2011-12 O-Pee-Chee Box Break

OPC has been my favorite product to bust for years, and 2011-12 has proved to be no exception!!  I had a case hit in my first box (that I thought I had posted about, but it appears that I did not) a few months back (Brayden Schenn Team Canada Auto - I will put a scan at the end of this post).

I have also picked up a number of both hobby and retail packs as well and ended up pulling another signature card and a Bobby Hull black rainbow retro parallel, so needless to say its been a pretty good year from the hits perspective.  Regardless of the hits, trying to put together the complete base set always proves to be a daunting task given the base is 500 cards (not counting the Rooks and Legends SPs).

A typical box contains 36 packs with 6 cards per pack.  Per the UD website, an average [hobby] box break will contain:

• 36 Retro variations
• 4 Playoff Beard variations
• 1 In-Action Laminated card
• 4 Rookie Updates (’10-11)
• 1 Rookie Update Retro (’10-11)
• 9 Reg. Set Rainbow parallels

An average case break will land you the following in addition to the per box hits:

• 3 O-Pee-Chee Souvenirs (quad jerseys)
• 2 O-Pee-Chee Signatures
• 1 Team Canada Signatures
• 3 Rookie Update Retro Rainbow parallels

 Anywho, I picked up my second hobby box of the product today.  How did I do??

I noticed rather quickly that there was something amiss in the box.  The first 7 packs I opened had 5 cards, each but did contain the retro card.  Further into the box a half/dozen packs only had 4 cards (still a retro per tho) and one had eight cards with a extra retro card...so I probably ended up getting shorted in the base card area, but here is the breakdown on the number of base, retro, and other cards contained in my box:

• 37 Packs (above average)
• 104 base cards (below average I would think);
• 5 Playoff Beard variations (one more than the average): Cleary, Boyle, Carter, Giroux, Mara;
• 3 Black Rainbow variations (which are not even noted above or on the packs with odds): Parros (love the old-time stache he is rockin), Tom Gilbert, Tim Kerr Legend;
• 2 In-Action cards (one more than the average):  Spezza (which is available for trade since I just pulled the same one last week) and Zetterberg;
• 9 Regular Set Rainbow parallels (the average) including Paul Coffey (which I think is a sharp looking card, scanned below), Sauve (rook), Gagner, Pavelec (OJ!!), Raymond, McDonagh, Hamhuis, Legwand, Colaiacovo;
• 10 Legends SP cards (above average): Bathgate, Kurri, Dionne, Doug Wilson, Neely (Kick his @$$ SEABASS), Denis Potvin, Hawerchuk, Sakic, Milt Schmidt, Red Kelly;
• 9 Rookie SP cards (above average): Campanale, McMillan, Blum, Todd Ford, Strair, Frattin, Bouma, Nemisz, Rinaldo;
• 5 '10-11 Rookie Update cards (above average): Emmerton, Della Rovere, Cormier, Cole, Tatar (he goes best with the fried clams I hear);
• 1 '10-11 Rookie Update Retro (average): Marcel Mueller;
• 1 Trophy Winner: Daniel Sedin;
• 2 Team Leaders: Oilers, Blues;
• 38 Retro parallels (above average): 3 Legends, 3 Rooks; 32 Base; and
• 1 O-Pee-Chee Signature (yes my third this year!)

Now how about a few scans of some of the cards pulled...

Am I the only one that finds it odd that some of the playoff beard cards are pink on the bottom and others grey?

Love the gapped tooth smile on this picture!!!

This is the auto pulled today!!  Nice!!

I pulled this one about a month ago from a hobby pack.

So in retrospect, while I may have been shorted on the base in the box, I would say I still made out pretty well by pulling a few extra of the shorter printed cards.  Once again, OPC delivers and I am thrilled by my pulls!

However, it should be noted that I emailed Upper Deck after I opened the 8th pack to tell them what was going on, so we will see if anything comes of that...I will keep everyone updated.

Certified Blaster Hit

I went into Target today with the boys for some last minute Christmas shopping and treated myself to a blaster box of 2011-12 Certified.  I have strayed away from these in the past as they cost $29.99 for three packs...of course had I taken the time to read the box, I would have realized that each box contains "one autograph or jersey card".   So today I took that leap and bought a box...and it must have been a Christmas miracle because I pulled an auto AND a jersey from the box!!  UN-HUH...one of each baby!!!  OH YEAH!!!  Talk about beating the odds!!!  Bet you're probably thinking that they must be good for me to be writing about right??? 

