Steve Wagner

Steve Wagner

Currently with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 30, 2010.

Autograph received: January 21, 2011.

Wagner signed this card in silver Sharpie marker. I now realize that I actually wrote to him 2 years ago, and sent him the exact same card. Oops. I now have two copies of this card, if anyone would like to trade for one.

Real or Fake: Wayne Gretzky

The Wayne Gretzky card on the left was sent in by Matt from Warwick, New York. The card on the right is from the 2009-10 OPC Premier set (picture from eBay) and is being shown for comparison purposes.

Matt wrote in, asking for our help in ascertaining the legitimacy of his signed Gretzky card...

My girlfriend wanted to help my collection out and bought an autograph (off eBay) from Wayne Gretzky (who was my favorite all-time player) and it seems pretty legit but I'm not sure.

It also came with a COA but I know that isn't always true in this day and age. 

I was wondering if I could get your and your readers' opinion. Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Well, gang...he asked for YOUR opinion. What do you think?

Here's a larger view of the card, if you wish to scrutinize the autograph.

Personally, I'm leaning towards autopen on this one.  There are no variances in the pressure of the signature. No "weak" or "thinner" areas where the marker was not pressed as firmly. This autograph looks just too perfect.

Jiri Tlusty

Jiri Tlusty

Currently splitting time between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2010.

Autograph received: January 13, 2011.

Jiri Tlusty signed my 3 cards in black Sharpie marker. He has bounced between the NHL and AHL since he started his pro hockey career in 2007. Before joining the Carolina Hurricanes organization, he also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL).

Ron Wilson

Ron Wilson

Retired player.Currently an Assistant Coach with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 6, 2010.

Autograph received: January 11, 2011.

Three Chicago Wolves in one day! On January 11, I received signed cards from Pater Mannino, Arturs Kulda and assistant coach Ron Wilson. He played (mostly) in the NHL from 1979 to 1994 with the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens.

Wilson generously signed all 5 cards that I sent using a black Sharpie marker. He added #8 to his Fleer Power Play card (upper left), but did not write his uniform number on any of the other cards.

Arturs Kulda

Arturs Kulda

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 6, 2010.

Autograph received: January 11, 2011.

Arturs Kulda is in his third season with the Chicago Wolves. Last season, he appeared in 4 games for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Kulda nicely autographed my card in blue Sharpie maker (rock!) and added his number 32 after his signature.

Weekly Show-And-Tell: 1991 All-Star Game

Exactly 20 years ago today was the 42nd NHL All-Star Game. It was held at Chicago Stadium on January 19, 1991. I went to that game. It was a memory that I will always be fond of.

Pro Set issued cards from the '91 All-Star Game in their 1991-92 Series One set. Below are 22 cards that I got autographed over the past two decades.










BONUS: Attending the game was then-future prospect Eric Lindros. I saw him in the hallway at Chicago Stadium during an intermission, and asked him to sign the back of my ticket stub.

Peter Mannino

Peter Mannino

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 29, 2010.

Autograph received: January 11, 2011.

Peter Mannino has played 4 games in the NHL--3 with the New York Islanders and 1 with the Atlanta Thrashers. He is currently the top goaltender for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Mannino signed my card in black Sharpie marker, adding his number 33 after his autograph.

New Website Address

If you haven't already noticed, this blog has a new web address:

www.salshockeyautographs.com 

All bookmarks and blogroll links to the old address (hockeyautographs.blogspot.com) should automatically "point" to the new address. However, just to be on the safe side,  please update your bookmarks and/or links to this website. Thanks--I appreciate it.

Currently, I'm teaching 3 blogging classes during "January Term" at the college I'm emplyed at. Hence my lack of regular blog posts this month. But the classes will end Wednesday, and things will be back to normal. 

On the deck this week are a few more TTM successes, a long-overdue Weekly Show-and-Tell and the third installment of Real Or Fake.

Darrin Madeley

Darrin Madeley

Retired player.Currently the Director of Hockey at Lake Forest Academy.

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2010.

Autograph received: January 10, 2011.

Darrin Madeley had a standout college career playing for Lake Superior State University (CCHA). He was signed as a free agent by the Ottawa Senators, and played in 37 games for the Sens from 1992 to 1995.

He also played in the AHL, the old IHL, the ECHL, in Germany and in Finland. Now, he is the assistant athletic director and director of hockey at Lake Forest Academy, a high school in Illinois.

Madeley signed all 5 cards sent in black Sharpie marker.

Paul Szczechura

Paul Szczechura

Currently with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2010.

Autograph received: January 8, 2011.

Paul Szczechura split the past 2 seasons between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the minor-league Norfolk Admirals. So far this season, he has toiled in the "A."   Szczechura signed this card in black Sharpie marker.

Two More Addresses Added

I added addresses for TSN and ESPN to the Misc. Addresses page. Several retired players now work at these networks, including Ray Ferraro and Craig MacTavish (TSN) and Barry Melrose (ESPN).

Thanks to Tyler for providing these two addresses.

Real or Fake: Jari Kurri

A local dealer asked me to ascertain if the card on the left was really signed by Jari Kurri. I don't have Kurri's autograph, so for comparative purposes I borrowed the image on the right from eBay.

The autographs on each card do not look similar. This might be because the Topps card (left) was signed in the 1990s, while the Be A Player card (right) was issued in 2001-02.

Since I have never gotten Kurri's autograph either through-the-mail or in-person, I don't have a strong opinion on the card in question.

The Kurri card used to belong to the same TTM collector who owned the Steve Yzerman card mentioned on this blog 2 weeks ag.

So, like the Yzerman card, again I ask my readers: Do you think this Jari Kurri autograph is real or fake? 
 
Thanks for any insight you offer.

Bronco Horvath

Bronco Horvath

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: December 29, 2008.

Autograph received: January 3, 2011.

Yes, you've read that right-- it took 735 days for me to receive this successful return from former NHL player Bronco Horvath. I sent this card out so long ago, I had honestly forgotten about it. (Good thing I keep track in an Excel Spreadsheet).

Perhaps Horvath misplaced my letter? No matter--a win is a win, even if it goes into overtime for 2 years.

Horvath played pro hockey from 1950 to 1970, including 7 solid seasons in the NHL. He signed my card in thin black marker.

Weekly Show-And-Tell: 2007-08 Chicago Blackhawks Team Set

The Chicago Blackhawks sold this set at home games during the 2007-08 season. I have 21 out of 29 cards autographed.












I still need to get the following player cards signed:

• Nikolai Khabibulin - I've been wary writing to him, as I'm not sure if he replies to TTM requests
• Robert Lang - I meant to write to him last season, but didn't get around to it. Now I'm not sure where he is playing.
• Martin Lapointe - He retired at the end of the '07-08 season, so I didn't know where to write to him. He is now a scout for the Blackhawks, so I'll try him c/o the team
• Yanic Perreault - Was a UFA after the '07-08 season.
• Danny Richmond - The Richmond card is a short-print, so I am wary of mailing it away, as I may never see it again.
• Tuomo Ruutu - Honestly, I thought I had Ruutu's autograph on his card from this set. I've written to him several times, all successful.
• Jason Williams - I've written to Williams twice--both times unsuccessful. He was injured last season, but just started playing with the Connecticut Whale recently. Maybe the third time will be the charm?
• Andrei Zyuzin - He's been in the KHL the past few seasons.

Does anyone know where to contact Yanic Perreault? Has anyone ever received TTM autographs from Khabibulin, Williams or Richmond?

Perhaps my New Year's Resolution will be to get the rest of this set autographed. Of course, going to the gym every day would also be a good resolution, so maybe I should do both.