2011 Top 20 Under $25 - #7 - Rogie Vachon Auto

I'd like to have this 2011 Top 20 countdown wrapped up in the next week or so, so let's proceed with card #7...

What is it? A Rogatien Vachon Brushstrokes Auto from 2008-09 Upper Deck Legends Masterpieces hockey
When and where did I get it? eBay of course, end of October
How much did it cost me? $12.99 (free shipping!)

I added at least 35 autographed cards to the collection in 2011, and this one is amongst my favorites. The '08-09 Legends Masterpieces set is in my opinion one of the best hockey sets to be released since I got back into collecting in 2007. At just 87 cards with no short prints, I was able to complete it fairly easily. Because I put my set together via a retail box and some singles though, I didn't end up with any autographs. I have picked up a handful of them since. The brown framed border gives these a similar look to the 2011 Gypsy Queen baseball framed parallels that everyone loved so much, and there are some great names on the checklist as well.

This one was purchased just because of how pleasing it is on the eyes. Rogie's autograph is one of the more unique looking signatures I've seen, and the photo on this card is perfect. I have quite a few cards of Vachon in the old Kings jersey, but this is the first in my collection that features the fantastic purple "double crown" mask. The brown pads also tie in nicely with the border frame. All in all a very aesthetically pleasing piece of cardboard.

The backs of the Brushstrokes auto cards are nothing fantastic, so instead here's Rogie's card from the base set, which isn't half bad either.

Coming up next in the countdown is an entire set of hockey cards that I got a real steal on...