Mike Cammalleri

Mike Cammalleri

I picked up this Parkhurst Signature card at a card show on November 18 for $5. Not bad, considering most dealers actually *want* book value (upwards of $10) for even the most common of players from this set.

Though Cammalleri might not be all that common this year. He's on pace to have a 30-goal, 70-point season. Not awesome, but not shabby either.

Jim Cummins

I picked up this Jim Cummins autographed card at that card show back on November 18. I paid a buck for it.

Cummins was a player I was indifferent to. Usually, I like the tough guy or "goon" players on the Blackhawks. Cummins was OK. He never really grew on me, and never struck me as a heavyweight either.

And what was with that beard? I think the only thing that made Cummins intimidating was his beard. But why? What can a beard do for a tough guy, other than make him look like Bluto from Popeye? Then it hit me. Cummins resembled that goon from the Rob Lowe / Patrick Swayze movie "Youngblood". The goon in question is a character named Carl Racki, masterfully played by actor George Finn (who, in addition to this role, was a bit player in only one other film). But I'm getting off topic here. Cummins was only intimidating 'cuz he looked like that nut Racki who beat the tar out of poor Rob Lowe. Don't beleive me? Then consider the following evidence:

Exhibit A - Jim Cummins

Exhibit B - Carl Racki

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery...

Craig Anderson

Craig Anderson

Formerly with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Currently with the Rochester Americans.

Fan letter sent: November 3, 2006

Autograph received: November 24, 2006.

Craig Anderson is a hometown boy--hailing from Park Ridge, IL (a suburb of Chicago). It's always nice to see someone local make it into the NHL, especially if they get to play for the 'Hawks. Unfortunately, his stay in Chicago was only three seasons.

Patrick Poulin and a ton of others

OK, not a ton of autographs (how many signed hockey cards would equal a ton?)...but it sure seemed that way. In addition to the autographed Guy Lafleur photo, I also picked up 95 autographed hockey cards at the card show last Saturday. 94 of the 95 cards cost me $1 each . The only one that cost me more was $5 for a 2005-2006 Parkhurst signature card. If I had more money, and more time, I could have had probably another 200 autographed cards for a buck apiece--and these were the ones from packs of cards such as Be A Player and In The Game, so you can't refute the authenticity. Most of them were autographs of run-of-the mill players ("Hello, Patrick Poulin!"). But now that I think about it, most of the cards in my collection are of run-of-the mill players. Still, an NHL player is an NHL player, and that is something to be admired.

Because I have somewhat of a life, I'm not going to spend the time to post a scan of each and every card. Besides, I'm not really attached to any of these cards personally. Eventually, I'll post scans of some of the more interesting cards.

Guy Lafleur

I bought this photo on November 18 at a sports card convention in Chicago. I have always admired Guy Lafleur. I only knew him as a Quebec Nordiques player, as I didn't get into hockey until 1989. Soon after, I found out that my Mom was a huge fan of his in the 1970s. She even had a Guy Lafleur scrapbook that had pictures of him from his junior hockey days with the Remparts! Maybe I liked Lafleur because he was my Mom's favorite player when she was "into" hockey. But it was kind of cool, that a player from the early 1970s was still kicing around in the 1990s. It was also cool that he returned to play after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Back during the 1971-72 season, my mother wrote a fan letter to Guy Lafleur. He sent back this postcard. It has a facimile ("pre-printed") autograph, but he autographed it himself as well, just above the pre-printed 'graph. In blue ink he wrote "To Karine - With my best regards, Guy Lafleur". He also wrote a few words on the back, but it is in French so I'm not sure what it says. My mother saved the envelope too, which Lafluer hand-addressed himself. I imagine Lafluer must have been somewhat suprised to have a fan in Chicago back in the early 70s, as the Canadiens beat the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1971 and 1973. My Mom told me that she was more of a fan of the Habs than the Blackhawks back then. My Mom...the traitor.

Martin Havlat

On November 4, I met Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin at HawkQuarters--the official team store of the Chicago Blackhawks. Havlat was cool, and I told him "Get well soon--we miss you," as he was still injured with a high ankle sprain (and the 'Hawks have been horrible without him in the lineup).

