14-15 Upper Deck Series 1 Group F Eric Lindros Game Jersey

Usually white swatches are lame and unexciting. Not this one though, this one is filthy!

14-15 Upper Deck Eric Lindros Game Jersey

This looks like a pretty solid puck mark that the Big E took to the big torso. Say what you want about jersey cards, I still enjoy them and when you can land them for a $1.50 like I did in the spring for this one, it's all fantastic. Not all my past pick ups are jaw droppers but I couldn't resist a bargain when I saw it so the Big E joined my big collection.

Dirt Cheap Game Used Post 2

Here is another quick and simple post. This is another cheap pick up from my LCS. Same price as Joe and should be in the HOF like Joe.

What is amazing about this card is it's Eric Lindros! What isn't amazing about this card is how badly its a franken-card. For start, he is wearing a Rangers uniform. Second, it says he is on the Maple Leafs. Third if you are really keen, you would recognize that white swatch is Philadelphia Flyers white. Ok, maybe that is a stretch, but on the back of the card it does say it is from a Flyers jersey so there are three different teams all on one card. 

But it is still a Lindros game used card and that trumps all its flaws! Once he makes it into the Hall, I will have all three I need because I already have an auto rookie.  

Eric Lindros Patch - Deal of the Summer

With all the new additions to my collection, this is likely the biggest in terms of "value" and also the best deal of the summer. Upon first inspection, the card seems like millions of other patch cards out there from the last 12 years of production.

What makes this card special on closer inspection are the fine details. First off, this features a nice patch that actually is 4 colours. Blue, Silver, Red and Grey. The upper left looks greyish in the scan, but is actually silver. This patch apparently came from the 01-02 season  when Eric was wearing one of New York's third jerseys. That season was the last of Eric's strong seasons (37 goals and 73 points) before his unfortunate decline in production.

The second feature is the gold foil and the card is numbered out of 88. What makes this significant, is this is from the 02-03 Prism McDonald's Hockey set. Patches in this set were produced based on the numbers 250 and the players number. For example, 250 Eric Lindros patch cards were produced, 88 being of the gold variety (his playing number) and 162 silver versions were also made.

What was the biggest surprise to me when I bought this card for 9 dollars was the book value when I brought it home and checked the Beckett Bible was 200 dollars. That was a very pleasant surprise, however, I just loved this card when I saw it and the price was more than fair regardless of BV. But, I would be lying if I said that little bonus didn't just make it that much more sweet.

Of course if a hardcore Lindros fan came along and offered be equivalent BV in trade, I would take it, but all the same I would have definitely paid more than 9 bucks for this card without knowing its BV.

Recent TTMs

Even though I have been buying more autos than writing letters in the last couple of months (will share more later on those), I have been lucky to have some TTMs return home over the last month or so. Two that I got back earlier this month are Eric Lindros and Jeremy Roenick. Both are players I loved and worshiped as a kid and to have both sign rookies for me is truly awesome. Roenick loves signing for fans and was willing to sign three cards for me (2 Rookies and an All-Star Card) and he included a small form letter with his return. The return time was about 6 months on the Roenick cards.

Eric was a faster signer than Jeremy, but since I didn't know if he would sign for sure, I just sent along the one card. I received this card about two months after mailing out the letter.

Here is more of the Lindros Post.

Here is more of the Roenick Post.

1991 Classic Draft Picks

Back in the early 90’s, not only were sets being mass produced, there also seemed to be dozens of different sets released. Classic and 7^th inning sketch are two examples of releases that focused on stars from the CHL and players who were drafted by NHL clubs. During my first life as a hockey card collector, I believed many of those early 90’s cards would be worth something someday. In my second life as a collector I know that is total BS. I remember getting a factory sealed set of ’91 Classic Hockey for about 5 bucks and I decided that I would NEVER open it and someday it will be worth something.

Well someday is now, and it is worth less I paid. However, some people like this person believe that a set limited to just 360 000 serial numbered sets should be worth $250. Meanwhile, there are many other people on eBay who disagree and have theirs listed for around 3-5 bucks.

So to see WHO was right, I turned to the most trusted resources in sports card collecting and it turns out the set is indeed worthless (BV $3). So what harm is there is opening mine up and actually seeing what cards are inside…….Down the Rabbit Hole we go!

Here is Mr. Lindros on the Top. Clearly the reason why anyone would want to buy this!

Here is the bottom with my certificate of authenticity!!

It is like being a member of an exclusive club that happens to let anyone in with 5 bucks!

Here is the checklist. I must say, it is pretty impressive looking!

The set features 50 of the first 62 picks in the 91 entry draft. A few notable misses from the first 62 are players like Brian Rolston and Sandis Ozolinsh. But some great surprise hits like Palffy, Osgood and Jozef Stumpel.

Here is what the back of the cards look like.

A pretty clean design with junior stats and a small blurb about the player and which club selected them.

One of the best third overall picks of all-time!

4-time Cup winner and has won at EVERY level possible.

Philly had a steal with Forsberg at the 6th spot.

Shame they traded him to Quebec for Lindros, it would have been neat to see what he could have done with Renberg and Leclair!

The Wizard

Ray Whitney just seemed to get better with age. 926 career points for a guy picked in the second round...not bad!

I always liked Jozef Stumpel and I felt he was a seriously underrated as a player.

Jozef is in the KHL and still playing. Finished 5th on the Minsk Dynamo team in scoring, not bad for a 38 year old.

Yanic Perreault

One of the greatest face-off men in NHL history!

Chris Osgood

Whether you like him or not, you can't argue with winning!

Michael Nylander

As you can see, Classic didn't have an NHL license and couldn't show the team crests on their jerseys. I always thought Nylander was crazy talented but he never put up the numbers like I thought he was capable of. Judging from the hair, I would say he liked "Saved By The Bell".

Ahhh the Rocket

Had way too much hype and expectation around his talents, there was no way he could live up to them (ala Alexandre Daigle). But managed a respectable NFL/CFL career. No hockey career though....I might see if he is available to join my ball hockey league since I doubt his skating ability.

Well there you have it, the set isn't bad by 1991 standards and I did enjoy busting it open and I will find it a home in an album somewhere. Do any of you have this set? Have you cracked the seal or are you like the 300 000 or so out there who will cling to hope that someday it will be valuable?