New Linden Find...Need Help On A 30-Year-Old Card I Didn't Know Existed

[bamlinden]

Hello everybody! I hope all is well.

I don't post on the boards like I once did, but do take the time to lurk here and there when I find a moment. And my Linden collecting...it's still in full swing. I just don't buy as much as I used to.

But make no mistake...I still have an absolute blast with this hobby. Very grateful and fortunate for that.

So...why am I posting today?

I got a piece of mail that has me both over the moon...and totally confused.

It's not everyday that a diehard player collector gets to cross off a card that is almost 30 years old...and one I had no clue even existed.

1997/98 Donruss Canadian Ice Provincial Series - Player's Club

I'll get to the Player's Club aspect of this card in a moment. But I would love to get any information on the Provincial Series first, please.

It's a 150-card parallel set with card being numbered /750. I did a very quick online search this afternoon and easily found a copy of all 149 other cards on the checklist. But no Linden.

I've never seen a copy of this card - EVER.

For literally decades, I've had the **MIGHT NOT EXIST** designation next to this card on my master checklist. It's one that I never thought I'd see. But here we are.

Why did Linden not get a card in this set (even though he's on the checklist)?


Now...on to the Player's Club designation.

You can imagine my complete shock and utter confusion when I saw this card back. Again, no clue this even existed.

The seller had a Ciccarelli and Prospal copy in their ebay store, so there's other cards with the Player's Club stamp. But how many others? And how many copies of this live out there? I doubt it's anywhere close to 750 copies.

I did find a couple others out there in my search (a Jagr for sure). But there seems to be no information about these Player's Club promos.

It's not the first time I've seen that stamp either.

1997/98 Pinnacle Totally Certified Platinum Blue - Player's Club

This is my copy of the Pinnacle Totally Certified Platinum Blue Player's Club promo. I've had it for a few years now. Again...zero info on the card or the Player's Club designation.

But it's clear as day that it's the same stamp. Same font and all.

Do I need to solve all these mysteries?....Nope. I felt like a kid again when I ripped open the bubble envelope and held this Provincial Series card in my hand. A reminder of where I'm at in this hobby and just how much I love collecting.

Thanks for the time. Cheers! :beer:

 

[PRoy33Collector]

Nothing to add info-wise here, but I have been looking for the Roy Canadian Ice Player's Club for years with no luck, and don't recall seeing even a photo of one. I have a couple copies of the Totally Certified, though. TCDB does list Linden on the set checklist for these, but they don't have any info on this release.

Awesome pickup for your PC, love seeing posts like this.

 

[X-Head]

I have a vague recollection of these cards being available via a wrapper redemption. Possibly Collectors Choice? You’d redeem and get a set of cards from various products with the stamp on it. Like I said though, very vague recollection.

*edit* probably not Collectors Choice as it’s Pinnacle and Donruss cards. But now that I think more, it may have been a cross product/company promotion

 

[hockeyguy2006]

Seem to recall these being some sort of after market thing being done and then distributed in repacks.

 

[cygnusx1]

Seem to recall these being some sort of after market thing being done and then distributed in repacks.

Seconding this. Definitely remember that being revealed for Totally Certified, though this is my first time seeing a Donruss card with this stamp.

 

[penguinsChief]

I know I had one or two of these Players Club cards, but now I have to remember where they are. Not sure if I sold it or not, it was a goalie I am pretty sure...

 

[one20]

I don't have a source, but I do recall hearing a rumor many years ago that the "Players Club" cards were given to the players by Pinnacle to do with as they pleased (hand out to family/friends, stick in fan mail, etc).

 

[HansViktor]

I don't have a source, but I do recall hearing a rumor many years ago that the "Players Club" cards were given to the players by Pinnacle to do with as they pleased (hand out to family/friends, stick in fan mail, etc).

I have also heard this information but I can't confirm it either.

 

[quincy]

It is DEFINITELY after market, and first started popping up around...I wanna say 2004ish? There were a number of these types of things - Project Backpack 1/1s being another common one - and were an absolute nightmare. I have a couple of these and they're in the "oddballs" category of my collection.