I never thought I would see the day that

the Night Owl would send hockey cards as part of a card package.

Read it again if you have to.  No, your eyes aren't deceiving you.  Hockey cards, and Maple Leafs no less!
These aren't jersey or auto cards, or even high end.  But still, hockey cards from the man who I'm sure has written on his blog that he would never collect them (I know that statement is there, I just couldn't find his post) was and is very surprising to me.

On the left is one of the more infamous sets of the early 90's in terms of hockey cards.  The 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum release was widely criticized by collectors because of the lack of information on the front.  Yes, even I had to flip the card over to see who the player was.  It is actually Mike Bullard, pictured as a Maple Leaf in his final season in the NHL.  The Leafs had acquired Bullard from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 1993 3rd round draft pick. That pick turned out to be a player that is actually still in the NHL 18 years later, Vinny Prospal.  The other two cards feature 90-91 Score Traded cards, Paul Fenton and Michel Petit.  Fenton was on the Leafs for a grand total of 30 games during the 90-91 season before he was traded to the Flames (which was his 3rd team that year).  Petit was actually part of the 10 player trade the following year between the Leafs and the Flames, which actually is considered by many to be the best trade in Leafs history.

See, all that information from 3 little hockey cards.  I'm sure that the all knowing Night Owl was well aware of this...

But wait, there's more!  What would a package of cards from the Night Owl be without 70's vintage!

Perry and Concepcion, two names I will remember the 70s for fondly.

4 more beauties towards the '77 Topps set, a set that is now nearing 3/4's completion.  I will always get a kick at looking over this set, just because when I do, the memories come flooding back.  The Big Red Machine, of which Concepcion was a big part.  Those rainbow Astros unis, which you either love or hate, there is no middle ground there (I've always loved them, I don't think any design afterwards comes close).  Gaylord Perry, a Hall of Famer who pitched for 8 teams over a 22 year career, sporting the powder blue Rangers uniform. I will not speak of the Marc Hill card...well just because it came from a Dodgers fan.

Finally there were a couple of '73 Topps cards in the package as well.   I only have a couple of handfuls of these so far, but this is another classic set that I will put together over time. 

Many of you will recognize the card on the left, mainly because it was the header for the Play at the Plate blog for quite a while.  A classic card of Chris Speier that I glad to have as part of my collection. 

The card on the right is actually a player that I had never even heard of until I received the card.  Frank Linzy was a decent closer for quite a few teams from 1965-1974.   Frank even finished 3rd in the ROY balloting in 1965 with 21 saves and a 1.43 ERA, which also garnered him a 13th place finish in the MVP vote.  Linzy finished his career with 111 saves in 11 seasons, and a pretty solid career ERA of 2.85.

I really enjoyed the package Greg...thank you very much.  You also reminded me of a credo I've used on this blog many times when it comes to trading with fellow bloggers.

Expect the unexpected.

Thanks for reading, Robert