Tom Burgmeier

Sent: 1/15/11
Received: 2/28/11
Time: 44 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1975 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1982 Donruss, 1984 Topps
Item Received: 1975 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1982 Donruss, 1984 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Though his finest seasons came during his late 30s in Boston, St. Paul native Tom Burgmeier had a couple of really nice years for his home-state Twins right in the middle of his remarkable 17 year big league career.  Particularly solid were 1975 (5 wins, 11 saves, 3.09 ERA) and 1976 (8-1 record, 2.50 ERA in 115.1 innings -- all in relief).

Rick Kehoe

Sent: 1/15/11
Received: 2/28/11
Time: 44 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 Topps
Item Received: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Rick Kehoe was perhaps the greatest player in Pittsburgh Penguins history prior to the arrival of Mario Lemieux.  A two-time All-Star, Lady Byng winner (1980-81), and 50 goal scorer (1980-81), he retired as the Penguins all-time leading scorer.

Shea Weber

Sent: 1/5/11
Received: 2/26/11
Time: 52 Days
Address: c/o Nashville Predators
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2010-11 Upper Deck Artifacts
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2010-11 Upper Deck Artifacts.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Shea Weber has become one of my favorite players in the NHL over the last couple of years.  He can do it all.  He's a huge defenseman with a bazooka shot.  He's a great skater, and a magnificent physical presence.  He's also Nashville's leading scorer this year, despite working on the blue line.  Most importantly, of course, he's the rock of my fantasy team!

Jordan Leopold

Sent: 12/17/10
Received: 2/26/11
Time: 71 Days
Address: c/o Buffalo Sabres
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2009-10 Upper Deck.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I was two years ahead of Jordan Leopold at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minnesota.  I knew who he was, but I didn't know him personally.  He graduated with my brother, was a teammate of one of my best friends (Thomas Johnson), and played for Thomas' dad Bruce.  He was the best high school player I ever saw first hand.  Without a doubt.  And it was not the least bit surprising when he won the Hobey Baker en route to leading the Minnesota Golden Gophers to their first of two consecutive NCAA Championships in 2002.  He got off to a very promising NHL start in Calgary before Dion Phaneuf came along and overshadowed him.  Since then he's become a bit of a journeyman, but it's nice to see him putting together his best season in quite some time this year with the Sabres.

Corey Crawford

Sent: 1/13/11
Received: 2/26/11
Time: 44 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Blackhawks
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
There are plenty of candidates to share the blame for the Blackhawks' fall from Stanley Cup champions to a team on the verge of missing the playoffs.  Corey Crawford is not one of those people.  He has bided his time in their system for several seasons, and finally got his shot this year.  He has usurped veteran Marty Turco as the clear #1 goaltender in Chicago and has put together a terrific year.  Too bad the same can't be said for the guys in front of him.

Craig Ramsay

Sent: 12/2/10
Received: 2/26/11
Time: 86 Days
Address: c/o Atlanta Thrashers
Item Sent: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Craig Ramsay was a terrific defensive forward who won the Selke Trophy in his final season in 1985.  Two years later, he served as interim head coach for the Sabres.  He didn't get another chance at a head coaching gig until landing one with the Flyers 13 years later.  That lasted just 28 games.  After several years as a top assistant with the Lightning and Bruins, he has finally earned another head job, this time with the Atlanta Thrashers.  The Thrashers started the year hot with an infusion of talent from the Chicago Blackhawks' salary dump.  They have scuffled lately and currently sit on the outside of the playoff picture, but are loaded with young talent.  Ramsay should be able to make this job last for more than just one year.

Joe Reekie

Sent: 2/14/11
Received: 2/25/11
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Stadium Club, 1991-92 Topps
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Stadium Club, 1991-92 Topps.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
An outstanding stay-at-home defender for 17 NHL seasons, Reekie's finest offensive years came with the New York Islanders.  His longest stay was in Washington, which included his only trip to the Stanley Cup Finals (in 1998). 

Neil Sheehy

Sent: 2/19/11
Received: 2/23/11
Time: 4 Days
Address: c/o Sheehy Hockey, LLC
Item Sent: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
This is my second success from Mr. Sheehy.  I originally wrote to him last may and received a signed 1991-92 Score Canadian card.  That was prior to my decision to try collecting that set.  I needed to get his Traded card signed for that set, so I coupled that with his 1990-91 Topps card.  Same lightning-fast result!

