2012 Spring Sports Card Expo Update

Early word out of Toronto indicates that they’re gathering an impressive line-up of autograph guests for the 2012 Spring Sports Card Expo.

Held every year in Toronto, Ontario, the Expo is always a large draw. Collectors and dealers can browse hundreds of tables of rare and not-so-rare sports cards, non-sports cards, and various non-card related items.

The early autograph guest line-up for the May 4th to May 6th, 2012 show will include Gilbert Perreault, Ed Giacomin, Rogie Vachon, Darryl Sittler, and Dominik Hasek.

More guests will be announced as the event approaches.

2012 NHL All-Star Fan Fair Redemptions

Panini has unveiled their plans for this week’s 2012 NHL All-Star Fan Fair wrapper-redemption program in conjunction with the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, Ontario.

In addition to the impressive base card checklist and inserts, Panini has included a stunning list of autograph and memorabilia cards within its redemption program.

 

In addition to producing autographed versions of the base 2012 NHL All-Star Game set, Panini has stated that they have added signatures to many inserts from recent Panini products and stamped them with a special “All-Star 2011-2012″ foil logo.

Also, the special 2011 NHL Draft memorabilia cards of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog, and Adam Larsson will feature oversized swatches of jerseys from the night they were drafted.

If you can’t make the event, make sure you check out eBay to find the cards needed for your collection.

Winter 2012 Classic Auction Begins!

Gentlemen, start your bidding!

Now open is the latest Classic Collectibles auction. The auction includes items such as game-used jerseys, pucks, Stanley Cup rings, graded hockey cards, Bee Hive photos, and vintage memorabilia. The highlight of the current auction is Miracle on Ice member Ken Morrow’s Team U.S.A 1980 Winter Olympics Game-Worn Jersey!

Other notable items include:

  • Jacques Lemaire’s 2010 Olympic Team Canada Gold Medal & 10K Gold Diamond Ring
  • Eric Brolin’s 1926-27 Detroit Cougars Game-Worn Jersey
  • Kim St-Pierre’s 2010 Olympics Game-Used Blocker, Trapper, & Pads
  • Jacques Plante’s 1957 Montreal Canadiens Game-Used Jersey
  • Sidney Crosby’s 2006-07 Pittsburgh Penguins Game-Worn Jersey
  • Phil Esposito’s 1972 Canada-Russia Game Jersey
  • Mike Bossy’s 1986-87 NY Islanders Game-Used Jersey
  • 1910-11 Sweet Caporal Postcard #41 Didier Pitre Graded PSA 4
  • 1924-25 William Paterson V145-2 Collection of 46 Including Vezina, Morenz, & Joliat
  • 1919-1921 W514 #2 – Babe Ruth – Graded PSA 3
  • 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee Series A #23 Howie Morenz Graded PSA 7
  • 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Graded KSA 3
  • Maurice Richard’s 1959 Montreal Canadiens 523rd Goal Signed CCM Game-Used Stick

The auction will run until February 22nd, 2012 and collectors can either bid at www.classicauctions.net or via telephone at (450) 638-7058. Get bidding before it’s too late!

Sunday Fun-Day Fun Facts – 2012-01-22

Two cards from 2010-11 Dominion Hockey that were intended to be autographed by Russian superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Evgeni Malkin have been making news in the past few weeks. Ovechkin got the cards first and returned them signed. After that, things went a little off the rails.

Once Ovechkin returned the cards to Panini, the cards were sent to Evgeni Malkin. He signed his cards as instructed, however he also took the liberty of inscribing a few notes in Russian on a few cards to Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk.

The translated Russian goes as follows:

Malkin’s message to Datsyuk, “How are you?”

Malkin’s message to Kovalchuk, “Smile”

Kovalchuk responded with the simple reply of “Relax!”

In these days of repetitive card designs and ideas, it’s nice to see the players having a little fun. It’s surprising that Panini hasn’t used the publicity and released the cards. No doubt, there would be many collectors interested in them.

I, for one, would enjoy more personal inscriptions on cards. Your thoughts?

Big Week for In The Game!

After many years of being one of Upper Deck’s big draws, Mr. Hockey will now be found in In The Game products.

Collectors can expect to find autograph and game-used memorabilia cards of Gordie Howe starting with 2011-12 Heroes and Prospects from In The Game which releases on February 23, 2012.

 

 

“It has been several years since Mr. Howe was prominently featured as part of In The Game’s products and we are incredibly pleased to be working with him once again,” said company President Dr. Brian Price. “Our working relationship goes back even farther than that and collectors will be pleased to have an opportunity to get more cards of one of hockey’s greatest icons.”

2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects is currently available for pre-order at Canada Card World along with many other great products from In The Game.

News Release – In The Game

The role of the captain on a hockey team extends far past the ice and the person that wears the “C” is usually the leader in the dressing room as well. They bring the team up when they are facing defeat. They shoulder most of the blame whenever the other side wins. Those with this heavy responsibility are often ranked among the game’s greatest players and many of them will be found in box of Captain-C from In The Game.

