Cam Ward

Cam Ward

Currently with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Autographed insert card. Purchased at a card shop in September 2010.

Last month, I purchased a Be A Player Portraits autograph card of Chris Drury & Daniel Briere at a local card shop. The dealer had a few other BAP Portraits, and I finally cracked and bought this one too.

Ward is the top netminder for the Carolina Hurricanes, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup MVP in 2007.

I'm not sure what the deal with his autograph is, though. It looks more like some sort of hieroglyphics than a signature. Maybe the card should read "Squiggle Portraits" instead of "Signature Portraits."

Maurice Richard

 Maurice "The Rocket" Richard

Deceased player.Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.

Purchased at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival on September 18, 2010.

I normally don't buy autographed items, but I will make an exception from time to time. This postcard, signed in ballpoint pen by hockey legend Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, was too cool to pass up.

I bought it from a trustworthy dealer that I was very familiar with. I've actually bought a few signed items from this particular dealer in the past.  He had a few different postcards and old photos signed by various players, but this one was the pick of the litter. Rocket Richard passed away 10 years ago, so finding his autograph can only get harder.

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Reg Kerr

Reg Kerr

Retired player.

Autographs acquired in-person at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival, September 18, 2010. 

Kerr was another player signing at the 'Hawks Training Camp Fest. I love the photo below, which shows him squaring off against Gordie Howe while Dave Keon comes up from behind. Kerr offered to sign the card in blue, but I opted for black Sharpie marker because I was going to ask him for one of the photos, and didn't want to seem too demanding.

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Cliff Koroll

Cliff Koroll

Retired player.

Autographs acquired in-person at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival, September 18, 2010. 

Koroll always impresses me on how upbeat and friendly he is. I've gotten his autograph at 2 of the past 3 Blackhawks Conventions, and the guy is always smiling.

Interestingly, Koroll had a blue Sharpie at the table, and asked if I wanted the card signed in blue. I said black was fine. I wanted a photo too, and didn't want to make too many requests (sign THIS in blue, sign THAT in black.) I was grateful to get a photo and a card from the longtime 'Hawks forward.

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Peter Marsh

Peter Marsh

Retired player.

Autographs acquired in-person at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival, September 18, 2010. 

Peter Marsh--who still has a mighty head of hair, albeit gray--commented on how old this card from 1979 is. I told him that I've been waiting a long time to get this card autographed by him. Marsh also offered to give me one of the photos that he had, which I gladly accepted.

With so much blue in this card, I decided to get it signed in black Sharpie marker, to make the autograph stand out a bit more.  Those of you familiar with my other site Puck Junk might remember that this was a Card of the Week back in January.

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Brian Noonan

Brian Noonan

Retired player.

Autographs acquired in-person at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival, September 18, 2010. 

Noonan is another player I grew up watching..I got one photo and one card signed in black Sharpie marker.

While the Blackhawks usually institute a one autograph per person policy, there were no limitations at the Training Camp Fest. I got a card signed and Noonan gave me one of the photos he had available (for people who had nothing to get signed).

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Dirk Graham

Dirk Graham

Retired player.

Signed insert. Purchased at the Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp Festival on September 18, 2010.

Dirk Graham was one of my favorite players when I was growing up. He captained the 'Hawks for 7 years (1988-1995) and won the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 1991.

More about the Blackhawks Training Camp Fest can be read over at Puck Junk.

Denis Savard

Denis Savard

Retired player. Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.

Autographs acquired in-person on September 4, 2010.

Former NHL superstar and NHL Hall-of-Famer Denis Savard was signing autographs at a local suburban grocery store a few weeks ago. Not many people showed up. I posted a full recap of the day over on Puck Junk a while back (I've been slow at updating the Autograph Blog lately).

As you can see, these were signed in blue Sharpie marker.

Tim Stapleton

Tim Stapleton

Currently a free agent.

Fan letter sent: April 19, 2010.

Autograph received: September 19, 2010.

Tim Stapleton spent most of last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. He also appeared in 6 games for the Atlanta Thrashers. He is not on their training camp roster for this season, so I am not sure where he will end up for the 2010-11 campaign.

Stapleton is a native of Forest Park, IL, a nearby suburb of Chicago. He signed this card in black Sharpie marker, adding his number 23 at the end.

Brad Boyes

Brad Boyes

Currently with the St. Louis Blues.

Fan letter sent: November 6, 2009.

Autograph received: September 17, 2010.

Patience is a virtue when collecting autographs through the mail. This success from St. Louis Blues winger Brad Boys took just over 10 months. He signed the cards in blue Sharpie marker.

Chris Dury & Daniel Briere

Chris Drury & Daniel Briere

Drury is currently with the New York Rangers.
Briere is currently with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Autographed insert card. Purchased at a card shop in August 2010.

Until last month, I've never seen in person any of the Be A Player Portraits signature cards. When the set came out during the 2006-07 season, I think collectors panned it. A box of 6 packs cost around $100, and you got 4 cards per pack. Sure, you got an autograph in every pack--but that averages to $25 per sig! Plus, these cards are the dreaded "sticker signature," meaning that the player autographs a sticker which is later applied to the card.

Personally, I don't mind sticker autographs as long as they are done well. I especially like the ones that use some sort of hologrpahic sheen, like these do here. The stickers are larger, allowing the player ample room to sign.

