Happy Halloween

Today is Halloween, and  I would like to point out an article that I wrote in October 2007--back when NO ONE was visiting this site. It is a review of a comic book story entitled The Hockey-Mask of Death.

So bad that it's good? Or just plain bad? You decide.

Hossa Watch Cancelled; Sharp Watch Begins

Hossa Watch 2010 has been canceled until further notice.  Meet its replacement:

Hossa got off to a stellar start, but went scoreless in 3 games, getting hurt in the last one on Wednesday against Los Angeles.

According to Blackahwks' coach Joel Quenneville, Hossa will miss "a couple of weeks" with an "upper body injury." (You don't think it's his shoulder...?)

Meanwhile, teammate Patrick Sharp has taken the team lead in goals. He has scored 10 times in 11 games, and actually leads the league in goals.

I know! I'm as surprised as you! Sharp is a dependable 25-35 goals a year kind of guy, so being on pace for a 74-goal season seems mind boggling. And the thought of Sharp winning the Rocket Richard Trophy...that's almost surreal.

3 new cards for my 1957-58 Topps set

As I mentioned last week, I am now trying to build a set of 1957-58 Topps Hockey. Here are 3 cards that bring me closer to completing the 66-card set:

#18 - Leo Boivin - Boston Bruins - Boivin played 18 seasons in the NHL, and was a member of the inaugural Pittsburgh Penguins team in 1967-68. The next season, he would play on the Minnesota North Stars with this guy...

#27 - Elmer "Moose" Vasko - Standing at 6'2", Vasko was a large defenseman back in the day. He was a member of the Blackhawks team that won the Stanley Cup in 1961. Interestingly, he was once fined $100 by the North Stars for not playing aggressively enough.

#29 - Ron Murphy - Chicago Blackhawks - Murphy played in the NHL for 18 seasons, and was also a member of the '61 Cup-winning 'Hawks team. 

Set completion as of 10-27-2010: 
10 out of 66 cards = 15%

War Room - October 8, 2010

Got 'Em! Need 'Em! 

Season 2, Episode 2

Broadcast Date: October 8, 2010

Time: 12 minutes, 44 seconds

Topics
2010-11 Victory Hockey  (0:01 to 7:09)
2010-11 Score Hockey  (7:10 to 10:09)
Puck Junk's 3rd Anniversary (10:10 to 12:44)

If the above player does not work, you can get the clip here. Just right click on the link, and select either "Save As..." or open it in a new tab or window.

Thanks to Mick Kern and the guys at XM Home Ice 204. 

Selling at a Card Show - Recap

Yesterday, I sold hockey cards at a sports card show. Or, more accurately, tried to sell hockey cards at a sports card show.

As good as this show has been in the past (at least, from a buyer's perspective), a few things kept this show from being profitable for me.

Did I break even? Sort of. The table cost me $40. I sold $40 worth of stuff. 

The show went from 9 AM to 2 PM. Here's a quick rundown...

8:10 AM - Arrive at the show.

8:45 AM - All set up. If you build it, they will come...

9:10 AM - OK, maybe not. Perhaps this was too ambitious of an endeavour.

9:15 AM - Made my first sale. $20. A few other small sales follow.

10:00 AM - Still haven't broken even.

10:30 AM - Haven't sold a thing in 40 minutes.

11:10 AM - The room has gotten loud. More people. Maybe things will pick up.

11:50 AM - Finally broke even. Just over 2 hours left in the show.

12:05 PM - A hush falls across the room. One dealer has packed up and left.

12:30 PM - The Bears are playing? Really? I wish I thought of that before deciding to sell at this show.

12:50 PM - The only people looking at my table are other dealers. At this point, about half of the 50 or so vendors have either left or are packing up.

1:15 PM - I decide to call it quits, and pack up my table.

1:30 PM - Sal-vis has left the building.

So, what went wrong?

First, few people came. I've seen this show get crowded, but unfortunately not this time.

Second, the economy is still bad. Back in the day, most collectors would spend $5 on a card they wanted. Now, they either try to buy it for $3 or don't buy it at all.

