pick up,a as usual;, super cheap...

My third 1987 Fleer Buck, which was for a few cents with free shipping...sold!

Back to back blue

Not going to complain when I get to start two posts in a row with Leafs...

A tough guy and hard nosed player, he reminded me in many ways of Tie Domi. Definitely had his place on the team at the time, and it surprises me that he was actually on the teams for 7 plus years.

Back to getting the red parallels, and Blue Jackets which seem to be plentiful in the box thus far.

We end with the rest of the base which include Leaf alumni Steve Sullivan.

12 Packs, 84 Cards, 370 Points.

Toronto Connections old and new

Another pack of 2004-05 Pacific today, I know, shocking, but we get a couple good Toronto connected cards today including...

A great Eagle card with a full front full photo.Eddie won me over as a far of his.Early in watching the Leafs I wasn't a fan with him on Chicago, mostly because he was so good and caused the Leafs problems. Never could deny his ability, and the fact he then became a Leaf for a while solidified how good a goalie he was as I got to watch him play that much more than I otherwise would have.

Here is another Toronto connection, post his time in the city. The blue parallel with the lightning isn't too shabby either. I remember him well from his time with the Leafs that I find it hard to believe he was really onlt on the team for 2 full seasons and a part season before and after, all in the early 90s.

We end with all the new base cards for the set/collection and another solid pack in the books.

11 Packs, 77 Cards, 337 Points.

Rightfully Blue

With the odds being one in every 10 packs, we are right on pace with pack number ten having the first...

blue serial numbered parallel. They go for the older school type printing on the back, numbered out of 250. There are a number of teams that the blue foil would compliment, and although this isn't a Leaf card, Columbus is a solid one for having a good look with that blue and the team colours.

I will say, it does tend to have the issue of blue foil on blueish background making it a bit more difficult to read which, for this blind guy, isn't a thrill, but I can forgive it for being that little bit cooler.

As it turns out, this is a Columbus hot pack...

Almost half the cards in the pack are Blue Jackets - can't find packs with Leafs in those quantities unfortunately.

The best card has to go to Niko though, as it looks like he is about to be body checked by the entire world! Heh, discover this!

10 Packs, 70 Cards, 297 Points.

Finally getting around to sharing an amazing package sent by Jeff Scott (Jeff, if you are reading this, email me your home address as the longer this situation goes, the more I lean towards just mailing you a package in the next month or so rather than waiting until later this year). So this package starts with...

Can't go wrong with Wayne Gretzky inserts from the mid-90s. I personally prefer the Oiler related ones, though the King ones have their place. Can't get any greater than the great one though!

Then we get to...

A first autograph card from 2000-01 Be A Player Signature Series - Manny had a solid career of about 15 years spent between Dallas, Minnesota and Boston.

Mika didn't stick around the NHL as long, and after sputtering through a few years with Buffalo and a last go with Vancouver, he spent a good decade playing professionally across Europe. I do appreciate the autographs where they also take the time to add their number.

Always great to get an auto for a three time Stanley Cup winner (one with Carolina and two with the Kings).

Kris really only had one full season in the NHL (Pittsburgh in 2002-03), but he did play parts of 7 season with 5 different teams).

Brad spent a few seasons with each Florida and the Coyotes and was able to scrape back after a few years in the minors to get back to the NHL for 5 games with Calgary in 2006-07 before some time in the NHL, retiring the next year.

I don't think I need to say much and Sykora except he has a nice, loopy, signature on this Gold version.

Cody scratched out 25 games with the Wild over three seasons, but has spent his time since in the Swiss league. 

I am not a big fan of Contenders cards, but being serial numbered and a nice on card autograph of Erik Condra who had a decent run for a few years with Ottawa - works for me!

We end with a Toronto Expo only card with a print run of 49 cards that is an auto on a jersey. May not have been my best scanning job, but the card is so awesome that you can overcome my poor job to appreciate this sweet card.

There were a couple other cards that are on my TCDB Jeff Scott list and up for trade for anything Bruins that I can pass on to Jeff. It also worked out as I have placed an order with baseballcardstore.ca, which included about 100 Bruins cards to add to the cards I am sending to Jeff - so nice that he was thinking of me too!

Awesome package and many thanks as always!

Well, not THAT Montreal goalie

He may not be the first name I think of when thinking of Montreal goaltenders I remember watching growing up, but he is probably number 2.

He wasn't nearly as offensive to me as Roy, partly because I don't think he had the same success as Roy, but he did have some solid years as recognized in this All_Star game card with he being the winning goalie from the 2005 All-Star game.

Too bad I did the back post yesterday as Luc Robitaille would have been a perfect one with his career having started in the 1986-87 season. Oh well, can't win them all.

9 Packs, 63 Cards, 269 Points.

Another first time TCDb trade partner had their package arrive today. This is from ldtaft and it included something unexpected.

So, when I am made an offer, I don't typically look too hard at what I am being offered as long as it is from my want list. I apparently missed that there was a CD-ROM on TCDb which was of course put out in Post Cereal, and one had a Jay on it...so yeah, I got it. The great news is, since it is still in the package, into the unopened pack collection it goes, I guess!

A bit of 1991 Bowman help and some other odd Jays, including the lone Toronto representative out of the 1985 Glossy All Star set in Steib.

A great little pack and much appreciated.

Get back!

I mentioned that I liked the backs from these cards, so I figure, why not scan a pack of backs to show off exactly why I like them.

A simple small face photo, a decent bio line down the side, and a whole lot of yearly stats as applicable.

As I say, a bit of a shame that there is so much wasted space when only a few years of stats, but looks really nice when there are many years like with Kip Miller.

Speaking of decent careers and longer stats, Valeri fits the bill. Since it is the red parallel, scanned the front as it is different, whereas the back is the same as the base set itself. He may not have quite had the splash of Pavel, but definitely a solid career.

8 Packs, 56 Cards, 241 Points.

Yet another trade to share here from TCDB - this one with thirstydeer - a first time trade partner and someone who is actually a drive away in normal circumstances, but we used the mail as travels were more difficult with schedules.

First out of the PWE is a single set helper - another slow set build with 19992-93 Parkhurst.

Two needed Leaf duplicates as they were uncorrected error cards, so I can have a copy in each the team collection and error collection.

Some other general Leafs that are new for my collection. Broschevsky being best remembered by myself as a 71 rating player in NHL '94 though he never played that highly to me. Still was much better than Baumgartner.

The final card in the PWE is the best as it completes the 24 card team set for 1992-93 Score Canadian edition for me, and a great card to end it with!