The '73-74 Topps set build

I was at a card show this past weekend, and suddenly decided that I am going to build a 1973-74 Topps Hockey set.

OK, maybe not suddenly. Even my "sudden" decisions still seem to be mulled over.

Truth be told, I never really cared for the '73-74 design. The variance in border colors are rather haphazard, the team name in that little "ribbon" just gets in the way while the torn edges around each photo seems arbitrary.

In other words, the design just plain sucks. But...I have every Topps set from 1968-69 to 1972-73, so this would be the next "logical" 1970s set to collect. Like I said, even sudden decisions have some rationale to them.

Well, I'm not the only one who seems to dislike this set. At the show I went to, most of the cards were very cheap, and I was able to pick up 133 cards for $53--including Bill Barber (RC), Gilles Gilbert (RC), Dave "The Hammer" Schultz (RC), Darryl Sittler, Marcel Dionne, Stan Mikita, Rick Martin, Gilbert Perreault, a "marked up" checklist and some minor stars.

Checking my collection, I already have a Billy Smith RC. I remember paying $4 for it back in 1991. I also have the Guy Lafleur card from that set--probably paid $1 or $2 for it back then--as well as 14 other commons that I've had forever and probably paid a dime each for.

On Monday, I managed to pick up the Bobby Orr card in the set for $5.

Counting the cards I bought when I was a kid, I spent $65 thus far on putting together this '73-74 set. My goal is to piece the set together for less than the Beckett "low" price of $125.

Of course, I'll need a Ken Dryden, Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito and a few of those "League Leaders" cards. Once I get those--and an upgraded checklist--the rest I need are commons.

After that, it will be onto 1974-75...as well as all of the "current" sets I'm always trying to build.

Walt Poddubny

Former NHL player Walt Poddubny died suddenly on Saturday, March 21. He was 49 years old. The cause of his death is unknown.

I always get a strange feeling when a former NHLer dies before his time. Yes, people die every day - but someone who is (or was) an athlete should not just suddenly kick the bucket. Considering the incredible things that pro hockey players do, you almost think that they are invincible, that they will live forever. Or at least live past age 50. (Full Story)

The Love Guru

Mike Meyers ought to be ashamed of himself for writing, producing and starring in The Love Guru. It is a bland, stupid comedy - and I use that word very loosely - that panders to the lowest common denominator with an overabundance of toilet humor and bad puns. Even worse, the film revolves around a hockey player on the Toronto Maple Leafs - making the sport of hockey guilty by association for being in this lame film. {Full story}

My First Hockey Card

They say one man's junk is another man's treasure. But sometimes, one man's junk can later become his own treasure.

Back in 1985, I started collecting baseball cards - mainly because the other kids at school were buying them too. I was ten years old at the time, and usually I'd watch the Cubs if it pre-empted my afterschool cartoons. The 1985 Topps Baseball Set had a lot of cards - 792 to be exact - and I had accumulated hundreds in a short amount of time, trying in vain to complete my set. (Full story)