Lets put it this way...HELL YES!!!!!

The jersey came from a guy who was drafted #2 overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft behind Taylor Hall.  He played 74 games in the NHL in 2010-11 and posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 74 games.  He has already blown away his freshman year totals by scoring 31 points in the first 32 games (14g-17a) in 2011-12.  He also put up 7 points (3g-4a) in 13 games in the playoffs including a very memorable goal against the Lightning where he rushed up the ice from his own end, split the defense at center ice and scored a very pretty backhand goal over the sprawling Roloson...but don't let my description ruin it...watch it in all of its glory:

Of course I am talking about one of the NHL's brightest stars of the future, Tyler Seguin!!

The jersey card is a "prime" two color (black-white) seam swatch and it is SO SWEET!!! 

As for the autograph, it was for a guy who was drafted #2 overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft behind Taylor Hall. He played 74 games in the NHL in 2010-11 and posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 74 games. He has already blown away his freshman year totals by scoring 31 points in the first 32 games (14g-17a) in 2011-12. He also put up 7 points (3g-4a) in 13 games in the playoffs including a very memorable goal against the Lightning where he rushed up the ice from his own end, split the defense at center ice and scored a very pretty backhand goal over the sprawling Roloson...um wait...this sounds familiar??

That's right, the autograph is none other than the aformented Mr. Seguin (it sounds odd to me to be calling a guy who was born six months after I graduated from high school "Mr", but then again, the kid has already made more money than me in the past few years than I probably will in my entire lifetime...RESPECT)...ANYWHO...back to the card...

Wait, did I say "card" above??  Damn, I meant to say "cards"!  AND now back to the CARDS!!!

Not buying it??  OK, so lets just say that the autograph and jersey swatch were on the same card...and the card is also numbered 23/25 (like that is anything special...I mean really, there are 24 other cards just like this one out there...hardly special right??)...have I built it up enough yet??  Can you hardly contain your excitement??  Are you so excited that if you were sitting in the play area at your local McDonald's you would be arrested and branded a sex offender???  OK...time to blow that wad....

I present to you..........
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...Annoyed yet?????...
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THE BACK OF THE CARD!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  Got you!!!!!  I am like a stripper in the Champagne room...teasing you just to the point of the 'O' Face, getting up, putting her clothes back on, and leaving you with a...OK, sorry...got away from things again.

Here is the front...I promise...
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.really...tits coming...giggity...
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...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
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.and a HAPPY BOXING DAY to all of my friends in Canada!!!!!!!
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.right...the card...damn did it again...
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TADA!!!

TADA!!!  Hope you enjoyed spending the past few minutes with me and my insanity.

OH yeah, I did also get a crappy mirror red parallel #152/199 of some Vanek guy and a bunch of base cards (oddly enough, of the 12 or so base I did get, I got two Brodeur and 2 Thronton cards) in the same box...like I care!!  HA!

Till later...RESPECT!!!

eBay Mail Day - Packs-A-Plenty!

In a rare move for me, I purchased a lot of 21 loose packs of Upper Deck Hockey Cards on eBay.  As a practice, I try to stay away from lots of this type ever since I purchased one in 2006 and it was obvious that many of the packs had been opened and resealed.

Not sure what drew me to this one, maybe it was the fact that it was a buy-it-now deal for $8.00+$5.20 shipping, or perhaps it was the packs in the lot which included the following:


1 x Legends Masterpieces (opened)1 x 2008-09 Hockey Trilo3Y (opened)1 x 2007-08 Hockey SPX (opened)1 x 2005-06 MVP1 x 2005/06 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey1 x 2006-07 Fleer Hockey1 x 2006-07 Flair Showcase1 x 2006-07 Artifacts Hockey1 x 2007-08 Fleer Ultra Hockey1 x 2005-06 NHL Hockey2 x 2006/07 Hockey O-Pee-Chee1 x 2005-2006 Hockey Fleer Ultra1 x 2006-07 Fleer Ultra Hockey2 x 2005 / 2006 Hockey Parkhurst2 x 2006-2007 Fleer Hot Prospects3 x 2006-07 SPX (2 opened) 

They further stated that "5 of 21 packs have been opened just to sample card quality and come from a previous employee of UD"...um OK...