Third, the $%&* Bears were playing! Whatever small buzz the show had was pretty much killed once the Bears game started.

What really riles me, though, is that many of the people I saw were wearing Blackhawks apparel, and yet they didn't want any of my sweet 'Hawks stuff.

Anyway, here's a few pictures of my set up:

Blackhawks cards from 1970 to 2010. .There's also some old team calenders and a few other odds n' ends.

Complete sets. Sure, a lot of it is "junk wax" era, but some of it was newer. I even had a few insert sets from the 1970s, and a complete 1982-83 O-Pee-Chee set for sale.

Non-Blackhawks hockey cards, including 2010-11 Victory Rookies, some 2009-10 Young Guns, and other decent cards from the late 1960s through the 1980s.

I had the most hockey cards and memorabilia at the show, my prices were great (seriously), but few people equals few sales.

The promoter--who is a very nice man--asked me if I wanted to do this show next month. I politely told him no, but said that I might be up for trying this again in  a couple of months.

And the crazy thing is, I just might try again. 

Or maybe that's a stupid thing...

I have more thoughts on this, but those will be saved for a future blog post.

I'm Selling at a Card Show this Sunday

So, for the first time in 15 years, I plunked down some money to rent a table at a sports card show.

Yes, I'll be at a card show...but to SELL, not to BUY. What a twist!

The show happens this Sunday, October 24.

Everyone near Chicago who reads this blog should come to the show and buy my hockey cards and memorabilia. Here are the details:

Sports Card & More Show

Sunday, October 24, 2010

9 AM to 2 PM

Orland Park Civic Center

1 blk. W. of La Grange Rd at 147th St.

Admission: $1

I'll even provide this map to make your journey easier....

Click on the map to see larger

Still not sure? Well, you can follow this link to get driving directions from your place to the show.

So, why am I selling at card show? Although I am in this hobby for the enjoyment it gives me, I've got too much stuff and need to clear out some space. And hopefully make enough cash to buy some of the upcoming products like Certified and Score.

Plus, hockey is (relatively) huge in Chicago right now, so I can't think of a better time to sell hockey cards and collectibles. At a garage sale in June, I sold quite a few Blackhawks items. And during an "Art & Collectibles Show" in September, I actually did quite well selling hockey cards. Thus, selling at a card show seems like a no-brainer.

Still, there are risks involved--time and money. Cost of the table, gas, food, hiring a dog walker...and cost of placating my girlfriend who will be helping me at the show.

Plus, I'll probably feel like a fool if I don't at least break even on my expenses.

I used to sell at card shows in the 1990s, when I was an ambitious teenager. Some days I made a killing, and others I did just OK. But I always had fun. Hopefully, I will have fun this Sunday.

If you read this blog and decide to go to this show, drop by my table and say "hi".

6 and 7 for Hossa

Last night, Marian Hossa scored his 6th and 7th goals of the season. That gives him 7 goals in 7 games.

Hossa also has 11 points, and still leads the NHL in goals and overall points.

Yes, the season is still young and perhaps I'm being overly-optimistic. It is very likely that someone like Crosby or Ovenchicken will surpass Hossa in goals and points. While it would be nice for Hossa to win the Art Ross or Richard Trophy (who would've thought?), I'd gladly settle for a 50-goal season. I think all 'Hawk fans would.

Starting a New Set

Last week on a whim, I decided to pick up some cards from the 1957-58 Topps Hockey Set. I purchased 7 fair grade cards, only paying about $2 or $3 per card...

Getting these cards makes me want to try and complete the 1957-58 Topps Set. Sure, some of the cards are really expensive, like Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk (RC), Terry Sawchuk and Glenn Hall (RC).

But there are only 66 cards in the set, so while some cards are in the $100-$300 range, most of them are not.

The cards you see here don't look the greatest--some have rounded corners and small creases. They do look a lot better once put in a card page. (Except for the back of that Dean Prentice card--whoa!).

