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