Jimmy Key

Sent: 2/11/11
Received: 2/22/11
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1987 Topps
Item Received: 1987 Topps, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Jimmy Key was a fantastic pitcher, one of the best southpaws in the league from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s.  Though under the radar up in Toronto, he and Dave Stieb were quietly one of the best 1-2, lefty-righty punches in the game for many years.  After winning a World Series in his final year with the Blue Jays (1992), he moved on to New York and posted consecutive 18 and 17 wins seasons for the Yankees, finishing in the top four in AL Cy Young voting both seasons (fourth in '93 and second in '94).  He won another title in his final year in pinstripes in 1996.  Now... I'm not trying to make a case for Jimmy Key as a Hall of Famer, but consider his resume: 186-117 record (.614 winning percentage), 2 World Series titles, four All-Star games, three top-five Cy Young finishes, an ERA title (1987), a wins title (1994), and a 3-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in four career World Series games.  Not a Hall of Famer, but I would think he could have done better than the 0.6% of the vote he received in his lone year of eligibility.  At any rate, I'm thrilled to have this gorgeous blue Sharpie signature on his 1987 Topps card.  (FYI for other collectors: Key is a very quick and generous TTM signer, but he has a strict policy of one autograph per request.)

Steve Duchesne

Sent: 2/9/11
Received: 2/19/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
A high-scoring All-Star defenseman on the Gretzky-led Kings teams of the late '80s and early '90s, Duchesne became a valuable journeyman for the bulk of his career.  He capped his 16-year NHL career by finally winning the Stanley Cup with the 2002 Detroit Red Wings.

Randy Wood

Sent: 2/5/11
Received: 2/19/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Yale graduate Randy Wood was an outstanding two-way winger for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.  After starring with the Islanders for four seasons, he accompanied Pat LaFontaine in the 1991 blockbuster deal with the Sabres.

Mark Dusbabek

Sent: 1/27/11
Received: 2/18/11
Time: 22 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991 Pacific, 1991 Topps
Item Received: 1991 Pacific, 1991 Topps.  Both signed in blue ballpoint.

Notes:
A native of Fairbault, Minnesota, he starred for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 1980s.  He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1987 but didn't make his NFL debut until his hometown Vikings signed him in 1989.  He became a starting linebacker for the Vikes in 1990, but an injury ended his career the following season.  Dusbabek married the lovely former KARE 11 reporter Asha Blake and accompanied her to New York for national jobs with ABC and NBC, and eventually they settled in Los Angeles when Asha was named anchor for KTLA TV.  Since living in L.A., Mark has become a top official for the PGA Tour.

Russell Gary

Sent: 10/22/10
Received: 2/15/11
Time: 116 Days
Address: c/o Concordia University Athletic Department
Item Sent: 1983 Topps
Item Received: 1983 Topps, signed in purple ballpoint.

Notes:
Minneapolis native Russell Gary starred with the Nebraska Cornhuskers before moving on to a seven year NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.  The autograph on this card is kind of ugly.  It appears he started with a dried out black ballpoint pen before finishing with a purple one.  Still, given that it his first ever reported success on SportsCollectors.net, I can't get too upset.

Greg Brown

Sent: 2/1/11
Received: 2/14/11
Time: 13 Days
Address: c/o Boston College Athletic Department
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Greg Brown was an NHL bust with the Sabres, Penguins, and Jets, but he was a legendary U.S. amateur hockey player.  He was on the 1988 U.S. Olympic team, was a two-time Hockey East Player of the Year at Boston College, and a finalist for the 1990 Hobey Baker Award.  For the last six years, he has been an assistant coach for Boston College, helping the Eagles to national titles in 2008 and 2010.

Dave Brown

Sent: 2/1/11
Received: 2/12/11
Time: 11 Days
Address: c/o Philadelphia Flyers
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Dave Brown did his part to carry the Flyers' "Broad Street Bullies" image into the '80s.  The huge (6'5") enforcer earned over 1,700 penalty minutes in his NHL career.  He is currently the Flyers' Director of Player Personnel - a title he has held since 2006.

Bobby Grich

Sent: 5/20/10
Received: 2/10/11
Time: 266 Days
Address: c/o Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Item Sent: 1983 Topps, 1985 Donruss
Item Received: 1983 Topps, 1985 Donruss.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I was sure this was a goner.  I sent this to Mr. Grich care of the Angels, where he works in the front office.  For months I have watched other collectors report successes with requests sent to his home, but nothing to the Angels.  Nothing to worry about, though.  It's a nice return from one of the finest all-around second basemen of the last half-century.