I've lowered my standards a bit when it comes to really old cards and condition. Sure, we all want a near-mint card that is 50 years old...but then you have to pay the price. For most of these old cards, I'll settle for lesser quality if it means picking them up on the cheap.

Hossa at the 10% Mark

Marian Hossa scored his 5th goal of the 2010-11 season in Saturday night's game against the Buffalo Sabres.

As you can tell by the word bubble in the graphic above, Hossa is 10% of the way towards scoring 50 goals.

In order to maintain 50-goal pace, Hossa would have to score 5 goals in every 8 games. These 5 goals have come in his first 6 games, putting him a bit ahead of pace.

Hossa Scores His 4th

In Friday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Marian Hossa scored his 4th goal, and added an assist. Through 5 games, he has 8 points.

What's this? Marian Hossa is LEADING THE LEAGUE in scoring?

Yup. He even has more points than that Ovenchicken guy.

I hope he keeps adding to this fantastic start. Imagine--a 'Hawk winning the Art Ross Trophy. The last time that happened was when Stan Mikita did it in 1967-68.

Of course, I'd be ecstatic if Hossa actually makes it to 50 goals. The last Blackhawks player to accomplish that feat was Jeremy Roenick in 1992-93.

How Many Licks Does It Take?

Remember that old commercial where the boy asks Mr. Owl "how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?"

Well, getting my new issue of Beckett Hockey Magazine, I wondered how many minutes it would take me to read this magazine.

In the past, I've complained that Beckett is 80% price guide, 8% advertisements and only 12% content that you actually read--and yet I subscribed to it because I got it for $3 an issue.

Is it worth it? I guess that depends on how long it entertains me.

Thus, I decided to time myself reading the new issue of Beckett Hockey. I read all the articles and even the advertisements--those are of interest to hockey card collectors. And though I flipped through the price guide, I didn't read that part page-by-page--that's pretty unrealistic, as no one would read the price guide page-by-page, line-by line like they would a book or mag.

So, how long does it take to get to the end of a Beckett Hockey Magazine?

For me, 22 minutes, 34 seconds...and 57 one-hundredths of a second (if you want to get all "Olympic Time Trials" about it). I made sure not to just skim the pages, but actually read them.

I guess 22-plus minutes isn't a bad read. However, it was the content itself that was lacking:

• The lead-off article "Behind the Scenes at the NHL Rookie Showcase" was a lot of boring photos of the players just standing around, off ice. The photos were also small and dark, as if taken with a camera phone. Actual action shots would be, you know, more interesting.
• "10 Reasons  to Collect P.K. Subban" was stretching things a bit. Is the fact that a promo card featuring Subban sold for $25 a "reason" to collect his cards?
• Short articles about the upcoming Score and ITG Ultimate Memorabilia cards, and the already-out WHA Hall of Fame set. Although many bloggers, including myself, have already talked about these sets, you can't fault a print publicaton for being slow when compared to the internet.
• "Readers Write" is usually an interesting part of the mag, because it answers hockey card-related questions. This time, only one question...plus a reader telling us what he got in a break of 2009-10 SP Game Used, and how much he sold each card for. Yawn.
• And there are other short articles, like "Super Collector"--where a guy talks about his Anze Kopitar collection--and the "Top 20 Hot Singles." A few other "blurbs" here and there.

Twenty-two minutes well spent? I'm not so sure. I wish there was just more interesting stuff to read besides box breakdowns, previews of products we already know about and being told why I should collect a player that everyone is going to collect. Talk about a set from 30 years ago, or some obscure small release we might have missed from 2000. Anything is better than "What We Got in a Box of Premier."

1990 Blackhawks Red-White Scrimmage Roster

Twenty years ago was the 1990-91 season--a season in hockey that I will never forget. My Aunt Gayle had season tickets to the Chicago Blackhawks, and I went to a lot of games that year. The 'Hawks were the best team during the regular season. The All-Star Game was in Chicago. And let us not forget that the hockey card scene EXPLODED in 1990-91...but that's another story.