So I took a chance...and how did I do you ask????  Well, they arrived on Monday in a flat rate envelope and on time as promised by the seller. It took me no time to start my review of the packs...and about a long to see that I had myself quite a rare find on eBay...they were not searched and almost all of them were HOBBY packs!!!  Well these packs provided some FABULOUS hits (and no, none of the hits were of Mr. Crosby)!!!

In total, I pulled 5 rookies: 06-07 Ultra Yan Stastny, 06-07 Hot Prospects Adam Dennis, 06-07 OPC Guillaume Latendresse, 05-06 Parkhurst Jay Harrison...and a 08-09 Brandon Nolan Trilogy #282/999:

Not too bad, I had a few of them, but the Nolan card I did not have...

5 parallels: 05-06 Ultra Gold Joffrey Lupul, 06-07 Ultra Gold Vaclav Prospal, 07-08 Ultra Gold Glen Murray, 08-09 Masterpieces Brown Border Eddie Shack, and from the 2006-07 Flair Showcase Pack, a Keith Tkachuk Legacy Collection #008/100:

Not a bad card of one of my favorite American players of all time!

As for inserts and SPs (non-parallels), there were 5 worth noting: 05-06 Ultra Scoring Kings Mats Sundin, 05-06 UD Goal Rush Patrice Bergeron, 06-07 SPXcitement Pavol Demitra #272/999, and the following:

05-06 MVP Tribute To Greatness Wayne Gretzky:

As well as an 05-06 SP Notables Curtis Joseph #572/999:

So up to this point, I've had some OK cards, not to mention plenty of base...but there were two very special cards I pulled that BLEW MY MIND and made this eBay buy one to remember and tell the grand kids about...

From the OPENED (yes OPENED) 07-08 SPX pack, I pulled this Winning Combos dual jersey card containing two multi-color swatches for...ALEX OVECHKIN and Olaf Kolzig:

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!  Did I mention that the pack was OPENED BEFORE I received it????  Top that folks!!!  OH WAIT!!!  I CAN AND DID!!!!

It turns out that the lone 06-07 Artifacts pack contained only ONE card...yes ONE!!!  I could not believe my eyes as they tried to focus on this GEM:

Don't adjust your screens...that would be a dual patch card numbered 23/25 featuring Richard Brodeur and the great Dave "Tiger" Williams!!!!!!!!!  UN-HUH...OH YEAH...I got me a WAY cool dual patch card!!!!!

In reflecting on the hits, I think I did OK with just the non-jersey cards for $13, nothing that made me go WOW...but add into the mix to two jersey cards, and this deal went from OK to FABULOUS!!! 

And if you are thinking that you would love to have that Canuck's patch card...I would consider it, but only if I can get one back featuring Ovechkin, Backstrom, Green, or some other current Capitals player in return.  My email address is cgmescutt1@att.net.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog!!

Chris

Recent Hits - 2011-12 Certified

Its been a while I know, things have been a little too crazy recently.

I picked up some packs recently of the Certified variety from the LCS.  I had little success in buying Certified packs last year, with only one decent Jersey (granted it was a Carey Price Fabrics #23/25), a hand full of parallels, a lot of base and no autos or rookies...so you can imagine my hesitation in spending close to $10 a pack from my LCS for the current version...

So I dropped $40 and picked up four packs from a freshly opened box (I should know since I opened it myself) and I am glad I did with hits coming out of three of the packs including a Mirror Red Lecavalier #096/199 as well as the following two cards:

#388/399

The second hit was nice surprise since I failed to get any of these from last year's set!

A week or so later, I swung back to the store and picked up a few more packs...the next card was a bit hard to take given tragic events that transpired during the off season with this player...

Its hard to imagine that at some point in 2011 this card was in his possession...humbling...so much, that I don't have anything left to say...

10-11 Pinnacle Pack Break #2

Ah the second break...as if the audio was not bad enough on the first...

If you dare...

10-11 Pinnacle Pack Break #1

Yes, it is me in all of my geeky glory...coming to you live from my basement (sort of).  Stopped by Dicks Sporting Goods earlier and they had a number of single packs discounted so I figured I would give em a shot.  I picked up two Pinnacle (for $1.97 each) and six 10-11 O-Pee-Chee (@ $.97 each).  Eight packs for a little over 10 bucks...

Here is my first ever pack break via web cam...oh me mother would be so proud.

Thanks for your support!!

