Rick Dudley

Rick Dudley

Retired player. Currently the General Manager of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Fan letter sent: March 3, 2011.

Autograph received: April 16, 2011

Rick Dudley played in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets, and in the WHA with the Cincinnati Stingers. Counting minor league play, he had just over an 11 year pro career. Dudley then went onto coaching and management, and is now the GM for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Dudley nicely signed my 3 cards in black Sharpie marker.

Gilles Meloche

Gilles Meloche

Retired player. Currently the Goaltending Coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Purchased at a card show in March 2011

Usually, when I write to Gilles Meloche, he signs my cards in ballpoint pen. So, I could not resist picking up this 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee card that was nicely autographed in blue Sharpie marker.

Rob Schremp

Rob Schremp

Currently with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Fan letter sent: December 30, 2010.

Autograph received: April 13, 2011.

When I wrote to Rob Schremp, he was a member of the New York Islanders. But he was picked up off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers in February. Good to see that my TTM request did not get lost in the shuffle.

Schremp signed my card in black marker--not sure if it was a Sharpie, as there seems to be some fine lines and some thick lines (like his number 88).

Willy Lindstrom

Willy Lindstrom

Retired player

Purchased at a card show in March 2011

I don't know much about Willy Lindstrom, other than that I have no idea where to send him a fan letter. So purchasing this card didn't seem like such a bad idea. The price was right, and it's nicely signed in blue. 

Len Barrie

Len Barrie

Retired player

Purchased at a card show in March 2011

Quick--how many former NHL players went on to own an NHL team?

You probably thought only of two: Mario Lemieux and Len Barrie.

For those who don't know, Barrie used to be an owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Apparently, he and the other guy who owned the team butted heads a lot. In 2010, they sold the Lightning to someone else.

But I don't care if he doesn't own the team anymore. Barrie is cool because he was mainly a minor league player, but did (partly) own an NHL team for a while.

Jason Krog

Jason Krog

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 1, 2010.

Autograph received: April 14, 2011.

Jason Krog has played in 202 NHL games over the past 12 years, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. I think his longevity in pro hockey, as well as his NHL experience, is why he is team captain.

Krog signed my card in black Sharpie marker. And for those keeping score, I now have 23 autographed cards from the 2009-10 Chicago Wolves team set.

Bobby Ryan

 
Bobby Ryan

Currently with the Anaheim Ducks. 

Fan letter sent: November 1, 2010.

Autographs received: April 13, 2011.

Bobby Ryan has been a consistent 30-plus goal scorer during the past 3 NHL seasons.

Interestingly, he signed 3 cards in black Sharpie marker, and the 4th--a 2007-08 AHL Top Prospects card--in silver Sharpie marker. Perhaps he did this because there are no good light areas on the card.

A great return from a rising star.

Show-And-Tell: 1964-65 Parkhurst Tall Boys

Here are 71 autographed cards from the 1964-65 Parkhurst Tall Boys set. This set was actually made in 1994--and not 1964--so they make nice, inexpensive and expendable cards to send out for TTM requests. Because who wants to risk sending out "real" cards from the 1960s? (If anyone is interested, I have a complete *unsigned* 180-card set of these available for sale or trade.)