Being 15 years old at the time and into everything hockey, I saved a lot of stuff from that year. Not just the cards, but anything I could get my hands on. Below is a roster sheet from the annual 1990 Blackhawks Red Vs. White Scrimmage--or the "Red-White Game" as us 'Hawks fans called it.

Click image to see larger

As you can see, it is a pretty nondescript sheet of paper--hastily typed out on a typewriter (remember those?), photocopied and then passed out at the game during the first period.

The Red-White Game took place on September 15, 1990--the day before the 'Hawks first preseason game that year. Although it was free to go to this game, the old Chicago Stadium was not packed. I guess only the die-hards or crazy people (more on those later) would really want to see a free scrimmage.

Most of the Blackhawks best players did not participate in the game--including Jeremy Roenick, Michel Goulet and Doug Wilson. Instead, it was an interesting mix of veterans, prospects, guys who never made it and a few surprises.

A few tidbits on Team Red...

• Alex Roberts, Tracy Egeland and Owen Lessard would never make it to the NHL.
• Jim Johansson never played in the NHL either, but did play in two Olympics for Team USA. 
• Sean McKenna--a veteran of 414 NHL games--did not make the team and retired soon after this game.
• Steve Larmer would play in his 9th consecutive season without missing a game, and led the 'Hawks in scoring in '90-91 with 101 points.
• Jim Playfair would only play 23 games in the NHL, but is currently enjoying a long career in coaching (15 years and counting)

Some of the highlights and low lights from Team White...

• This was Chris Chelios' debut as a Blackhawk.
• Trevor Dam and Mike Speer never made it to the NHL.
• Jeff Sirkka also never played in the NHL, but had a 12-year professional career.
• Previously, Dale Henry played 132 games for the New York Islanders, but would play the rest of his career in the minors or Europe.
• Eric Klutke was from Crystal Lake (a suburb of Chicago), and played two seasons for the CCHA's University of Illinois-Chicago Flames. He played in the ECHL that year, then retired.
• Enforcer Wayne Van Dorp would soon be lost to the Quebec Nordiques in the Waiver Draft next month. He was one of my favorite players the previous season.
• Rookie goaltender Ed Belfour would surprise everyone that season by winning the Calder, Vezina and Jennings trophies.
• Dominik Hasek would play in half the game for Team White. This was his first-ever action with an NHL team.

I don't remember the score to this game. But there are many things I do remember.

Chris Chelios got a standing ovation when he stepped on the ice. This was his debut as a 'Hawk, and since he was from Chicago the fans automatically liked him.

I remember Ed Belfour, Steve Larmer and Wayne Van Dorp--seriously--getting much applause from the fans. Some guy behind me kept yelling "Go get 'em, Dorper!" 

My sister R.J. caught a puck at the game. Well, actually it landed at her feet and she picked it up. But that caused a commotion.  Some guy next to us got mad because he thought his daughter should have the puck. He even got security involved--the poor guard just shrugged and apologized to us. Like I said earlier, the scrimmage attracted die-hard fans and crazy people.

We moved to the other end of the rink at intermission to get away from the jerk, and ended up below the  press box. Coach Mike Keenan was up there.

"Hey Mike," I yelled up to him. Keenan made eye contact with me and leaned over the railing to hear what this then 15-year old fan had to say. "What's this 'Youth Movement' you keep talking about? You traded away our prospects for old men like Millen and Goulet!"

Some fans started laughing--Iron Mike got pwned by a kid!--but I'd later regret saying that to him. Goulet turned out to be a very good player for the Blackhawks.

Overall, I am so glad I went to this scrimmage. I can say that I saw Chris Chelios's first unofficial game with the Blackhawks. I can say that I saw Dominik Hasek's first-ever NHL action. I don't know which side won, and I can't find that puck my sister caught. All that's left is this wrinkled sheet of paper and a few fleeting memories.

Can Marian Hossa score 50 goals this year?

Is this the year that Marian Hossa scores 50 goals in a season?

Gosh, I hope so. Not only does he play for my favorite team, but he is also on my fantasy hockey team.

Thus far, Hossa has 3 goals in 3 games. Applying some "Don Cherry Logic*," Hossa will have 82 goals this year.

