primetimepawich
Verified Trader ,
Hey all, I wanted to thank everyone who commented on my last S+T here and offered their well wishes. 2024 was certainly a year to forget for me personally. I've continued to try to leave it behind and take my life back but wondered how the start of 2025 would treat me and my collection. Since this is the new HI and updating my old posts seems to be a non-starter, why don't I try my luck with a new one and show you?
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90/91 Kraft Singles #100 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
My first (underwhelming) pickup of 2025. I actually found a badly creased copy of this when I was organizing some cards from my youth after moving back into my condo. Spotting Murphy in it, I quickly realized it would fit with the theme of team photo issues I'd incorporated in recent years. When none could be found on COMC, Ebay it was.
21/22 Art Of Hockey Visual Art Red #VALM1 Larry Murphy 4/7 13.00 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
I'd watched this one on COMC for a while. It was always a little more than I was wanting to pay, but a few incremental sales got it close enough to my budgeted wheelhouse that I finally decided to pull the trigger.
20/21 Superlative Collection Superlative Signature Memorabilia Platinum #SSMLM1 Larry Murphy 5/7 9.73 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
First one of these cards to enter my PC. This one had made the Ebay rounds a number of times and was finally listed for a low enough starting bid that I was inspired to get in on the action. With Kevin Mitchell's help, I won it for that same starting bid.
07/08 ITG Superlative Famous Fabrics 1000 Points Silver #FFP45 Larry Murphy 7/9 7.95 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
I own the gold 1/1 copy of this card, used to own a silver /9 as well before I decided to liquidate some of my parallel copies of cards. Recently I decided to walk back that decision and beef up my PC with additional multicolor copies of this and other premium Murphy GU cards. Snatched this up on COMC for a reasonable price. To that end, I also added these 3:
The first came from Ebay with Kevin's help, the second also Ebay - I'd watched it for a while, recently contacted the seller on a whim and they actually worked with me a bit on the price. That success inspired me to pick up the third card on COMC soon after.
98/99 Pacific #203 Larry Murphy Autograph 3.00 CDN by primetimepawich, on Flickr
Godawful signature, but it does kind of look like a rushed Murphy. I needed it, and it was cheap, so...(shrugs). At the very least, it's a placeholder.
2024 Leaf Metal Legends Autographs Crystal Red #BALM1 Larry Murphy 3/7 8.50 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
After my big run of these early last year, they have slowed to a crawl. It's few and far between for ones I need to even pop up on Ebay now, and I've lost out on the most recent ones so you have to take the wins when you can get them.
16/17 Metal Lords of Hockey Purple #LHLM1 Larry Murphy /7 12.49 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
My most recent Ebay win, from yesterday. Much time has passed since this release and these don't pop up very frequently now. Wasn't confident in my ability to win this but did exactly that by maxing out my top bid.
89/90 Panini Stickers #108 Larry Murphy Autograph 9.00 CDN by primetimepawich, on Flickr
Now THIS was a fun find on Ebay Canada from a BC-based seller. Murphy didn't spend much time in Minnesota so there aren't many issues of him with the team that I don't have signed. This was one so I quickly struck a deal with the seller. But a few days later, he messaged me to say he'd misplaced it. In some situations that would be a red flag, but this wasn't an issue I'd won for a steal of a deal - I'd won it through the offer system. He continued to look for it, found it a few days later and even refunded me half of the purchase price for the inconvenience of waiting. I'd said that wasn't necessary but he wanted to teach himself a lesson about diligence. And hey, a savings is a savings, right?
18/19 Chronology Time Capsules Canvas Mini Blank Back #M45 2/3 7.50 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
I'd seen a couple copies of this card on Ebay after release but they seemed so coveted by set builders that I felt unlikely to own one anytime soon. When this was listed recently, I asked Kevin for a snipe with zero expectations. Not many sets of eyes on it but I expected that to change just before the drop of the hammer. It didn't. Super excited to land one without breaking the bank.
