Bobby Rousseau

Bobby Rousseau

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autograph received: June 30, 2007.

From 6/18 to 6/21, I went on a letter-writing binge, sending out 25 letters to players who had a card in the 1964-65 Parkhurst Tall Boy set. As for 6/30, I have received 13 responses--12 of them signing the card from that set (the exception, Dick Duff, did not sign the card but sent me 2 signed photos). It is exciting that many of these players, many retired for 30+ seasons, are fast and willing signers through the mail.

Doug Mohns

Doug Mohns

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autograph received: June 30, 2007.

Rod Seiling

Rod Seiling

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 30, 2007.

Stan Smyl

Stan Smyl

Retired player. Currently the Director of Player Development with the Vancouver Canucks.

Fan letter sent: May 21, 2007.

Autographs received: June 29, 2007.

Stan Smyl has been a Canuck his whole career, as both a player and in management. I sent him 6 cards--three of which he sent back unsigned. The 3 he did not autograph were the 3 I really wanted to get signed (cards from 81-82 Topps, 89-90 OPC and 90-91 Pro Set sets). I'm guessing that 3 cards his is limit for TTM autographs, so take note.

Reg Fleming

Reg Fleming

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 20, 2007.

Autograph received: June 29, 2007.

Earl Ingarfield

Earl Ingarfield

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 28, 2007.

Earl Ingarfield played 14 seasons in the NHL. He signed both of my cards, and took care to sign the Rangers card with a silver marker so the signature would show up better. He used the letter I wrote him to wrap around the cards (to protect them in the mail), and wrote a brief note to me on my letter: You're very welcome Sal. Thx for your support! Earl

I find it somewhat humorous that a guy born in 1934 would use the abbreviation "thx" in lieu of "thanks" :)

Cam Barker

Cam Barker

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: January 3, 2007.

Autograph received: June 28, 2007.

The Blackhawks have an exciting young defensive corps, including Cam Barker, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Dustin Byfuglien. Once he matures a bit, Once they all mature, the Blackhawks will have one hell of a defense, and Barker will be (I think) a great player.

Doug Robinson

Doug Robinson

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autograph received: June 28, 2007.

Fred Stanfield

Fred Stanfield

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 27, 2007.

Sweet! Stanfield signed both cards in black marker. I am trying to get a bunch of these "Tall Boys" cards signed. I also dig the blurry game action photo of the 72-73 card.

George "Red" Sullivan

George "Red" Sullivan

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autograph received: June 27, 2007.

George "Red" Sullivan played during the Original Six era, and also coached for a couple of seasons. He personalized the card to me, and signed it Geo "Red" Sullivan.

Eric Nesterenko

Eric Nesterenko

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 25, 2007.

I just got an extra set of '64-65 Tall Boys, and sent out 17 letters on June 18 (I wrote letters all weekend, and mailed them out first thing on Monday). One June 25, I got back 5 of these letters--one from longtime Blackhawk Eric Nesterenko

Nesterenko played 16 seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks, including the Stanley Cup winning team in 1961, and the Stanley Cup losing team in 1971 (the team that coulda, shoulda, woulda, according to my Aunt Gayle).

But another, more important reason I wrote to Nesterenko is because he is in the classic hockey film Youngblood, starring Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Jim Cummins, er I mean George Finn. Nesterenko plays Rob Lowe's dad in the film, and teaches him how to fight.

Dick Duff

Dick Duff

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 25, 2007.

I recently acquired an extra complete set of 1964-65 Parkhurst "Tall Boys", which is a set that was made in 1995, but features players from '65. I have been trying to get as many cards from this set signed as possible.

One of the players I wrote to was Dick Duff, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. His "Tall Boys" card features him as a New York Ranger...and apparently, he did not like playing for them, as he did not sign the card I sent him.

Instead, he enclosed not one, but two 4" x 6" black and white photographs of himself--one of them personalized to me. Unfortunately, the return envelope I sent him is only 3 1/2" tall...so these two nice autographed photos were folded before being sent to me. Sigh!

Two lessons here, kids. Duff apparently does not sign Rangers cards (he wasn't there too long). And, if you write to him, send him an envelope that is at least 4" x 6" so that the nice photo he will send you does not get folded.

Milt Schmidt

Milt Schmidt

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1961.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 25, 2007.

Milt Schmidt played 16 seasons in the NHL--all with the Boston Bruins. He then coached 11 seasons for the Bruins, and also coached a few games for the Washington Capitals.