Chris Dury and Daniel Briere were co-captains of the Buffalo Sabres a few season back, when the team was actually good. Many hockey fans--including myself--thought that Buffalo would win the Stanley Cup in 2007. But that didn't happen, and the Sabres couldn't assign to re-sign either of them when their contracts were up.

I like this card because both players are wearing the classic Sabres' uniform, and both of their signatures are in the same colored ink.

Noah Welch

Noah Welch

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: April 19, 2010.

Autograph received: August 30, 2010.

Since entering pro hockey in 2005, Noah Welch has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Florida Panthers, Rochester Americans, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Wolves. He signed all 3 cards sent in black Sharpie marker.

Brett Sterling

Brett Sterling

Currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Fan letter sent: April 19, 2010.

Autograph received: August 26, 2010.

Sterling has been one of the best players for the AHL's Chicago Wolves over the past 4 seasons. Despite putting up great numbers (averaging a point or more per game), Sterling only saw action in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers in 19 games.

Over the summer, Sterling was traded to the San Jose Sharks, who decided not to sign him. So he has since signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. I sincerely hope that Sterling can crack their lineup. He was a lot of fun to watch with the Chicago Wolves, and wish to see him do well in the NHL.

Anyway, Sterling signed both cards sent in blue Sharpie marker.

Grant Fuhr

Grant Fuhr

Retired player. Currently the Goalie Coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Signed insert. Purchased at a card shop in Tennessee on August 6, 2010. 

This card was win-win win for me. It was cheap ($7), is of a Hall of Fame player and is a part of the 1998-99 Be A Player signed insert set. I now have 143 out of 300 cards from that set.

Manny Malhotra

Manny Malhotra

Currently with the Vancouver Canucks.

Signed insert. Purchased at a card shop in Tennessee on August 6, 2010. 

I've liked Manny since his days with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also had a fine season last year with the San Jose Sharks. I wish the Blackhawks would sign this guy! But no luck--he's now with Vancouver.

I am actually putting together the 1998-99 Be A Player autograph set. Several of the cards are pricey, but most of them can be found for a few dollars. This one cost me $3.

Josef Marha

Josef Marha

Currently with HC Davos of the Swiss National League A.

Signed insert. Purchased at a card shop in Tennessee on August 6, 2010. 

Marha played on the Blackhawks when they were on their downward slide into suckitude in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Previous to that, he also played for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche, as well as kicking around in the minors. Marha has spent the past nine years with HC Davos in Switzerland.

Wendell Young

Wendell Young

Retired player. Currently the General Manager of the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Signed insert. Purchased at a card shop in Tennessee on August 6, 2010.

Wendell Young spent the majority of his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but here is shown with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Of course, the logo has been airbrushed out, as this autographed card is not licensed by the NHL.

Young also spent 7 seasons with the Chicago Wolves, back when they played in the "old" International Hockey League. When the Wolves joined the AHL in 2001, Young retired and became their assistant coach. His uniform number, 1, was retired by the team. Since then, he has become the Wolves GM.

In 2001, I was also lucky enough to have dinner with Young, as my sister won tickets to a charity dinner with Chicago Wolves players. I sat next to Young, and got to "talk hockey" with a pro--something I still remember 9 years later. 

Interestingly, Young is the only hockey player to win the Robertson Cup (OHL), Memorial Cup (CHL), Calder Cup (AHL), Turner Cup (IHL) and Stanley Cup. It seems like wherever this guy went, he won a championship.

Manon Rheaume

Manon Rheaume

Retired player.

Signed insert. Purchased at a card shop in Tennessee on August 6, 2010.

Manon Rheaume became a celebrity in the hockey world when she became the first woman to play in a major junior hockey game in 1992. She then played in preseason games for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and games here and there for various minor league teams. She also won an Olympic Silver Medal in the 1998 Olympics.

I purchased this card at a shop in Tennessee back in August. It is a chase insert from the 1993-94 Classic set. I have heard that Rheaume does sign autographs through the mail for fans, so I may try writing her a letter and getting some of her regular cards signed too.

Chris Chelios

Chris Chelios

Recently retired player.

Signed insert. Purchased at the Blackhawks Convention on August 1, 2010

My hero and favorite hockey player of all-time, Chris Chelios, retired at the end of August. At the beginning of the month, I found a signed Be A Player card of Chelios for five bucks.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "But Sal, you bought that very same card way back in December 2006."

Yeah, that is true...but I really wanted another one. It was affordable, and it was of my favorite player. Heck, at $5, I'd fill a binder up with these if I could find that many.

Cam Barker

Cam Barker

Currently with the Minnesota Wild.

Purchased at the Chicago Blackhawks Convention on July 31, 2010.

Normally, I don't like to spend money on autographs. Personally, I think that the selling of autographs is what ruined the hobby for the rest of us.

But I could not pass this up--an 8" x 10" photo of former Blackhawks player Cam Barker, signed in blue Sharpie marker. It was only $6, which is a steal if you ask me. Five bucks is fair for an 8" x 10" photo, and it came in a toploader; those usually sell for $1. So in a sense, the autograph was free.

I enjoyed watching Barker play with the Blackhawks, and wish that he was a part of the team when they won the Stanley Cup.