All kidding aside, scoring 50 goals can be a realistic goal for Hossa this season. He scored 45 goals for Ottawa in 2002-03, 45 goals for Atlanta in 2006-07 and 40 goals for Detroit in 2008-09.

So, I've started "Hossa Watch 2010." It's like "Storm Watch 2010," when some angry rain clouds invade your town and that's all the news seems to talk about that night ("Well, we'll hopefully get some relief from this rain by tomorrow morning...")

Rain happens, people. And so do goals. Let's see if Marian can score 47 more. Each week--or maybe more often--I'll update this graphic with Hossa's progress.

----
* - Former Maple Leafs prospect Jeremy Williams scored a goal in his first NHL game, and another goal in his second NHL game a year later. Don Cherry (presumably) joked that Williams would score 82 goals if the Leafs played him in every game.

Video Review: 2010-11 Victory Hockey

For the first set of the season, I decided to put together a video for my review of 2010-11 Upper Deck Victory.



Click here to watch in high definition.

Click here for printable checklist.

War Room - September 29, 2010

For those of you who are new to this website, I am a recurring guest on the XM Radio hockey talk show "The War Room." Every Wednesday, I talk hockey cards with host Mick Kern in a segment called "Got 'Em! Need 'Em!". Last week, the show started up again, and each week I'll be posting the audio clips from that segment here (for those who missed it or don't have XM Radio). 

Got 'Em! Need 'Em! Season 2, Episode 1
Broadcast Date: September 29, 2010
Topics: Blackhawks (0:01 to 2:08), WHA HOF trading card set (2:08-13:29)

The clip is 13 1/2  minutes long.

If the above player does not work, you can get the clip here. Just right click on the link, and select either "Save As..." or open it in a new tab or window.

Thanks to Mick Kern and XM Home Ice 204. 

Puck Junk is 3 today...

Today is this website's 3rd Birthday...or Anniversary...or whatever websites celebrate.

Though I wanted to launch Puck Junk much sooner--I got the idea in fall 2006 and started designing it in spring of 2007--I didn't actually get around to launch it until October 5, 2007.

I like hockey cards, writing and making websites. This site seemed like a good combination of the three. And I'm glad I followed through with it.

I won't beat myself up on how I wish I was writing more. We bloggers do the best we can, given that this is a hobby and not a full-time job.

But I am proud to say that I've written more during the past year than in either of the previous 2.

In 3 relatively short years, I went from a site that got maybe a dozen visits a month to a site that gets around 2,000. Not quite Amazon.com-level traffic, but I appreciate that anyone would want to read what I write.

And I've become "online friends" with other bloggers who also share my passion of collecting and reminiscing.

Some readers have sent me cards to help out my collection--not because they want anything in exchange, but because they enjoy this site.

A few people have told me how they've dug out their "old" cards from the 1990s, and have started collecting again. One guy mentioned that he was going try and finish his 1990-91 Pro Set hockey set with his 6-year old son.

So this site has done more than just help me blab about my collection. In some small way, I've been able to contribute to the hobby.

But enough about me...and this site. October 5 is an important day for 2 very good reasons...

Both Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy were born on October 5, 1965.

For those bad at math, that makes them 45 years old. A crazy coincidence that two of the greatest hockey players ever would be born in Quebec on the exact same date.

Why hasn't Quebec made October 5 a holiday? If not for Puck Junk, then for Mario and Patrick.

What the...?

I got a package in the mail on Friday, but I wasn't expecting anything. No recent trades, no eBay purchases. What could this be? Waitaminute....

..the postmark reads Nov. 05, '09. This was sent out almost a year ago.

Quickly opening the package, I found this:

A 1990-91 Boston Bruins team-issue set. That's strange...I already have one.

And then I remembered. I bought this on eBay a year ago. A month after paying for it, I still hadn't received it so the seller sent me a second set, which I did receive. I guess the eBay seller's first attempt finally made it through, 11 months later.

Gotta love the post office.

Anyway, I reviewed this set last year. If anyone is interested in trading for this one, it is available.