Dan Hinote

Sent: 1/31/11
Received: 2/10/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Columbus Blue Jackets
Item Sent: 2005-06 Parkhurst, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2005-06 Parkhurst, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
A rough 'n tumble grinder from Elk River, Minnesota, Dan Hinote was a fan favorite on the Avalanche teams of the early 2000s.  After playing one final season in Europe last year, he immediately jumped into the NHL coaching ranks as an assistant for the Blue Jackets.  Off ice, he is married to Jenny McCarthy's sister.  It's weird.  Google him and there are pictures of Jim Carrey at his wedding.

Kevin Tapani

Sent: 1/27/11
Received: 2/9/11
Time: 13 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 Donruss Rookies, 1990 Fleer Update, 1991 Stadium Club, 1993 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990 Donruss Rookies, 1990 Fleer Update, 1991 Stadium Club, 1993 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
With a 95% TTM success rate on SportsCollectors.net, Kevin Tapani is about as sure of a sure thing as there is in this hobby.  That's probably why it took so long for me to send to him.  I finally got around to it a couple weeks ago, though.  Sure enough, beautiful bold Sharpie signatures on all four cards.  Great return from one of my childhood favorites!

Kevin Dineen

Sent: 10/16/10
Received: 2/7/11
Time: 114 Days
Address: c/o Portland Pirates
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Stadium Club, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Stadium Club, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Kevin Dineen is as synonymous with the Hartford Whalers as anybody.  He's a two-time 40 goal scorer and a two-time 200 penalty minute man.  He scored the final goal in Whalers history and was both the last captain for the Whalers and first captain for the Carolina Hurricanes.  He currently coaches the Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

Mark Janssens

Sent: 1/7/11
Received: 2/7/11
Time: 31 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set Minnesota North Stars Logo, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Topps
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set Minnesota North Stars Logo, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Topps, Chicago Blackhawks Coca Cola 4x6 photo.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Quite a haul from one of the most obscure ex-North Stars!  Mark Janssens spent over a decade in the NHL as a defensive forward.  Best known for his long stints with the New York Rangers and Harford Whalers, he appeared in a total of three games for the North Stars during the 1991-92 season.  Along with the cards I sent (three of his Rangers cards and, since he never appeared on an official card with the team, a North Stars logo card), he included a 4" x 6" photo depicting him with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Derian Hatcher

Sent: 8/4/10
Received: 2/5/11
Time: 185 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The Minnesota North Stars selected Derian Hatcher in the first round of the 1990 NHL draft.  It would turn out to be one of the franchise's finest picks.  Unfortunately, Minnesota fans were not able to reap the full reward.  Derian did become a franchise defenseman after the team moved to Dallas.  He eventually became team captain, a title he held when the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999.  He finished his career with stints in Philadelphia and Detroit, and was the second-to-last ex-North Star to remain active in the NHL (outlasted only by still-active Mike Modano).

R.J. Umberger

Sent: 1/12/11
Received: 2/5/11
Time: 24 Days
Address: c/o Columbus Blue Jackets
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
R.J. Umberger is one of the more underrated forwards in the NHL.  His three-year stint in Philadelphia culminated with a fantastic playoff run in 2008.  He scored 10 goals and added five assists over 17 games during the Flyers' surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals.  His reward was a trade to lowly Columbus.  For the last couple of seasons, though, he has been one of the blue Jackets most dependable players.  He even had a stint on my fantasy hockey team last year, which inspired me to temporarily rename my team the Umberger Helpers.

Steve Holm

Sent: 1/26/11
Received: 2/3/11
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 2008 Topps
Item Received: 2008 Topps, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Get to know him, Twins fans!  Steve Holm had a few big league cups of coffee with the Giants over the last two years, and signed a minor league contract with the Twins this offseason.  Following the trades of Wilson Ramos and Jose Morales, he presumably moves into the third spot on the Twins' catching depth chart.  Should anything unfortunate happen to Joe Mauer or Drew Butera, it's likely we see Holm at Target Field this summer.

Bobby Randall

Sent: 1/19/11
Received: 2/2/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1977 Topps, 1979 Topps
Item Received: 1977 Topps, 1979 Topps, 1979 Twins Team Issue Postcard.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
When Rod Carew moved to first base, Bobby Randall was given the unenviable task of replacing the legend at second base.  He has no power, but was a grinder who laid down a lot of sacrifice bunts.  After a few seasons he retired and briefly served as a Twins coach.