97-98 BAP Joe Thornton Auto "Rookie"

So with the playoff now underway and nearly all teams have played at least one game, my sentimental favourite to win the Cup is Joe Thornton. Don't get my wrong there are a few other teams I would like to see win the Stanley Cup over the Sharks (namely Chicago (my second team), Panthers (I enjoy their rise to success), Nashville (Ryan Ellis) ) but Joe has always been there in the NHL working hard and has done much of it with a level of class and professionalism (if you don't mind forgetting about Hertl's four goal game).

One project that has really hit the backburner is my attempt at all 250 cards in the 97-98 BAP autograph set. At the moment I am about half way there with a few of the big names missing and in the last year I was able to cross one off and with the Sharks winning last night I felt it was a good time to share this one.

97-98 BAP Joe Thornton Auto

I use the term "rookie" in quotes because while this card is from his rookie season, during the 90's it was very common for companies to try and poach rookies before they were rookies in the NHL. The most classic case is Eric Lindros but many others were poached by Upper Deck thanks to their license with Team Canada.

This is my second Thornton auto, my first is on coaster of his Junior B team thanks to an ex-girlfriend who was a high school buddy of Joe's. I like this card a great deal because it has his old number 6 on it and it helps me get one step closer to completely my set.

For those of you who's teams are no longer in contention, do you have any back up teams or sentimental favourites for this post-season?

The Swap Meet Part 2 - Auto Goal

In addition to the vintage, I was able to buy 20 autos and some of them where auto rookies which is a nice bonus in my books. I don't know why, but something about an autographed rookie card that makes them extra special. So here they are:

Chris Philips 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Former 1st overall deserves to be the first one listed. I think he is hoping to finish his career with the Sens who are currently rebuilding.

Steve Shields 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Don't know why this scanned so blue, but the auto is sweet. The look on his face, isn't so.

Cory Stillman 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto
Another one still kicking around the league. Always dependable and a pretty decent auto too.

Marco Sturm 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto Rookie
Did you know Marco has had 7 - 20+ goal seasons in his career? Another nice auto.

Ron Tugnutt 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Who doesn't love this guy? Before there was Dwayne Roloson stopping rubber galore, there was Ron Tugnutt. I will never forget his game in 2000 against the Flyers when he stopped 70/72 shots only to lose 2-1.

Keith Tkachuk 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

I was STOKED to see this one in the $2 box. This two time 50 goal scorer has always been on of my favourite players from the 90's.

Nick Kyperos 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto
Kypper isn't a bad TV analyst and was a pretty good enforcer in his day too. Love the photo on this one.

David Legwand 99-00 BAP Millenium Signature Series
Second overall pick from '97 has never really matched expectations but he still has worked himself into a pretty decent career.

Peter Mueller 05-06 Heroes and Prospects Series 2
This card is a neat one as it is his first major release card and it is autographed. Books for 25 bucks and is the most "valuable" of my auto finds. I like it a lot, but it isn't my fav.

Lyle Odelein 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Lyle was tough as nails and a great enforcer. Another auto I was really happy to pick up.

Jacob DeSerres 09-10 BTP Goalie graphs
Bought this because I don't own any BTP cards. This kid was one great junior goalie who just couldn't get signed by the Flyers. He is now going to play CIS hockey this fall for the Calgary Dinos. Here is hoping he can get back in the an NHL organization.

Kris Draper 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

This kid is a WINNER. I still remember him captaining Canada at the WJHC. A great NHL player who can do just about anything. Spent his entire career with the Red Wings.

Patrik Elias 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto Rookie

I couldn't believe this one was in the box too! I have his auto, I have his rookie, but not both on the same card. This was one of my favourite autos for sure.

Adam Graves 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Great player, nice auto of another former 50 goal guy.

05-06 ITG Heroes and Prospects Eric Fehr

Neat auto, couldn't leave this one behind. I am not in love with the card, but it lists for 20 bucks.

Peter Bondra 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

503 career goals, averaging 0.465 goals per game! Bondra was amazing in his day and I think he was every bit as good as Pavel Bure without the flash....Just my opinion.

Curtis McElhinney 09-10 BTP goalie graphs
Another one I couldn't leave behind even if I end up trading this one.