Recent Hits - 2011-12 Artifacts

Stopped by my LCS last weekend to get me a few packs of the 11-12 Artifacts and boy am I glad I did...I bought three packs total...set me back $30, but it was well worth it!

Overall I like the design this year, not to crazy with pillars and other things in the background.

A sample of a few of the base cards:

Three packs got me three hits!!

My first hit:

Not a bad start.

Second hit:

YEAH!  Nice hit!!

and last but not least...probably one of my best pulls in a very long time...

A Frozen Artifacts Jerseyes Patches Emerald #FATH Taylor Hall #03/35!!

I would say I got my moneys worth!!!  WOOHOO!!!!

It Begins Again...

During the first week of October every year, a quest begins to take home one of the most sought after and difficult to win trophies in professional sports...the holy grail that all of those who play the game look to obtain...it is a grueling test of wills, stamina, and guts...with the prize being awarded to a select few who pay the ultimate sacrifice to hoist it high into the air and kiss it with pride...it leaves the men who win it in various states of euphoria with some crying and babbling like babies from its magnificence...


With the start of the quest and in order to understand the pain that goes with this annual rite of passage, a sacrifice must be made...its very simple, give up something you love in order to appease and honor those who came before...it must be made with no pause for thought, just let the sacrifice go and pray to the hockey gods to grant your team and its players the honor to play for the rite to be immortalized on its cool metal body forever...

The sacrifice must be made before the first puck drops on the new season...

The eve of the season is upon us and the sacrifice has been prepared...the only thing left to do is offer it up...It is coming...ARE YOU READY?????

Mail Day - Part Three - Super Patch Saturday!!

Overall, I am not a big fan of any of the Hot Prospects sets issued by Upper Deck/Fleer over its three year run (05/06 - 07/08)...with one exception.  All three sets featured a large number of rookie cards that contained a sticker autograph and an event used jersey swatch.  However, these are no ordinary swatches as they are all (based upon the cards I have seen) patch cards.  Take the following Nicklas Bergfors card from the set:

I just picked this one up from a seller earlier in the week for a few bucks.  Not a bad little patch, with the white seem running through the middle, and a black on on the far left barely visible. 

This however, is just the start.  I happened upon a seller on eBay who listed about 10-12 more of these cards from the same year.  Money was tight, but I was able to secure six more cards from this set for about $4.00 each...and the patches just got better and better...as you will see:

Three color patch...not bad eh??  Looks to be from his number and its all patch, no jersey here!!  Keep going!

Very nice two seem three color swatch.

Yet another two seem three color swatch.  Looks to be from his number. 

How about a three seem three color patch???  The auto is pretty good as well.  Only a few left...saving the best for last!!!

Yup, four color three seem...patch plus jersey!  Love the auto as well.  Nice how he has incorporated his jersey number into the T.J.!!

And last but not least!!!

Yup, that is all patch!!!  I have spent some time looking at the teams jersey, but just cannot seem to find where the piece came from, but man it is nice looking!!!

So, I am certainly looking to complete this set at this point.  Of the 56 cards that carry the patch/auto, I now have 11.  Not a bad start if I don't say so myself!  I could have had a few more, but lost track of time and was outbid on 4 more at the last second by a quarter each...don't you just hate that!!!

Till later...

Chris

Mail Day - Part Two - The eBay Pick-Ups x2

Just a few more items I picked up that I wanted to share...

These first three all came in a lot that had a picture of a number of random cards, including these three, and listed "Lot Of Game Used Autos And Rookie Cards Nhl Hockey".  I had seen it floating around before but had passed, but for some reason I decided to bid on it ($5.00 + free shipping)...not sure why.  The description stated that "This lot will include:  2 rookie cards ( young guns or victory rookie) or 1 of each :), 1 auto, 2 game used! 2 of them are numbered So total you'll receive 5 cards!"  Yet another red flag to me (like no picture) that I might end up with a big old steaming pile of crap...but here are a few of the cards that arrived:

It also included a Ryan Hollweg Young Gun and a few other RCs that I already had, but for a five spot it seems like I did OK.

I also picked the following up in some single purchases:

I took a chance and bid on this OV jersey...Not the greatest swatch, but I will take it.

The back of the card states:  Though he now skates for the Calgary Flames, Craig donned this St. Louis Blues sweater from 1996-97 to 2000-01.  The back of the card features a picture of him in his St. Louis jersey!  Just a little bit of a mis-match, but not a bad little patch piece.

