Collectibles Preview: 2010-11 ITG Ultimate Memorabilia, 10th Edition


This season marks 100 years since the release of the first set of hockey cards. Well, let me clarify: 100 years ago Imperial Tobacco began sticking small cards of hockey players in their packs of smokes to give folks something to look at as they inhaled that “Sweet Carolina Smoke!”, but more so to keep the cigs from breaking in a soft pack! Who said the birth of the hockey card had to be sweet and innocent?!?!?


At any rate, to celebrate this 100th anniversary of the 1910-11 C56 set, In The Game will be utilizing the C56-styled design for base cards in the 2010-11 ITG Ultimate Memorabilia Series, 10th Edition, while also inserting redemptions for actual graded copies of original C56 cards! While an official preview is yet to come, ITG has released some shots of base cards to be included in the set to whet people’s appetites! Check out some of these beauties”


Mario Lemieux





Ted Lindsay





Johnny Bauer





Dominik Hasek





Pelle Lindbergh





Borje Salming





ITG again needs to be commended on their ability to release a killer product despite no NHL license! Going back to the genesis of the hobby is something I’m glad was handled by ITG. No disrespect to the Topps C55 set or Upper Deck’s Champs releases, both of which were/are very cool releases, but there’s just something about ITG’s ability to pull off the extra special sets that make them what they are, and continue to reinforce the fact that dropping out of the NHL licensed product realm in 2005 may have been the best thing to happen to them.


That being said, this is a product that the vast majority of us will NEVER lay hands on! First, you buy by the box. The number of boxes produced has generally been limited to 1500 to 2500. Each box contains five packs. Each pack contains one base card, one autograph and one memorabilia card (on average). Cards are generally very short-printed, with base cards in the high double digits and autos and memorabilia in the low double and single digits. Each card also comes enclosed in a hard plastic case, similar to a graded card. Cost of a box? On average you’re looking at a cool $600-$650. Ah.....no. Even if I had $650 to spend on this I likely wouldn’t as I value not having my spouse forcibly remove my reproductive organs with a rusty spoon. But hey, if you can get away with it then all the power to you!!!


So all in all, it’s a beautiful set that I’m destined never to own any of but would love to if I could safely prevent spousal castration! As further preview pics become available I’ll be sure to post them!


Cheers!

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Just a quick note before I completely sign off! Since I am going at the collectibles gig full steam again I would like to work a few interactive blogs into the menu here. Here are a few ideas:

1) Q&A: Send in any questions around product, pricing, selling, memorabilia and I will do question and answer type posts of them.

2) Show Your Collection: Do you have anything in your collection, be it card, jersey, puck, auto, that you’re particularly proud of and would like to show off? Send me a pic and brief description and share it with the world!

3) Want/Trade: If people have particular cards they want and a list of things they’re willing to trade then send me a list and an email address where others can contact you and I will maintain a trade page here to help facilitate some trading.

If any of these things appeal to you in any way let me know and we’ll do it up!

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Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
BBM: 311A4F7D

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Previous Product Previews & Reviews

2010-11 Panini Score Hockey
2010-11 Panini Certified Hockey


Ultimate Set Build

INDEX


Previous "Devil's In The Details" Articles

#1: Beware the "Factory Sealed Box"!

#2: The Price Guide"



Previous “Who Am I?” Articles

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?


Previous “Devil's Advocate” Articles

Gary Bettman and the Phoenix Coyotes


Previous “According to Twitter” Articles

Olympic Gold Medal Game

Olympic Hockey

Kovalchuk Trade


Previous “Humpday Hockey Videos”

January 20, 2010: Pain for Pleasure

January 27, 2010: National Anthems

February 3, 2010: Dion Phaneuf

February 10, 2010: Hockey Fans



Previous “Who Knew?” Articles
#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry

#8: Cam Neely

#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens

#10: Hockey Superstitions!

#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1



Previous “Town Without A Team” Articles

Booger Hollow, Arkansas

Hell, Michigan



Previous “Hockey Psychology” Articles

State Dependent Learning

Arousal and Performance

Depression