Releasing in March 2012, Captain-C is a fitting tribute to those whose loyalties are proudly displayed on their chests. Each box will contain 10 cards and five of them will be Premium Foil Base Cards featuring 100 great leaders from throughout hockey history.

The other five cards in the box will be a mix of Autographs and Game-Used Memorabilia. Like with most products from In The Game, these hits will be produced in limited quantities and have both Gold and Silver versions. Look for autographs of such notable leaders as Dave Keon, Bobby Clarke, Jean Beliveau, and Roberto Luongo!

Among the incredible Authentic Game-used Memorabilia collections found in Captain-C are Game-Used Jersey, Game-Used Patch, Stick and Jersey, Franchise Captains (featuring three players from the same club), and Captain’s-C.

Quantities of Captain-C will be very limited so be sure to make your order.  Pre-orders will be available soon at Canada Card World.

Sunday Fun-Day Fun Facts – 15/01/2012

Looking for an interesting and stylish way to put those added touches to your collectables room?

Recently there has been an increase in the interest in vintage signs. However, since those signs can be either quite expensive or quite hard to find in good condition, a new option has appeared.

Available at websites such as Amazon and eBay, these vintage tin reproductions are 12.5″ X 16″ in size. The signs are made to appear old and rusty but the surface is smooth all over yet gives an antique look and feel.

Add some character to your man-cave. Check them out.

Who To Collect – Adam Henrique

There’s nothing like a Gordie Howe hat-trick to put a rookie on the map.

Adam Henrique has been having a fine rookie season and just moved into second place in NHL rookie scoring behind Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. But because of The Nuge, Rico was not getting much press. Now, with The Nuge on the shelf, Adam Henrique has a serious shot at the Calder Trophy for 2011-12. And a goal, an assist, and a fight with recent 500-goal man, Jarome Iginla, has made him all that more collectable.

Adam Henrique is currently playing for the New Jersey Devils and was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Interestingly enough, Henrique was a junior line-mate of Taylor Hall who is now a line-mate with Nugent-Hopkins.

Henrique made his NHL debut on April 11th, 2011 but waited until the 2011-12 season to score his first NHL goal on November 3, 2011. Due to an injury to Travis Zajac, Henrique has been making the most of playing on New Jersey’s top line with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk. He currently leads all rookies in road points and his 7 short-handed points lead the league (with teammate Parise).

Adam Henrique rookie cards are available in most 2011-12 NHL products available at Canada Card World.

2011-12 Panini Limited Hockey – Release Date Approaches Quickly

This past Friday afternoon, Panini did quality control and pack-out from their production facility for 2011-12 Limited Hockey.

This season, 11-12 Panini Limited will feature a 175-card set and 3 Autographs or Memorabilia cards per box as well as 4 Commons/High numbers/Parallels/Inserts.

Other features include:

  • High Numbers 25 of the league’s top goalies – limited to just 99 copies!
  • Phenoms RCs: Each version features a unique, definable patch!
  • Base Phenoms – features hard signed autos with team logo patches.
  • Silver Spotlights – feature each team’s secondary logo.
  • Gold Spotlights – feature either a commemorative draft year patch or an NHLPA patch.
  • Platinum Spotlight – features an NHL patch.
  • Rookie Class Letters/Numbers Signatures – feature signed jersey swatches from the game’s top prospects!
  • Net Presence Memorabilia – Jumbo swatch of twine from nets used at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game!
  • Base RCs /299, with three parallels /49, /10 and 1/1!
  • Brothers In Arms –  Memorabilia from NHL’s top goaltending tandems with Patch variations /25 or fewer!

  • Game Pucks feature swatches cut from game-used pucks. Prime versions with player autographs!
  • On-card autograph sets – Select Signatures, Back To The Future Signatures and Men of Mayhem Signatures!
  • 1/1 NHL Shields, 1/1 Limited Cut Signatures and 1/1 Manufacturer’s Marks!

2011-12 Panini Limited Hockey will be released this January 2012 soon and is still available for pre-order at Canada Card World.

ITG Enforcers – Patch Warfare

Brian Price of In The Game has been calling the new product ‘Enforcers’, a tough set to collect.

With patches like these below, collectors will be fighting off each other to get their hands on them.

Each pack of Enforcers will contain five authentic autographs, two game-used memorabilia, and five base cards.  The list of enforcers includes fan favourites such as Dave Semenko, Joey Kocur, Dave Manson, Basil McRae, Rob Ray, Stu Grimson, Marty McSorley, Brad May, Gino Odjick, Jim Kyte, Georges Laraque, Chris Nilan, Wendel Clark, and many more.

In The Game’s Enforcers will be released on January 19th, 2012 and is available for pre-order at Canada Card World.