HammerHawks
THE Niklas Hjalmarsson Super Collector, Verified T
Simply put, this year has probably been the best year I have ever had for my collection, and I think what you will see below is pretty good evidence of that.
If you would like to hear the background stories for each of these additions, please check out episode 23 of Center Ice Card Cast (and check out creasecollector's top 10 in the episode while you're at it!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOFghoEVSO0
I will give the disclaimer that it was wildly difficult to narrow it down to just 10 things...I truly believe I should show off about 25-30 things that are fully deserving of a spot in the top 10, again, proof of how great this year was.
Though these two cards did not land spots in the top 10 (really just because of how cheap they are), it is only right to include them as honorable mention because of the significant of them for my collection.
The 2020 calendar year saw Niklas Hjalmarsson receive his first-ever autograph cards, something I honestly believed would never happen given he was a rookie all the way back in 2008-09. So, seeing him get autographs after all these years is so darn amazing, and I know he will be getting more as well (two autographs in Synergy!).
Alright, on with the show!
Coming in at #10, a card I no longer own but very deserving of a spot given the magnitude and beauty of it!
On to #9, one I was super glad to find for my Hjalmarsson collection. My first button card, too! These things are SO thicccccccccc (Ultra Pro, please make a 400+ pt. one touch!).
I cheated a little bit for #8 and included the same card of two of my PC guys. These pieces are just so amazing and it was both a great idea and great execution. Hoping I can find the Dzingel from last year and find all three in this year's The Cup!
For #7, many of you probably know that I started a truly massive adventure earlier this year by setting out to collect every hobby base set with SPs from 2003-04. Of course, the subset I am about to show posed (and still poses) a MASSIVE roadblock for this because of the scarcity and desirability of these cards.
Well, HUGE shoutout to our own Steven M. (TMLfan42) for his generosity in helping me with this subset. Steven had attempted building the set himself, but decided to move on from it. He asked if I was interested (OF COURSE I WAS!!!) and we set up a deal for me to acquire every single of these that I needed, and has even since helped me acquire more! This set had already started feeling impossible just a few months into my quest, but Steven's help has completely flipped that script. At this point, miraculously, I am just six cards away from having all 35 of these Limited autos.
This card will represent the acquisition of all of the Limited autos I received this year, but this specific one is IMO a top five card for my entire project, probably even top three.
If you would have told me on Jan. 1, 2020 that this card would be #6 on my list for the year, I would have straight up laughed in your face. This had been my biggest attainable Hjalmarsson want for years, and I finally landed one thanks to our very own Krusin, who pulled it from a case break.
Time for the top five! I will admit right now that I am making a switch from what I shared on the podcast, as I feel the #5 card on the podcast should be higher. So...
For #5, this is again a card that if you told me was only #5 for the year, I just would not believe you. I had that McDavid auto above, but knew deep down this was the rookie-year auto I wanted instead. After some dancing negotiating and putting together a four-way deal, this beauty was heading home!
To #4, which was originally #5 like I mentioned. Again, yes this is turning into a theme, if you told me this was only #4 on my list for the year when the calendar flipped to 2020, you would have been full of it, but here we are.
After this card had sat in a tin for four years, it was finally unearthed and landed on eBay, quickly to be pounced on by yours truly despite being a bit overpriced. I was not about to miss out on this one, though.
Time for the top three!
At #3, this one was probably my first big pickup of the year and helped fuel a deep appreciation and desire for this memorabilia. You cannot see it in this photo, but there are actually TWO skate eyelets. Truly remarkable! Thanks again for the trade, Thorsten!
Something I had been needing for my Hjalmarsson collection for years was a game-worn jersey. Once he was traded to Arizona, I knew that a Kachina-style jersey was a must-have at some point. Box checked. And not only that, it has some significance behind it, as it was worn right up until the stoppage earlier this year when the world as we knew it changed. This beauty is unquestionably the crown jewel of my Hjalmarsson collection...or at least until I finally land a Blackhawks game-worn jersey!
And finally, #1. The kahuna and grand champion of 2020 by a mile and a half. You probably already know where this is going, but it's still epic no matter what. I cannot thank Dr. Price enough for making this card happen...I am still in disbelief I own a card like this!
Be sure to check out Dr. Price's store next week-ish, because he made a ton more of these triple memorabilia cards using my design, and boy, are they pretty!