17/18 Canadian Tire Team Canada Gold Foil Signatures #77 Larry Murphy 11.50 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
Around the same time, this popped up on Ebay. I'd purchased a cheap copy at release before it was truly known just how tough they would be to come by. When demand from set builders caused their market to spike, I decided to try to cash in. Sold mine for 10x my purchase price, hoped to replace it down the road at an affordable price but thought "there's no way". Well as Wayne Campbell would say..."Way!" If the market for these blows up again in future, I may well try to repeat the process. If it doesn't, I'm more than content to keep it.
This run of luck with small but not insignificant cards had me feeling like I was building some momentum, so naturally my first loss to end that streak was a downer. I didn't have long to mope though. Upon my arrival home from work, I opened my mailbox to a surprise - a very heavy, dense bubble mailer from our own Glenn Conners. In it was this, completely unsolicited:
Journey of a Champion Larry Murphy by primetimepawich, on Flickr
Once again, Glenn's attention to detail is second to none - the manufactured patches look great. Unbeknownst to Glenn, I'd secretly pined for Murphy to get one of those journey/complete NHL jersey cards celebrating a player's stint across a handful of NHL teams with GU from those teams. He has some Superlative Careers issues from some years back that kind of filled that void for me, but Glenn's handiwork goes above and beyond any of those in terms of presentation. Turns out he just wanted to do some random acts of kindness for some hobby friends and I was one of the lucky beneficiaries of that kindness. Thank you Glenn, I was more than happy to add this to my PC and Flickr site.
And now, the main event of 2025 so far...
This is part of a new niche cardboard offering that began in 2024 with our own esteemed Dr. Price. I wondered if Murphy would ever become part of it and apparently missed when he did, but thankfully, a few hobby friends made sure it didn't go unnoticed. I'd made it part of my 2025 hobby resolutions to reel in this fish if Doc Price ran another site sale, so when he held up his end of the bargain, I had to as well. When it comes to my PC, I'm all about the different and I'd say this more than qualifies. Seems like everyone's been getting one of these and I wanted to "Butt in" and join the kids at the cool table:
President's Choice Butt End Larry Murphy 1/1 225.00 by primetimepawich, on Flickr
Thanks in advance for the looks and comments. Keep collecting and I'll see you out there.
-Joe Pawich
***
90/91 Kraft Singles #100 by primetimepawich, on FlickrMy first (underwhelming) pickup of 2025. I actually found a badly creased copy of this when I was organizing some cards from my youth after moving back into my condo. Spotting Murphy in it, I quickly realized it would fit with the theme of team photo issues I'd incorporated in recent years. When none could be found on COMC, Ebay it was.
21/22 Art Of Hockey Visual Art Red #VALM1 Larry Murphy 4/7 13.00 by primetimepawich, on FlickrI'd watched this one on COMC for a while. It was always a little more than I was wanting to pay, but a few incremental sales got it close enough to my budgeted wheelhouse that I finally decided to pull the trigger.
20/21 Superlative Collection Superlative Signature Memorabilia Platinum #SSMLM1 Larry Murphy 5/7 9.73 by primetimepawich, on FlickrFirst one of these cards to enter my PC. This one had made the Ebay rounds a number of times and was finally listed for a low enough starting bid that I was inspired to get in on the action. With Kevin Mitchell's help, I won it for that same starting bid.
07/08 ITG Superlative Famous Fabrics 1000 Points Silver #FFP45 Larry Murphy 7/9 7.95 by primetimepawich, on FlickrI own the gold 1/1 copy of this card, used to own a silver /9 as well before I decided to liquidate some of my parallel copies of cards. Recently I decided to walk back that decision and beef up my PC with additional multicolor copies of this and other premium Murphy GU cards. Snatched this up on COMC for a reasonable price. To that end, I also added these 3:
The first came from Ebay with Kevin's help, the second also Ebay - I'd watched it for a while, recently contacted the seller on a whim and they actually worked with me a bit on the price. That success inspired me to pick up the third card on COMC soon after.
98/99 Pacific #203 Larry Murphy Autograph 3.00 CDN by primetimepawich, on FlickrGodawful signature, but it does kind of look like a rushed Murphy. I needed it, and it was cheap, so...(shrugs). At the very least, it's a placeholder.
