It's a Fleury of a post on Friday

I have trouble keeping up with daily updates on the blog.  So I figured I would treat you guys to two posts on the same day.  Something strange happened in the Animal Kingdom last night as the Penguins killed the Sharks.  WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THAT ONE, ANIMAL PLANET FOLLOWERS!

Sidney Crosby continued to dominate and got himself 3 more points as he assisted in 3 of the Penguins 5 goals.

The star of the game though was Marc-Andre Fleury who had 44 goals.
44 GOALS!!!

That's a hot glove if I ever saw one.


Which I recently did see on ebay.  I grabbed this 2006 McDonald's Hot Glove insert of the Flower for just a couple bucks about 2 months ago.

The dicut card is shaped like a goalie's glove and features Marc in one of his classic poses.

Oh, how I miss buying Upper Deck products.

Feeling Blue

Today was a really lousy day.  I've been having trouble breathing again so I went to the doctor last week for some blood work.  This week I had more blood work done along with an X-Ray.  I was diagnosed with a blood disorder called polycythemia.

I'm feeling down so I thought I would share my feelings in blue cards that make me actually happy.

Jameson Taillon is one of the top 15 prospects in baseball.  Him and Gerrit Cole should be quite the pitching duo for the Bucs for many years to come.  This is a part of Jameson's 2012 All-Star Futures Game jersey.  The card is number 6/25.

Continuing the blue theme is a jersey swatch of Andrew McCutchen's All-Star game jersey from 2012 Topps.  

 And to close things out I have a 2010-11 Luxury Suite Marc-Andre Fleury jersey and stick relic card.  This beauty is numbered 82/100.

Penguins for Pennies

Here's some recent Penguins pickups I won a long time ago on ebay.  All were won for under $5 each.  To all you sellers that can't spell Lemieux properly.  Thank you!!!!

Evgeni Malkin Young Guns rookie checklist

Bobble Bobble Bobble! I made a trade with Dodgerbobble

I received my part of a trade package with Josh from dodgerbobble.com.
The agreement was for a Jose Tabata Gold Futures 2012 insert and a Frank Thomas Bowman Heritage Jersey relic.  Josh didn't stop there though as he added several other nice surprises that I didn't previously have.

This is the agreed upon Frank Thomas jersey card that I received in exchange for the Kershaw jersey I had pulled last year.  The Big Hurt was one of my favorites growing up and I still remember that video game he put out for the old Sega system.  That game was the shit back in the day.

Here's the "vintage" portion of the lot he sent me featuring all past Pirates players.  I actually didn't have any of these except the Wagner Lineage, which I have given to my girlfriend (also a Pirates fan).  It's nice seeing baseball players without their caps on all the time and I'm very happy to add the Stargell 206 card to my collection.  The Van Slyke was needed for my Van Slyke PC so that was a very nice surprise too.  I don't think I've mentioned it here before, but I just recently bought a Jay Bell game used bat on ebay for about $20 so it was nice to get that Bell card just a few days after the bat arrived.

 Dodgerbobble also included 6 Steelers and 3 Penguins.  Both teams are always welcomed in a trade if you're short on Pirates.  I am slowly trying to build up Steelers and Penguins collections and cards of HOFer Mario Lemieux are always welcome.

 Here's some 2012 and 2010 Pirates cards.  The Tabata Gold Futures was part of the deal.  Everything else was a bonus.

Thanks so much for the trade Josh.  I'm looking forward to our next trade.

More Penguins cards: Crosby, Fleury, and Malkin!

The Penguins got some bad news this All-Star weekend when it was announced that Sidney Crosby has a vertebrate abnormality.  There was rumors before the season that Sid should just retire to protect his health.  I'm happy that the Penguins aren't rushing him back out there and despite other key injuries the Penguins are still contending and are bound for the playoffs. 

Evgeni Malkin has been looking like one of the best players in the league this year and has really stepped up to fill the void of Crosby.  James Neal has also been sensational on the offensive threat without Sid the Kid. 

Marc-Andre Fleury continues to be astonishing between the pipes.

I know the Penguins will make the playoffs this season and the most recent rumor is that Sidney Crosby, arguably the best player in the NHL, will return for the playoff run.  It's going to be a fun spring again.

Here's the rest of my Pittsburgh Penguins autograph/relic collection featuring Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin.

Up first is my only "hit" of Sidney Crosby I own.  But it's a beauty.  This 2007-08 O-Pee-Chee Premier Rare Remnants Triples features Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Evgeni Malkin all on the same card with different color fabrics featuring each player to spell out "PIT" The serially numbered card is 46/50.

Up next is a nice 2 color jersey swatch from goalie supreme Marc-Andre Fleury.  Much like I try to find the yellow patches for Pirates or Steelers cards, I like seeing the gold in newer Penguins jersey cards.  It's just so much more unique to see that color on a card than yellow, black, or grey.

2010-11 Upper Deck Ultimate Jersey 15/100

Same rules apply to this card.  There was a black fabric piece available for this card too, but I opted to buy the gold because it looks better with the colors of the card.  Not a bad pickup for $10.
2009-10 SP Game Used Authentic Fabrics 79/100 JERSEY

I just love Malkin autographs.  I wish they weren't so darn expensive though.  This one was bought for like $28 I think.  It's an on card auto which makes it nicer in my humble opinion.
2010-11 SP Ultimate Signatures Evgeni Malkin AUTO

How many people out there collect hockey besides myself?
Anyone got Penguins cards to trade?

Football season for me is now over!

Thanks a lot Tim Tebow, the Steelers Super Bowl hopes are ruined.  It's official I don't care what happens with the rest of the football season now.  I have no intentions of throwing a Super Bowl party other than to watch my friends get drunk.  I can only look forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

I decided to make a post about the Steel City Champion cards that I own that have not been previously highlighted on my blog.  I'm going to keep this short and just show off the cards.

Up first 2 time World Series Champion Willie Stargell

2010 Topps 1971 World Series Commemorative Patch

2010 Topps 1979 World Series Commemorative Patch

 2010 Topps Triple Threads 25/27

2010 Topps Triple Threads 15/27

2003 Topps World Series Relic Tributes 48/50


Now for a 2011 Topps Super Bowl Legend coin of Terry Bradshaw serially numbered 32/50

Now for the hockey cards

 a nice dual auto of 2008-09 Stanley Cup Champions Evgeni Malkin & Marc-Andre Fleury serially numbered 17/25

2009 UD Champs Threads Marc-Andre Fleury mini relic card