bamlinden
Upstanding Member,
I can't believe the calendar year has turned already. Where does the time go?
I hope everyone had a great holiday season and found some time to rest and reflect.
I've been in awe of the tremendous Top 10 posts recently and decided to pull together a show & tell of my own. It's been a much slower year for me in terms of purchases.....but that doesn't mean I haven't been enjoying the hobby. I still try to go to as many shows and trade nights as I can and yes I still do my daily (hourly) eBay searches for Linden cards. I have a feeling I'll be doing that forever.....and why not - the hunt is always fun.
So......let's get to it.
#10 - Jason Arnott x3
That's right......it's a Jason Arnott base card. And when this piece of cardboard hit my mailbox earlier this year I thought it was filler for the other card that came with it. Then after a moment I realized that this must go to a Jason Arnott collector. Why?
Because it came with both the parallels.
So I asked the sender who these cards were destined for. He told me they were mine.
See it now?
Yeah, that's Trev sporting a cameo on the left hand side of the frame. I have a few other cameo cards in my Linden PC but I never in a million years would have caught this one.
So who did the detective work on this one? Well, it's my ol' Linden nemesis Kevin (kmitchel). He has been nothing short of awesome towards me (and many, many members of this great hobby) and I can't thank him enough for the kind gift. He is selfless and it is infectious. I try and do my best to Pay It Forward like Kevin and will continue to do so. Thanks very much!!
#9 - Phil Housley auto
Wha??? Really?? Yup.
First of all, it's a great looking card. Beautiful design, excellent photo, solid sig. Very happy to add it to the project.
I've been building a hard-signed Hall Of Fame autograph collection for a few years now and it's been a lot of fun. One of the stipulations I've placed on it is that I MUST trade for the cards that come into this PC. No buying. It makes acquiring cards a little more challenging - and it can help the wallet a bit.
It's been a passive pursuit this year with Phil being the only add. But that's ok...I'm not in a rush.
#8 - Oscar Gamble x3
OK......seriously......will there be any REAL Trevor Linden cards? Yes. Stay tuned.
But I'm not just a Linden collector. In fact, I'd argue that my Oscar Gamble player collection is the most fun project I've got going right now.
It all started with his iconic 1976 Topps Traded card (which I keep in my wallet.....and said wallet was accidentally washed - ugh) and it inspired me to chase his cards. He has less than 200 and most can be had for pennies.
These three I found locally at a trade night and was absolutely thrilled to unearth them. It really was like a needle in a haystack (like I said.....the hunt = FUN). The best part was - I needed all three of them. Best buck-fifty I spent all year.
I picked up a few more on COMC during their Black Friday sale but these three represent Oscar for this post.
That 'fro.........epic.
#7 - Trevor Linden Vault card
There we go. Good to see Trev make the list. But if you'd have told me a couple years ago that there would be a Vault card in my Top 10.....I'd have snickered.
It's true, my stance on the Vault cards have softened, in part due to this card - and the 14 other Vault cards I picked up as part of a massive Linden haul a couple months back. What can I say.....I caved. Not the first time, won't be the last.
This card though really looks nice and is a tough find (Vault or regular). Happy to add it.
#6 - Canucks Western Conference Champions ring
Again.....Wha??? Really?? Yup.
In what will go down as one of the most unique items I've picked up this year, this ring was more of a gag purchase - at first.
I've seen these types of rings floating around everywhere - some of them are really nice too, but this is the first time I've seen a Canucks one - and a Linden one.
It was on eBay for a long time with a huge BIN price. No thanks. But I kept an eye on it - for months - and the wait paid off.
The seller decided to list the ring as an auction with a .99 cent starting bid. Sure.....I'll keep an eye on it at that price.
So how much would you pay for the ring? $20? $40? How about $3.12? :cheer:
Funniest part was that it cost over three times as much to ship it. Still worth it though. And it fits!!
#5 - Linden Mega Patch
Here we go.....now it's time to get down to business.