Daymond Langkow 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Just did a post on this guy and here is his auto. A must have if I say so.

Pavol Demitra 97-98 Pinnacle BAP Auto

Wow. I don't need to say why I got this one.

Pavol Demitra 99-00 BAP Millennium Signature Series

Ditto. I do like he numbered this one. The auto looks nicer too.

There you have it. These are the autos I got with my purchase at the swap meet. I still have my 4 game-used and 4 rookies to come.

97-98 BAP Ebay Auto Lot Purchase

If you are ever looking to get some cheap autographs look no further than 97-98 Be A Player. Boxes of these are still out on the market for about 32 bucks which will land you 16 autographs. The one knock against this set is NO Wayne, Mario or Patrick autos. I was looking at two auctions the other day on Ebay. One was for 3 unopened packs which had a buy it now for 8 bucks or a lot of 10 which was up for auction and I won with a 6 dollar bid. So having won the bid, I decided not to take a chance on the 3 packs and instead won another auction on some sweet vintage which I will share next week!

Here is my haul which tallies for 60 cents a card.

Steve Washburn Rookie.

Autograph isn't the finest I have ever seen but it isn't an initial either. Steve had a short NHL career with the best season being his 3rd where he had 19 points in 58 games. Steve kicked around a few pro leagues but never met the expectations on him from junior where he had a great career with the '67s.

Scott Walker

Scott Walker was a bit of a late bloomer like Ray Whitney. Had a couple of decent seasons with Nashville and Carolina with the best being 03-04 when he had 25 goals and 67 points.

Janne Niimimaa

I like that Janne numbered his autograph, and I wish more players did that! Janne started his career off well with the Flyers and Oilers before making himself disappear in Montreal (which I am sure isn't easy). He reappeared in Europe where he is currently a star defenceman with Lulea HF of the Swedish Elite League.

Aaron Miller

Aaron Miller may have some seriously bad luck. His rookie season he played just 5 reg season games, meanwhile, the Avalanche would then win the Stanley Cup but that meant no ring for Aaron because he played no playoff games and only 5 regular season he hadn't played enough games to qualify as a Stanley Cup member. Then the next time Colorado would win is in 2001. Well half way through the season Aaron found himself traded to Los Angeles. This deal was important because Rob Blake found himself in Colorado which used their top notch defence to beat the defending champion NJ Devils. So again no ring for Aaron. Aaron was also a member of the 2002 USA Olympic team which lost in the gold medal game to Canada. Don't worry Aaron, you are a winner in my heart!

Dan McGillis

As a former Devil, I was happy to get this autograph. However, we had him buried in the minors before the season was out with us and he never played in the NHL again. Not one of Lou's best signings that is for sure.

Vladamir Malakhov

Speaking of bad signings, Malakhov is also a former Devil. The first time around he was picked up was before the trade deadline and along with Mogilny were they were very instrumental in the Devils winning their second Stanley Cup. Lou signed him in 05 for another go with the club and the season didn't quite go as planned as Malakhov had trouble playing well after the lockout and was traded to the Sharks in 06 as a measure to get his salary off the books. It cost NJ a first rounder and in exchange we were given players who are either in Russia or some beer league right now.

Ken Belanger

Don't let the mullet fool you, he was a tough guy! Averaged almost 3 PIM a game for his career. Interesting auto too!

Craig Simpson

Poor bastard was apart of the Gretzky trade that sent Wayne to St. Louis. Couldn't live up to expectations and only broke double digits for goals twice.

Jeff Brown

This card was the main reason for purchasing the whole lot. I liked Jeff Brown a lot as a kid and always felt he was underrated! 747 games played and he finished with 585 points, not bad for a d-man and made one Cup final with Vancouver. Neat auto too!

Kevin Dean

Another Cup winner with NJ. A part of the Devils '95 win but only played a few playoff games. Bounced around between the NHL and AHL but made it for a total of 331 games. Nice to get another auto from the lot of former Devils players.

As you can see, 10 autographs for pretty cheap. Many wouldn't be my first choice and I already have Malakhov from a previous pack but to me Brown, Niimimaa, Ward and Dean are worth the price alone and the others are as good as freebies.

Goes to show that TTM's aren't the only way to get cheap autos, keep an eye on some Ebay auctions and you might find there are other deals to be had!