Signature Sundays - A Very Generous Gift

After seven full years of operating this blog, I'm still astounded from time to time at the generosity shown by those that enjoy this hobby.  Recently I received a surprise card in the mail from Mitch R, whom I exchanged some cards with a few months ago.  Inside was a note letting me know that hopefully the card would provide some material for a Signature Sundays post.  Well, that's the least I could do to show my gratitude!

W-O-W!  When I first laid eyes on this card I was speechless for a couple of minutes.  It's not every day that someone sends you an autograph of one of the top 5 hockey players ever to lace up a pair of skates.  Not only that, but this particular card has special significance to me as it was the one hockey card I can remember having as a kid that depicted Gordie with the Whalers.

A '79-80 Topps or O-Pee-Chee Howe would have been out of the question for an 8-year-old at that time, but a '90-91 Pro Set certainly wasn't!  I'm as positive as one can possibly be that the signature is authentic, comparing it against a couple of certified Howe autographs that I own as well as a puck that I had signed in person when I was lucky enough to meet Gordie many years ago.  The odd 'G' with a crisp straight line but "shaky" curvature, the way that first 'o' in Gordon doesn't quite close at the top, the distinctive 'H' and 'e' to end the signature, all fits and looks legit to me.  I'm not sure how Mitch came across this yet, although I'm sure I'll find out soon.  One thing is for sure, this instantly becomes a cherished piece of my Hartford Whalers collection.  

Mr. Hockey has been experiencing some health struggles of late, I hope he is resting and well this holiday season.

As if that amazing gesture weren't enough, Mitch also happened to knock a card off of my 'Most Wanted' list that had been sitting there for well over a year, in the form of this Dominic Roussel from the 1992-93 UD Ameri-Can Holograms insert set.  This completes the 6-card insert set for me, and gets me a little closer to a master set of '92-93 UD hockey.  Just a few of those pesky Gretzky Hockey Heroes cards to go I believe...

I'm not even sure how to thank you for this fantastic package of cards Mitch!  One thing I do know is that I'll be stuffing a bubble mailer full of as many Red Wings as I can get my hands on and sending it your way soon.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!