The Boston Bruins retired Willie O'Ree's number 22 this week. As I watched the ceremony, I sat in my mancave and flipped through a couple of binders of hockey cards and old BeeHive photos. Tuesday was the 64th anniversary of O’Ree’s NHL debut, when he broke the NHL’s color barrier. On Wednesday, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. “From a young age, … [Read more...] about Willie O’Ree Waited 40 Years For His Rookie Card
Ken Dryden Rookie Card Turns 50
One of the most iconic hockey cards of all time is celebrating it’s 50th birthday this season. The Ken Dryden 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee and Topps rookie cards were first ripped from real wax as the sweet aroma of delicious, yet sometimes crispy, sticks of gum tingled the senses of collectors. The Dryden rookie card is widely considered the premier hockey card of the 1970s. Just … [Read more...] about Ken Dryden Rookie Card Turns 50
2020-21 Upper Deck SP Signature Legends Preview
It may seem a little odd that the Upper Deck Company has a 2020-21 hockey card product coming out in April, 2022. But in this day and age of COVID-19, pandemics, cancelled games, closed borders and everything else that the current plague has brought with it, how could we even think for a minute this is unusual? The beauty of 2020-21 Upper Deck SP Signature Legends is that … [Read more...] about 2020-21 Upper Deck SP Signature Legends Preview
Recalling Kurt Warner’s Sudden Stardom and a Card Company’s Efforts to Chronicle It
In the years that I worked in the sports card industry developing products and marketing plans for various manufacturers, there were days in which I felt I was in the right place at the right place at the right time. There were also days when I was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. And then there was the perfect storm. Kurt Warner. He was the perfect player … [Read more...] about Recalling Kurt Warner’s Sudden Stardom and a Card Company’s Efforts to Chronicle It
Tourney Scrapped, But There Will Be Tim Hortons World Juniors Hockey Cards
The tournament was canceled, but there will be trading cards for the World Junior Hockey Championships. A couple of months after their annual NHL card set was released, Tim Hortons and Upper Deck are teaming up once again at Canadian Tim Hortons quick service restaurants for another hockey card release. The Tim Hortons Upper Deck Team Canada hockey card promotion … [Read more...] about Tourney Scrapped, But There Will Be Tim Hortons World Juniors Hockey Cards
John Madden Left His Mark On Collecting
Football lost one of its most iconic figures Dec. 28 with the passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden. He was 85 years old. Madden had an incredible life in football – a life that made him say he never worked a day in his life, and that he was “the luckiest guy in the world” during his Hall of Fame induction speech. He is one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time … [Read more...] about John Madden Left His Mark On Collecting
Tim Horton Was Hockey’s Strongest Man Before He Was Hockey’s Strongest Brand
With the delay of Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey until January, more collectors than ever have been filling their thirst for collecting hockey cards with the 2021-22 Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey promotion. The annual set has dropped the puck on the NHL collecting season for the past several years. Packs of three cards were available for 99 cents with a drink, or $1.99 per pack … [Read more...] about Tim Horton Was Hockey’s Strongest Man Before He Was Hockey’s Strongest Brand
WJC Tourney Puts UD Team Canada Juniors Set On Center Stage
The 2021-22 World Junior Hockey Championships are underway. The annual tournament for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s U20 world championship begins on Boxing Day each year. Running through January 5, it's the world’s premier annual best-on-best hockey tournament. For collectors, it is also the best opportunity to catch a glimpse of the players who will be … [Read more...] about WJC Tourney Puts UD Team Canada Juniors Set On Center Stage
CFL Fans and Collectors Had Great Stuff to Chase 50 Years Ago
The long-awaited Grey Cup is over for another year, and football fans got the chance to see an instant classic. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers scored a 33-25 win over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats in overtime in one of the greatest CFL games ever played. In the hobby, collectors always speculate that championships will equate to rising card values. Sometimes, that is true. For the … [Read more...] about CFL Fans and Collectors Had Great Stuff to Chase 50 Years Ago
Women’s Hockey Legend Kim St-Pierre a Fan Favorite at Expo Signing Sessions
While the recent Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo in Toronto was a hockey autograph collector’s paradise, there was one guest in particular whose popularity has proven how far the hobby has come in the last generation. Kim St-Pierre, considered by many to be the greatest female goaltender of all time, was a fan favorite at the show. The Fall Expo coincides with the Hockey … [Read more...] about Women’s Hockey Legend Kim St-Pierre a Fan Favorite at Expo Signing Sessions