Cheers everyone! Here's hoping 2021 is happy and healthy for you all and that it is a great year of collecting!
If you would like to hear the background stories for each of these additions, please check out episode 23 of Center Ice Card Cast (and check out creasecollector's top 10 in the episode while you're at it!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOFghoEVSO0
I will give the disclaimer that it was wildly difficult to narrow it down to just 10 things...I truly believe I should show off about 25-30 things that are fully deserving of a spot in the top 10, again, proof of how great this year was.
Though these two cards did not land spots in the top 10 (really just because of how cheap they are), it is only right to include them as honorable mention because of the significant of them for my collection.
The 2020 calendar year saw Niklas Hjalmarsson receive his first-ever autograph cards, something I honestly believed would never happen given he was a rookie all the way back in 2008-09. So, seeing him get autographs after all these years is so darn amazing, and I know he will be getting more as well (two autographs in Synergy!).
Alright, on with the show!
Coming in at #10, a card I no longer own but very deserving of a spot given the magnitude and beauty of it!
On to #9, one I was super glad to find for my Hjalmarsson collection. My first button card, too! These things are SO thicccccccccc (Ultra Pro, please make a 400+ pt. one touch!).
I cheated a little bit for #8 and included the same card of two of my PC guys. These pieces are just so amazing and it was both a great idea and great execution. Hoping I can find the Dzingel from last year and find all three in this year's The Cup!
For #7, many of you probably know that I started a truly massive adventure earlier this year by setting out to collect every hobby base set with SPs from 2003-04. Of course, the subset I am about to show posed (and still poses) a MASSIVE roadblock for this because of the scarcity and desirability of these cards.
Well, HUGE shoutout to our own Steven M. (TMLfan42) for his generosity in helping me with this subset. Steven had attempted building the set himself, but decided to move on from it. He asked if I was interested (OF COURSE I WAS!!!) and we set up a deal for me to acquire every single of these that I needed, and has even since helped me acquire more! This set had already started feeling impossible just a few months into my quest, but Steven's help has completely flipped that script. At this point, miraculously, I am just six cards away from having all 35 of these Limited autos.
This card will represent the acquisition of all of the Limited autos I received this year, but this specific one is IMO a top five card for my entire project, probably even top three.
If you would have told me on Jan. 1, 2020 that this card would be #6 on my list for the year, I would have straight up laughed in your face. This had been my biggest attainable Hjalmarsson want for years, and I finally landed one thanks to our very own Krusin, who pulled it from a case break.
Time for the top five! I will admit right now that I am making a switch from what I shared on the podcast, as I feel the #5 card on the podcast should be higher. So...
For #5, this is again a card that if you told me was only #5 for the year, I just would not believe you. I had that McDavid auto above, but knew deep down this was the rookie-year auto I wanted instead. After some dancing negotiating and putting together a four-way deal, this beauty was heading home!
To #4, which was originally #5 like I mentioned. Again, yes this is turning into a theme, if you told me this was only #4 on my list for the year when the calendar flipped to 2020, you would have been full of it, but here we are.
After this card had sat in a tin for four years, it was finally unearthed and landed on eBay, quickly to be pounced on by yours truly despite being a bit overpriced. I was not about to miss out on this one, though.
Time for the top three!
At #3, this one was probably my first big pickup of the year and helped fuel a deep appreciation and desire for this memorabilia. You cannot see it in this photo, but there are actually TWO skate eyelets. Truly remarkable! Thanks again for the trade, Thorsten!
Something I had been needing for my Hjalmarsson collection for years was a game-worn jersey. Once he was traded to Arizona, I knew that a Kachina-style jersey was a must-have at some point. Box checked. And not only that, it has some significance behind it, as it was worn right up until the stoppage earlier this year when the world as we knew it changed. This beauty is unquestionably the crown jewel of my Hjalmarsson collection...or at least until I finally land a Blackhawks game-worn jersey!
And finally, #1. The kahuna and grand champion of 2020 by a mile and a half. You probably already know where this is going, but it's still epic no matter what. I cannot thank Dr. Price enough for making this card happen...I am still in disbelief I own a card like this!
Be sure to check out Dr. Price's store next week-ish, because he made a ton more of these triple memorabilia cards using my design, and boy, are they pretty!
Cheers everyone! Here's hoping 2021 is happy and healthy for you all and that it is a great year of collecting!