  

Unfortunately, I tried to get one other card signed--a Beehive card--but the front was way too glossy and the ink did not take to it well. Still, I got this sweet photo and two cards signed.

Nikolai Khabibulin

On November 4, I met Nikolai Khabibulin and Martin Havlat at HawkQuarters--the official team store of the Chicago Blackhawks. My girlfriend Ashley was nice enough to spend 2 hours waiting in line to help me get some autographs. This renewed my interest in trying to aquire autographs myself--either in person or through writing fan letters. Khabi was getting over a broken finger, but seemed to have no problems signing autographs.

    

As if I don't already have enough things to do...

So, on a whim, I've decided to start an Autograph Blog.

OK, maybe not a total whim. I saw someone else do it first, and I thought "hey, why not?" People blog about politics (yawn), about how much they hate high school (whatever), or just to complain in general. Of course, there are upbeat blogs too, that are fun to read. I thought it would be neat to blog about something that I enjoy, and share that hobby with others. And right now, collecting hockey autographs seems to be my current obsession.

I've been collecting hockey cards since spring 1989, and hockey player autographs for about as long, when my Mother and Aunt took my sister and I to "Skate With the 'Hawks" in October 1989. On that night, my sister and I got autographs of some all-time Blackhawks greats such as Denis Savard, Steve Larmer and Doug Wilson, as well as fan favorites such as Troy Murray, Alain Chevrier and Steve Konroyd. In all, I think I got about 17 cards signed.

    

The next year, I read an article about writing to hockey players for autographs, so I sent off a few fan letters/autograph requests to some of my favorite players: Rick Vaive, Claude Lemeiux, Pat Lafontaine, Alain Chevrier (who was traded to the Penguins) and Pat Verbeek. Vaive, Lemieux and Verbeek sent back my cards signed later that season. Chevrier eventually sent back my cards signed in 1994--four years later. He also included a nifty "form letter" explaining to his fans why it too so long. And Lafontaine--or someone who handles his mail--sent back my cards unsigned in 1995.

Over the next few years, I got autographs here and there wherever I could--Skate With the 'Hawks (1990 and 1991),various Blackhawks fundraisers and charity events, and even a sporting goods store grand opening. My collection grew from about 20 cards to over 100, and featured signatures of Ed Belfour, Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios--who is my all time favorite player. But by 1994, the 'Hawks didn't seem to do as many appearances.

It was about that time that I started writing to hockey players again. This time, I was out of high school and had more free time--as well as more money for hockey cards (not to mention stamps). And for the next 3 years, I wrote *a lot* of fan letters--well over 100. I wrote to anyone and everyone--from retired greats such as Bobby Clarke to career minorleaguers like Jock Callandar. My autograph collection grew to almost 1,000 different autographed cards. Not everyone who I wrote to sent my cards back--that's the risk you take--but even Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and The Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky, sent back at least one of my cards signed.

    

In 1997, I went to art school, and had no time to write fan letters. I didn't have much money either.

Then I forgot about hockey for awhile. The Blackhawks became abysmal. Team USA did horribly in the 1998 Olympics and trashed their hotel rooms. And at that time, I was more into collecting Star Wars figures.

Then in 2002, I "remembered" hockey when the Olympics returned. And just as quickly, I forgot about hockey again, until the 2006 Olympics. Since then, I've gotten back into collecting cards, and buying a lot of autographs on eBay. My autograph collection now exceeds 1,500 signed cards.

In early November, two Blackhawks players--Nikolai Khabibulin and Martin Havlat--were signing autographs at HawkQuarters. In addition to getting some cards and photos signed, my interest in trying to acquire autographs myself--either in person or through the mail--was renewed. Sure, I still buy signed cards on eBay (I mean, where else am I going to find a card signed by Wayne Van Dorp?). But now I am focused on getting more recent hockey cards signed by the new generation of players.

This blog will document my quest to obtain autographs during the 2006-2007 NHL season--either TTM (through the mail), in person, on eBay or through trades.

Or at least that's the idea. Who knows? I might get bored and ditch this blog when something else comes along. I wouldn't be the only one...