This Mega Patch concept is one of my all-time favourites and I absolutely love the fact that UD decided to use a Linden Team Canada jersey for this. This 07/27 is my eighth card in the massive puzzle and I'm stunned to have almost a third of the crest. I know of another six that have surfaced and my dream would be to have a scan of every one of the cards so I can finish this....
I think this is frickin' cool.
And don't worry.....there will be another Mega pic before the end of this post.
#4 - Linden Captain's Crew /5
I mentioned earlier that I had obtained a massive Linden haul a couple months back. This year had been really slow with my main PC (mostly on purpose) but when this opportunity cam about...I couldn't resist.
Thirty-four Linden cards knocked off the wantlist in one fell swoop. It has been probably 20 years since I've been able to say that. A lot of them are solid, solid cards that just don't pop up everyday either.
This 'Captain's Crew' card is my fave of the bunch. I really like cards with an extra personalization to them - and it goes great with the 'Captain Canuck' card /25 I already have.
#3 - Howie Meeker rc
I started my ultimate set building project a number of years back - the iconic 1952/52 Parkhurst offering - and I have no doubt it will take me many, many years to complete it. Again.....I'm in no rush.
I'm building an unslabbed, poorer conditioned set but still want some nice looking cards. This Meeker is a perfect example of what I'm looking for.
No big creases, clean back and fairly well centered. Sure, there's a bit of a splotch in the bottom left......but for twenty bucks I'm not complaining.
I picked this up at the Summit show early in the year and it was a blast to pick up such a great card locally at a show. Really....it's the best way to do it.
#2 - Linden/Bure Stickwork
Like I said, picking up locally is the best way. This too was snagged at the Summit show...and I couldn't believe it when I saw it.
I'd seen this card dozens of times on eBay and for some reason it was calling out to me.
I kind of felt like it should be a part of my collection. But I already had a copy of this card and so I wasn't in dire need of it. The price tag was a little high and so I just kept an eye on it.
Fast forward to the Summit show and I did a triple take when I saw the card in a vendor's showcase. The price was right and I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough. How great that I found the card at a show and saw it in person.
#1 - Linden Mega Shoulder Patch
Here it is. The top card from my 2018 collecting escapades. And I can't believe I own it.
So this card came to me at the big Card Show that was held in October. I always make a point of going to the annual affair and always hope to find a Linden gem in the mix.
After scouring the tables - and finding little in the way of Linden cards, I started to ask a few of the "first time" vendors if they had any Linden's that might not be out on the table. This one guy said "I sure do" and proceeded to open up the biggest rubbermaid case I've ever seen. He began to search.
How long was this gonna take? And what kind of card would he surface with?
After a couple minutes he says "Don't worry....it'll be worth the wait". Huh. That's an interesting comment to make. Either you don't know your Linden cards.....or you've got something really special.
When he announced that he had found it I could see what looked to be the Mega Patch layout - I got excited. The he placed the card on the table and after a moment of confusion I got even more excited.
It wasn't the Mega Patch crest that I've been chasing - it was the impossible to find shoulder patch /3. Yeah.....it was with the wait.
I asked how much he wanted for it and his reply....."I've never really thought about it until just right now". What does that even mean??? He asked me to make an offer and after some careful consideration I took a fair stab at it. He said yes and I made the trip to the bank machine.
I still can't believe I have one. Not sure I'll land either of the other two (they've both surfaced and are a little out of my price range). But I can do this now.....
and that's good enough for me.
Well, that concludes my 2018 Top 10. I hope you enjoyed it (and made it to the end). As much as I enjoy collecting cards, I really enjoy the stories that connect me to the cards I obtain, the places I go to hunt down these treasures, the people that I meet and deal with, and the unlimited possibilities that this great hobby provide. It really truly is what we make of it.
And lastly, thank you to everyone I've dealt with over the years. You really are the glue that binds this hobby together. To those that provided me gifts this past year, a heartfelt thank you (Eddy.....you quitting this hobby anytime soon?? :devil: ). I will continue to do my absolute best to pay your gratitude forward. That started today with a donation to Hobby Insider itself. I urge you all who enjoy this site to consider giving a few dollars so that it can continue to be a place where we can come and share.