It is always amazing to see that a former player who is almost 90 years old is still willing to sign. Schmidt beautifully autographed these cards, adding his uniform number and year of induction. Fantastic!

Murray Oliver

Murray Oliver

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 25, 2007.

Floyd Smith

Floyd Smith

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 18, 2007.

Autographs received: June 25, 2007.

Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne

Currently with the Anaheim Ducks

Fan letter sent: May 7, 2007.

Autographs received: June 23, 2007.

Wow! This makes my week! While I am flattered to have received autographs from Ruskowski and Tambellini, getting my cards back signed by Teemu Selanne is something else. It's when you get a success like this that all those other chances you take seem worth it.

I still remember the "goal race" between Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne during the '92-93 season, where they both ended up scoring 76 goals that year. Ah...those were the day. Back when the average score was 5 to 3, and sometimes teams would win 7 to 6 or 8 to 7. I miss those days.

Anyway, Seleanne is an awesome player. But he is also a great signer. I loved the fact that he signed the Leaf card in silver marker, so that his auto would show up better.

Steve Tambellini

Steve Tambellini

Retired player. Currently the Assistant General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Fan letter sent: February 5, 2007.

Autographs received: June 21, 2007.

Tambellini played 9 seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Islanders in 1980. He would then go onto play with the Colorado Rockies, the New Jersey Devils, the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.

Terry Ruskowski

Terry Ruskowski

Retired player. Currently the head coach of the Lauredo Bucks of the CHL.

Fan letter sent: March 31, 2007.

Autographs received: June 18, 2007.

Terry Ruskowski played 5 seasons in the World Hockey Association, and 9 seasons in the NHL. In his 10th season, he retired after a few games. Like Tom Lysiak, Ruskowski was one of the Blackhawks leaders in the early 1980s. I wish those guys were still with the 'Hawks when I started watching in '88-89, as many of the early-to-mid 'Hawk heroes were gone by 1988.

Anyway, what amazed me about Ruskowski is the fact that he was the first player in the NHL to captain three teams, as he wore the "C" for the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Mind you, he had some extraordinary teammates during his time with those teams, such as Denis Savard and Doug Wilson (Chicago); Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh); and Dave Taylor (Los Angeles). All those guys, at one time or another, would be team captain. The fact that Ruskowski would be the captain over these men is a testament to his leadership and work ethic.

Currently, "Roscoe" is the coach for the Lauredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League. He signed all six of my cards. He took his time signing these, with a neat autograph in marker. The '86-87 card was signed in silver marker, so the signature would show up better against his black Penguins uniform. He also enclosed this letter with my cards:



The note reads:

I apologize for not getting this back to you earlier. I appreciate you thinking about me after all these years. I'm flattered that you sent me trading cards to sign. I'm humbled by your kind words. Thank you for being a hockey fan.

Sincerely,

Terry Ruskowski

Check out this biography about Terry Ruskowski at Legends of Hockey.

Jonathan Cheechoo

Jonathan Cheechoo

Currently with the Detroit Red Wings.

Fan letter sent: December 6, 2006.

Autographs received: June 14, 2007.

One thing I love about collecting hockey autographs is that even many of the All-Star players like Jonathan Cheechoo sign through the mail. Sure, it takes time--in this case, over six months, but what's the rush?

Bob Probert

Bob Probert

Retired player.

Autographs received: June 11, 2007.

Wow! One of the most dangerous hands in hockey has taken a marker and signed my cards! One thing that is great about the internet is that I've conversed with many cool people--and some of them even do nice stuff for me! One of these acquaintances of mine happens to know Bob Probert, and offered to get some cards singed for me.
Thank you, my "Anonymous" friend! :)

Marcel Pronovost

Marcel Prnovost

Retired player. Currently a scout with the New Jersey Devils. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978.

Fan letter sent: March 5, 2007.

Autograph received: June 11, 2007.

Pronovost--who played 20 seasons, mostly during the Original Six era--works as a scout for the New Jersey Devils. A great signature, it is unfortunate that the card got slightly bent. That's OK, as this card will look cool (if and) when I frame it with the other HOF signed cards I've acquired this year.

Paul Reinhart

Paul Reinhart

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: May 21, 2007.

Autographs received: June 9, 2007.

I wrote to 18 different players on May 21--13 of them having cards from the 81-82 Topps set. One of them was Paul Reinhart, who I sent five cards to--including his 81-82 Topps card and his 80-81 Topps RC. I am not at all a fan of the 80-81 set, but figured it'd be nice to get signed since it was his RC. Glad he signed it, as well as the other four cards, as those four go in sets I am trying to build.