Signature Sundays - Gary Simmons

Now that I've gotten all of the 2012-13 Panini Classics Signatures cards posted I can move on to some other great autographs that have been waiting on the back burner for a while.  This week I've got one of my most recent hockey pick-ups to show you, a card I fell in love with as soon as I laid eyes on it:

This fantastic Gary Simmons autograph comes from last year's Panini Prizm release.  Yes it's a sticker auto, as are all the autographs on the checklist, but I don't mind in this case.  The killer photograph featuring the beat-up, brown pads and retro California Golden Seals sweater is what makes the card for me.  Of course Gary's signature cobra mask is the icing on the cake.  This is one of the more interesting retro photos I've seen used on a card the past few years. 

In one sense, the pads, jersey and mask don't match in the least, in another sense they look just right for the decade that this photograph came from; the '70s.  Throw in the fact that this card is super shiny and looks even better in person than it comes across in the scan, and you've got a winner in my book.

I think this particular autograph happens to be a short-print.  The card set me back somewhere around $20, which is more than I spend on the majority of my autographs.  I'd have to say this is one of my top five autographs I've landed all year though, and it's not like I broke the bank adding it to my collection.  Job well done on this one Panini (even if you did use the same photo on the card back).

Fowl

Today seemed like the most appropriate day to post these two cards. They joined my collection courtesy of my most recent COMC shipment a month or two ago.

I've had my eye on this one for a while, but could never seem to find it in a condition I was satisfied with.  Many of the late '80s/early '90s Classic releases are prone to chipping along the edges.  While I'm okay with that on a vintage card, it bugs me on one that was released in 1987.  This mint copy cost me an even $1.  It's actually not the first card in my collection that references Boggs' love for chicken, but it's certainly my favorite.

The other card is a hockey release, from the 1991-92 Score Kellogg's set.  This was the final card in a 24-card set that was released in specially marked boxes of Kellogg's cereal products at the time.  The other 23 cards feature NHL players, and apparently Cornelius here was short-printed.

I've wanted this card ever since I saw Sal from Puck Junk's great write-up a few years ago now.  Certainly took me long enough to track down my own copy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my collecting friends and blog readers here in the United States!

Quick Rip - 2008-09 Upper Deck MVP Hockey

Here's a quick pack rip of 2008-09 Upper Deck MVP hockey. Just seems like the perfect time of year to open up a pack of hockey cards. This one's been sitting on the shelf for a few months since I acquired it in a repack...

Future HOFer (and briefly a Boston Bruin!) Jarome Iginla graces the pack with his presence.  8 cards included, let's tear in...

I've never been a huge fan of this set quite honestly.  I find the design to be busy, and uninspired.  It doesn't look half bad when paired with the Lightning's team colors, but...

...doesn't work so well with other teams as far as I'm concerned.

So far every player in the pack is no longer with the team they were with when this set hit the shelves.  Not surprising I guess given that it's been 6 years.

Here's a guy that's still with the same squad, and probably the best card in the pack.  Books at a couple bucks in my greater-than-a-year-old Beckett Hockey.

Oilers hot pack!  I ended up with 5 base cards and 3 inserts.  This Sam Gagner was my least favorite.

The other two were Winter Classic inserts.  The game was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago this particular season.

That's a wrap.  If the turkey doesn't put you to sleep tomorrow a pack of '08-09 MVP certainly will if you've got one handy...

Signature Sundays - Closing the Curtain on Classics Signatures

At long last I've reached the end of my 2012-13 Panini Classics Signatures collection.  I had a blast collecting these autographs over the last two years or so since the set's release.  The final two that I saved for today are both HOFers and both short-printed autographs...

Lanny McDonald may be my favorite overall autograph in the set, although there are certainly many solid options to choose from.  That signature is just spectacular though; legible, stylish and used about as much card as possible.  I also commend Panini for selecting what I feel is the perfect photograph for a Lanny McDonald card, one which depicts him sporting the captain's C and the stylish mustache for the Flames.  I've wanted a Lanny McDonald autograph since I returned to collecting in 2007, and it's taken me this long to finally land one.

The final autograph I have is another player I admire very much, defenseman Chris Chelios.  While the Stanley Cup Championships, Norris Trophies and many All-Star selections are impressive, what I loved most about Chris was that he just couldn't stop playing the game he loved.  I think of him sort of as my generation's Gordie Howe, in that he was still seeing NHL action into his late '40s!

There are still 27 or 28 autographs out there that I don't have, but they're all either cards I've never even seen, or super expensive.  For example, Peter Stastny is still on my list, however one of his autographs just went for $150 on eBay the other day.  No thanks.

To celebrate the end of my run, below are scans of every single one of my autographs from the set.  If you're a fan of hockey history (and have a few minutes to spare), give it a scroll, I could almost guarantee there will be at least one or two players that interest you!

Wow, seeing all those together really makes me wish that Panini still had an NHL license.  Don't worry though, while I've been focusing on this set for the past couple of years I've built up quite a backlog of autographed cards.  I think I've got enough in hand to float me for a solid year of Signature Sundays posts.  Looking forward to getting rolling next weekend...