All the best in 2019!!!
I hope everyone had a great holiday season and found some time to rest and reflect.
I've been in awe of the tremendous Top 10 posts recently and decided to pull together a show & tell of my own. It's been a much slower year for me in terms of purchases.....but that doesn't mean I haven't been enjoying the hobby. I still try to go to as many shows and trade nights as I can and yes I still do my daily (hourly) eBay searches for Linden cards. I have a feeling I'll be doing that forever.....and why not - the hunt is always fun.
So......let's get to it.
#10 - Jason Arnott x3
That's right......it's a Jason Arnott base card. And when this piece of cardboard hit my mailbox earlier this year I thought it was filler for the other card that came with it. Then after a moment I realized that this must go to a Jason Arnott collector. Why?
Because it came with both the parallels.
So I asked the sender who these cards were destined for. He told me they were mine.
See it now?
Yeah, that's Trev sporting a cameo on the left hand side of the frame. I have a few other cameo cards in my Linden PC but I never in a million years would have caught this one.
So who did the detective work on this one? Well, it's my ol' Linden nemesis Kevin (kmitchel). He has been nothing short of awesome towards me (and many, many members of this great hobby) and I can't thank him enough for the kind gift. He is selfless and it is infectious. I try and do my best to Pay It Forward like Kevin and will continue to do so. Thanks very much!!
#9 - Phil Housley auto
Wha??? Really?? Yup.
First of all, it's a great looking card. Beautiful design, excellent photo, solid sig. Very happy to add it to the project.
I've been building a hard-signed Hall Of Fame autograph collection for a few years now and it's been a lot of fun. One of the stipulations I've placed on it is that I MUST trade for the cards that come into this PC. No buying. It makes acquiring cards a little more challenging - and it can help the wallet a bit.
It's been a passive pursuit this year with Phil being the only add. But that's ok...I'm not in a rush.
#8 - Oscar Gamble x3
OK......seriously......will there be any REAL Trevor Linden cards? Yes. Stay tuned.
But I'm not just a Linden collector. In fact, I'd argue that my Oscar Gamble player collection is the most fun project I've got going right now.
It all started with his iconic 1976 Topps Traded card (which I keep in my wallet.....and said wallet was accidentally washed - ugh) and it inspired me to chase his cards. He has less than 200 and most can be had for pennies.
These three I found locally at a trade night and was absolutely thrilled to unearth them. It really was like a needle in a haystack (like I said.....the hunt = FUN). The best part was - I needed all three of them. Best buck-fifty I spent all year.
I picked up a few more on COMC during their Black Friday sale but these three represent Oscar for this post.
That 'fro.........epic.
#7 - Trevor Linden Vault card
There we go. Good to see Trev make the list. But if you'd have told me a couple years ago that there would be a Vault card in my Top 10.....I'd have snickered.
It's true, my stance on the Vault cards have softened, in part due to this card - and the 14 other Vault cards I picked up as part of a massive Linden haul a couple months back. What can I say.....I caved. Not the first time, won't be the last.
This card though really looks nice and is a tough find (Vault or regular). Happy to add it.
#6 - Canucks Western Conference Champions ring
Again.....Wha??? Really?? Yup.
In what will go down as one of the most unique items I've picked up this year, this ring was more of a gag purchase - at first.
I've seen these types of rings floating around everywhere - some of them are really nice too, but this is the first time I've seen a Canucks one - and a Linden one.
It was on eBay for a long time with a huge BIN price. No thanks. But I kept an eye on it - for months - and the wait paid off.
The seller decided to list the ring as an auction with a .99 cent starting bid. Sure.....I'll keep an eye on it at that price.
So how much would you pay for the ring? $20? $40? How about $3.12? :cheer:
Funniest part was that it cost over three times as much to ship it. Still worth it though. And it fits!!
#5 - Linden Mega Patch
Here we go.....now it's time to get down to business.
This Mega Patch concept is one of my all-time favourites and I absolutely love the fact that UD decided to use a Linden Team Canada jersey for this. This 07/27 is my eighth card in the massive puzzle and I'm stunned to have almost a third of the crest. I know of another six that have surfaced and my dream would be to have a scan of every one of the cards so I can finish this....
