Lets Go Flyers!!!

After falling to 0-2 in Chicago the Philadelphia Flyers have evened the Stanley Cup Finals at 2 games a piece.

Tonight the Flyers and Blackhawks return to Chicago to decide the 2010 Stanley Cup Final in what amounts to a three game series

2002-03 Topps Heritage Hockey #28 Simon Gagne

I don't have many hockey cards, but this is one of them. Gagne is injured right now (broken foot) but is a member of the current Flyers team and is among Philadelphia's longest tenured athletes. He has struggled with injuries the last few years but was quite a scorer when healthy. Gagne is the only player that I have witnessed completing a hat trick at a game I have attended.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Chicago Blackhawks 8pm Sunday June 6th.

Happy Anniversary Bobby Orr

Monday May 10th marked the 40th anniversary of the Boston Bruins winning the 1969-70 Stanley Cup on Bobby Orr's Overtime goal. The goal was captured in a famous photograph taken by Ray Lussier.


2010 UD Masterpieces #34 Bobby Orr

This card is just one of the many which make us all miss UD Masterpieces. It captures an image we, as sports fans, have seen countless times. It is similar to the Willie Mays "Catch" footage, It is from an era before I was cognizant of the game, yet it is instantly recognizable.

It is truly a shame that Masterpieces had to go away - I am not sure what it takes to license a card like this one much less 20 or so for a nice card set. Perhaps Masterpieces is best left alone. future sets would have only been disappointments. I know that 08 Baseball is a shell of 2007 Masterpieces.



2010 UD Masterpieces #34 Bobby Orr (b-side/click to enlarge)

I also like how in 08-09 Hockey Masterpieces UD recognizes the artist on the flip side of the cards. This card features the work of Ron Stark who had previously also done work for Topps Gallery Edition Cards.

Ok enough about Bobby Orr and Days of Yore - In the present day The Flyers are locked in a best of 7 with Bobby's Bruins and I am hoping for a big comeback from the Broad Street Bullies.

Hall of Fame Thursday - Lord Stanley

2008 UD Masterpieces #1 Lord Stanley

Lord Frederick Stanley donated the Stanley Cup in 1893 to honor Canada's top amateur team. Since 1926 the Cup has been awarded to the NHL Champion. The 2008-09 Champion will be crowned on Friday Night. The Cup will either be retained by the current cup holding Detroit Red Wings or passed on to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Stanley Cup is the oldest traveling trophy in the history of North America. Each year all the members of the championship teams names are engraved on the cups chalice. There are several traditions that follow the cup including drinking champagne from the cup following the victory and the players day with cup - which gives each member of the championship team an opportunity to spend a day with the Stanley Cup.

UD Masterpieces one and only hockey set featured several great hockey players from the past and part of the beauty of the set is that it honored Lord Stanley with the first card in the set. It is a shame that Masterpieces is going to go away but I am glad that they were able to put out both a Hockey and a Football set before eliminating the line.

It has also been noted by Sports Cards Uncensored that the original artwork for some of the Masterpieces cards has gone on sale at prices of $299 and up.