2024 Leaf Metal Legends Autographs Crystal Red #BALM1 Larry Murphy 3/7 8.50 by primetimepawich, on FlickrAfter my big run of these early last year, they have slowed to a crawl. It's few and far between for ones I need to even pop up on Ebay now, and I've lost out on the most recent ones so you have to take the wins when you can get them.
16/17 Metal Lords of Hockey Purple #LHLM1 Larry Murphy /7 12.49 by primetimepawich, on FlickrMy most recent Ebay win, from yesterday. Much time has passed since this release and these don't pop up very frequently now. Wasn't confident in my ability to win this but did exactly that by maxing out my top bid.
89/90 Panini Stickers #108 Larry Murphy Autograph 9.00 CDN by primetimepawich, on FlickrNow THIS was a fun find on Ebay Canada from a BC-based seller. Murphy didn't spend much time in Minnesota so there aren't many issues of him with the team that I don't have signed. This was one so I quickly struck a deal with the seller. But a few days later, he messaged me to say he'd misplaced it. In some situations that would be a red flag, but this wasn't an issue I'd won for a steal of a deal - I'd won it through the offer system. He continued to look for it, found it a few days later and even refunded me half of the purchase price for the inconvenience of waiting. I'd said that wasn't necessary but he wanted to teach himself a lesson about diligence. And hey, a savings is a savings, right?
18/19 Chronology Time Capsules Canvas Mini Blank Back #M45 2/3 7.50 by primetimepawich, on FlickrI'd seen a couple copies of this card on Ebay after release but they seemed so coveted by set builders that I felt unlikely to own one anytime soon. When this was listed recently, I asked Kevin for a snipe with zero expectations. Not many sets of eyes on it but I expected that to change just before the drop of the hammer. It didn't. Super excited to land one without breaking the bank.
17/18 Canadian Tire Team Canada Gold Foil Signatures #77 Larry Murphy 11.50 by primetimepawich, on FlickrAround the same time, this popped up on Ebay. I'd purchased a cheap copy at release before it was truly known just how tough they would be to come by. When demand from set builders caused their market to spike, I decided to try to cash in. Sold mine for 10x my purchase price, hoped to replace it down the road at an affordable price but thought "there's no way". Well as Wayne Campbell would say..."Way!" If the market for these blows up again in future, I may well try to repeat the process. If it doesn't, I'm more than content to keep it.
This run of luck with small but not insignificant cards had me feeling like I was building some momentum, so naturally my first loss to end that streak was a downer. I didn't have long to mope though. Upon my arrival home from work, I opened my mailbox to a surprise - a very heavy, dense bubble mailer from our own Glenn Conners. In it was this, completely unsolicited:
Journey of a Champion Larry Murphy by primetimepawich, on FlickrOnce again, Glenn's attention to detail is second to none - the manufactured patches look great. Unbeknownst to Glenn, I'd secretly pined for Murphy to get one of those journey/complete NHL jersey cards celebrating a player's stint across a handful of NHL teams with GU from those teams. He has some Superlative Careers issues from some years back that kind of filled that void for me, but Glenn's handiwork goes above and beyond any of those in terms of presentation. Turns out he just wanted to do some random acts of kindness for some hobby friends and I was one of the lucky beneficiaries of that kindness. Thank you Glenn, I was more than happy to add this to my PC and Flickr site.
And now, the main event of 2025 so far...
This is part of a new niche cardboard offering that began in 2024 with our own esteemed Dr. Price. I wondered if Murphy would ever become part of it and apparently missed when he did, but thankfully, a few hobby friends made sure it didn't go unnoticed. I'd made it part of my 2025 hobby resolutions to reel in this fish if Doc Price ran another site sale, so when he held up his end of the bargain, I had to as well. When it comes to my PC, I'm all about the different and I'd say this more than qualifies. Seems like everyone's been getting one of these and I wanted to "Butt in" and join the kids at the cool table:
President's Choice Butt End Larry Murphy 1/1 225.00 by primetimepawich, on FlickrThanks in advance for the looks and comments. Keep collecting and I'll see you out there.
-Joe Pawich
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