Showing posts with label Bobby Orr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bobby Orr. Show all posts

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Making My Own Cards - Sketch Art

Sometimes the answer to the simplest dilemas are right in front of us. I have been pre-occupied with my comic book art and making sketch cards of super heroes. While I still have a soft spot for sports cards, the disillusion of many of the products and the high cost of vintage has been prohibitive.
 
So, I decided to make some of my own cards. My heroes, my favorites, my opinion of the most significant players in the sports I like.  After finding my BOSTON BRUINS signed pennant, I was inspired to have a Bobby Orr autograph.
 
With the price of BOBBY ORR cards holding at premium value, he was the first choice to produce my own 1/1 sketch card.
 
To be fair, I caught a glimpse of the LEAF sketch cards that have popped up on ebay. Oddly enough, some of these were done by artist I started out working with on other sets for  Topps and Rittenhouse.
But to be honest, the quality was not what I expected. That is not to deminish the talent or styles of any artists - art is and always will be subjective.
 
I leave the opinion of my own art to those who look and, in some cases purchase the cards. I stopped working for the card companies that paid me only $5-10 per card and began selling my own at a substantial increase to my pocket.


 
Still the All-Time homerun king in my book, HANK AARON was drawn after watching ESPN Sports Century espisode that featured him.
 
Since I've started on the record holders, I had to include the greatest hockey scorer in my lifetime - WAYNE GRETZKY.

 
Last of the group is the hero of my childhood, and part of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty - KEN DRYDEN.

 
The design on the Orr card was left in that stage as I my have grand thoughts of having them signed by the players themselves. Although this is highly unlikely, one can dream, can't one ?
 
WHAT PLAYER WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DRAWN ON A 1/1 CARD ?

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The FIRST AMERICAN NHL TEAM - BOSTON BRUINS Pennant

Just in time for the start of the NHL season I  found this BOSTON BRUINS pennant at the flea market last week. It had a wonderful NHL seal dominating the pennant with the year 1924 - when the Boston Bruins entered the NHL.

I know I hadn't been able to afford a Bobby Orr autograph on the regular market, so this was paramount in landing a great white whale. Someone took a great deal of time to put these signatures together.

 
The pennant was encased in a hard plastic sleeve. On the reverse were some old school lable maker tags identifying most of the autographs. Tucked in there was a ticket for a 1990's signing for Vezina winner Jim Carey.
 
 
Apart from the last Bruins' Stanley Cup winners, there is a good representation from all of the club's successes from the 1940's to the 1990's. 
 
 Here are the 23 Bruins fan favorites including (ten) 10 HALL OF FAMERS *:

Ray Bourque *
Johnny Bucyk *
Lyndon Byers
Jim Carey
Jon Casey
Gerry Cheevers *
Phil Esposito *
Fern Flaman *
Stephen Heinze
Sugar Jim Henry
Ken Hodge
Al Iafrate
Tom Johnson *
Joe Juneau
Rick Middleton
Cam Neely *
Bobby Orr *
Barry Pederson
Brad Park *
Milt Schmidt *
David Shaw
Bryan Smolinski
Cam Stewart

Some of the more interesting non-Hall of Famers are Lyndon Byers, who is known for his post-hockey career in film and radio. He is known in Boston for his on air radio antics.

Joe Juneau held the rookie record (1992-93) for most points in a season by a left wing. He was an Olympian who won the Silver Medal at the 1992 Albertville games.

Barry  Pederson was part of the historical trade that sent Cam Neely to the Bruins. Pederson returned to end his career with the Bruins.

Bryan Smoliski played over 1,000 NHL games.

My favorite group from this pennant is the 1970's super team Stanley Cup winners - Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge and Gerry Cheevers.

A close second are the early Bruins - Fern Flaman, Milt Schmidt, "Sugar" Jim Henry and Montreal Canadian great Tom Johnson who coached the Bruins to the 1970 Cup.

1951-52 Parkhurst "Sugar" Jim Henry card.


If I could have had Eddie Shore's autograph on the pennant it would be the entire history of the club on 15 inches of felt !