I think this is frickin' cool.
And don't worry.....there will be another Mega pic before the end of this post.
#4 - Linden Captain's Crew /5
I mentioned earlier that I had obtained a massive Linden haul a couple months back. This year had been really slow with my main PC (mostly on purpose) but when this opportunity cam about...I couldn't resist.
Thirty-four Linden cards knocked off the wantlist in one fell swoop. It has been probably 20 years since I've been able to say that. A lot of them are solid, solid cards that just don't pop up everyday either.
This 'Captain's Crew' card is my fave of the bunch. I really like cards with an extra personalization to them - and it goes great with the 'Captain Canuck' card /25 I already have.
#3 - Howie Meeker rc
I started my ultimate set building project a number of years back - the iconic 1952/52 Parkhurst offering - and I have no doubt it will take me many, many years to complete it. Again.....I'm in no rush.
I'm building an unslabbed, poorer conditioned set but still want some nice looking cards. This Meeker is a perfect example of what I'm looking for.
No big creases, clean back and fairly well centered. Sure, there's a bit of a splotch in the bottom left......but for twenty bucks I'm not complaining.
I picked this up at the Summit show early in the year and it was a blast to pick up such a great card locally at a show. Really....it's the best way to do it.
#2 - Linden/Bure Stickwork
Like I said, picking up locally is the best way. This too was snagged at the Summit show...and I couldn't believe it when I saw it.
I'd seen this card dozens of times on eBay and for some reason it was calling out to me.
I kind of felt like it should be a part of my collection. But I already had a copy of this card and so I wasn't in dire need of it. The price tag was a little high and so I just kept an eye on it.Fast forward to the Summit show and I did a triple take when I saw the card in a vendor's showcase. The price was right and I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough. How great that I found the card at a show and saw it in person.
#1 - Linden Mega Shoulder Patch
Here it is. The top card from my 2018 collecting escapades. And I can't believe I own it.
So this card came to me at the big Card Show that was held in October. I always make a point of going to the annual affair and always hope to find a Linden gem in the mix.
After scouring the tables - and finding little in the way of Linden cards, I started to ask a few of the "first time" vendors if they had any Linden's that might not be out on the table. This one guy said "I sure do" and proceeded to open up the biggest rubbermaid case I've ever seen. He began to search.
How long was this gonna take? And what kind of card would he surface with?
After a couple minutes he says "Don't worry....it'll be worth the wait". Huh. That's an interesting comment to make. Either you don't know your Linden cards.....or you've got something really special.
When he announced that he had found it I could see what looked to be the Mega Patch layout - I got excited. The he placed the card on the table and after a moment of confusion I got even more excited.
It wasn't the Mega Patch crest that I've been chasing - it was the impossible to find shoulder patch /3. Yeah.....it was with the wait.
I asked how much he wanted for it and his reply....."I've never really thought about it until just right now". What does that even mean??? He asked me to make an offer and after some careful consideration I took a fair stab at it. He said yes and I made the trip to the bank machine.
I still can't believe I have one. Not sure I'll land either of the other two (they've both surfaced and are a little out of my price range). But I can do this now.....
and that's good enough for me.
Well, that concludes my 2018 Top 10. I hope you enjoyed it (and made it to the end). As much as I enjoy collecting cards, I really enjoy the stories that connect me to the cards I obtain, the places I go to hunt down these treasures, the people that I meet and deal with, and the unlimited possibilities that this great hobby provide. It really truly is what we make of it.
And lastly, thank you to everyone I've dealt with over the years. You really are the glue that binds this hobby together. To those that provided me gifts this past year, a heartfelt thank you (Eddy.....you quitting this hobby anytime soon?? :devil: ). I will continue to do my absolute best to pay your gratitude forward. That started today with a donation to Hobby Insider itself. I urge you all who enjoy this site to consider giving a few dollars so that it can continue to be a place where we can come and share.
All the best in 2019!!!