Only $.99 cents was the right price for this three color swatch of the (now) Calgary Flames F Rene Bourque.

Mail Day - Part Two - The eBay Pick-ups

Yes yes, I know, it has been a LONG time coming and any of you that have been waiting can finally relax, it has arrived. 

Sometimes you just have to wonder why some sellers don't put more into their listings...especially something as important as...say...a picture or a scan?  Case in point, rather, two cases in point highlight some of my recent pick-ups...both from the same seller and both did not provide a picture of the items up for auction.  Now typically I try to avoid these like the plague since if they don't/can't take the time to post a picture of the item(s), how do you know if they really have them (or just as bad, taking the "stock" photo from the Upper Deck website)??   Now I give the seller credit as they listed all of the cards that were in each lot in the description, but still, unless you take the time to look at the it, would you really never know what was in there??  How many times have you been scrolling through page after page of eBay listings and happen upon something that catches your EYE that gets you to look at it further and read the description?  Its all about how you dress it up!!
For these two, I decided it was worth it...and I am SO glad I did...

The first lot (link:  LOT ONE) simply stated "06-07 SP Game Used GOLD CARDS ROY + others".  Starting price was $4.50 (yet another deterrent for some people).  The description stated the following: 

You have jersey cards and numbered cards. All Gold. They are:

#92 Alexander Steen card 068/100
#53 Patrick Roy card 046/100
#22 Martin Havlat card 010/100
AF-SK Saku Koivu jersey card 35/100
AF-SU Steve Sullivan jersey card 100/100

So what did I get you ask???  How about as stated???
 

Very not bad if I say so myself!!!  This one ended up costing me $4.50 plus a little for shipping!

The second lot (link: LOT TWO) was also simply stated as "2010-11 Crown Royale, RC's"...um OK...really???   Starting price on this one was $4.99.  The description (and yes they mis-spelled "your"):

These great rookie cards will help you complete yourf set. The cards are priced to sell, so don't be afraid to bid. The cards included are:

#139 Kyle Clifford 128/499         
#145 Anders Lindback (2) 334/499, 490/499
#146 Marcus Johansson 249/499   
#165 T. J. Brodie 200/499
#166 Luke Adam 219/499   
#171 Nick Palmieri 340/499
#172 Kyle Palmieri 361/499

Seeings as how it included a RC for MoJo from my squad I figured what the heck??  So what did I get???  Lets see:

WOW!  All hard signed RCs!  What a sweet find and very welcome additions!! 

So for about $13.00 I think I made out pretty good, do you agree???

I have a few more eBay finds that I will post "shortly"...haha...

"THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT"

Chris

LIVE HOCKEY!!!!!!

Watching Senators-Leafs via NHL GameCenter Live...LIVE HOCKEY!!! WOO HOO!!!  Oh how we missed ye!!!!!

Tyler Bozak is just flying around the ice and is looking good...

Mail Day - Part One - The Trades

Just a few recent pick-ups from some fellow bloggers:

Paul at Cardboarded (http://cardboarded.blogspot.com/) sent me over the following Hasek SPX Jersey for a MVP Stanley Cup Edition Gold Script (he also sent me some cards I was needing from my want list):

Thanks Paul!!!

Dave at Wax Stain Rookie (http://waxstainrookie.blogspot.com/) sent me a number of cards in exchange for an equal number going back (all New Jersey Devils of course..which should be there ANY day Dave) that included the following:

Former Capital Jason Allison

I already had this card, but mine was a crappy white swatch, so this was a very welcome addition!  Since its game used and blue (and not the current bit of blue that is on their jersey's right now I believe), there is a chance it could have been from his rookie season...or 06-07...either way...still not a crappy white swatch!!

Three more Young Guns to move a little closer (sort of) to having the 2007-08 set.

Thanks Dave!!!

And last but not least, Sal from Puck Junk (http://puckjunk.blogspot.com/) sent me the following:

This is one from the set I have been looking to get for a while...

Thanks Sal!!!

Please take the time to visit my fellow bloggers sites and give them some love!!  I surf around to their sites (at least) 3-4 times a week and there is almost always something new and interesting to read (unlike here where I just don't have the time I would like to spend on it)!!

Thanks again guys and I look forward to dealing with each of you again in the very near future!!

Mail Day - Part Two - eBay Acquisitions will be forthcoming with some recent eBay steals...sorry...DEALS!!!!  Try not to lose too much sleep waiting for this one...

Chris