RIP Ryan

 Hello everyone, I'm posting here in one of my infrequent times. I'm kept pretty busy with the cat rescue my wife and I run. I'm still buying and selling on a smaller scale.By the end of the day, I just want to relax and chill out. That's when I start checking out some of my favourite blogs. I don't leave a lot of comments but just enjoy keeping up with things. In late September, Chris of Nacho Grande: A Baseball Card Blog shared some sad news. Ryan R (roddster" in blog comments) passed away. You can read about his work and relationship with Chris in the above link. I had been a recipient in the past of some of Ryan's custom A & G minis. To honour his memory, Chris was sending out some of the cards to commenters. I just love the look and feel of them and wished to dd a few more to my collection.

And here they are in all their glory. Mostly baseball, but a superhero and golfer thrown into the mix. And I received one of the variant backs. I don't know if Chris did this on purpose or not, but it was a Blue Jays Jose Bautista 8/25 Bazooka back. (Jays are my team.) Thanks Chris for these and remembering Ryan at the same time. 

Oot and aboot

In todays episode of oot and aboot, we aren't travelling far. We are staying right here in Brantford. In 2008, Brantford City Council approved the design and structure of a new walk of fame monument. This was to honour the outstanding achievements of local citizens, past and present. A diverse group, that includes athletes, writers, philanthropists and inventors to artists scientists, actors and writers. The design was around the theme of the Grand River, the concrete and tempered glass structure includes a water channel pattern to channel the concept of the flow of time and the lives that have shaped the community.

View of the wall with the glass looking wave like.

Canada's favourite hockey Dad.

It's fun coming in as the second or third lead. If the movie or TV show bombs, you aren't to blame.

Mr. Warson, come here. I want to see you.

A former Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick.

The Great One

I didn't take photos of all 24 members, just the hockey ones and a couple I thought were more well known world wide.

Again, until next time , oot and aboot.

Hayley Wickenheiser Day

On Tuesday May 23, 2023 the local Ladies Who Lead  group added Hayley Wickenheiser to this years speaker series. Ladies Who Lead is a network of dynamic professional women who believe that by building business, building self, building relationships and building community, we can lift each other up to achieve our goals. The speaker series is an annual fundraising event used to support the goals of Ladies Who Lead. As well, funds from this years event will go toward the Arnold Anderson Sport Fund, Brantford Girls Hockey Association Brantford Minor Hockey, Paris Minor Hockey and Brantford Community Hockey League.

The City of Brantford proclaimed May 23rd as Hayley Wickenheiser Day.

 

Program from the event.

Thanks to Picture Perfect Window Coverings, I was able to secure a pair of tickets. Listening to Hayley talk was inspiring as she has accomplished a lot in her life. In the audience were a lot of girls and young women who I'm sure enjoyed this very much. As the father of 4 girls, I've always championed for them to be able to play any sport they wanted to. I've also done coaching on the girls side. All in all, a great time even though I didn't get an autograph.

And coming soon, another hockey related event I attended. 

National Hockey Card Day

 This post is a little late and cleans out some of my saved scans. Upper Deck's National Hockey Card Day 2023 took place on April 15. A departure this year was one set for both the Canadian and American markets. That meant a base set of 30 cards and 1 checklist instead of 2 sets of 15 plus the appropriate checklist. Since I don't have any LCS's, (usually pick up a set later at a garage sale etc), I went to my Toys R'Us to pick up the nine card sheets as I've done in the previous years. Looked sort of promising as the manager was wearing a Lightning jersey but saw no signage. I found out at customer service that their shipment was delayed and they would be getting them in "shortly". He said he could take my name and put a set together and call me to pickup when ready. I was in a few hours after store opening and was surprised to be third on the list. Thought there would have been more. A call came on Tuesday that it was ready. I went in Wednesday and they couldn't find my name on any of the sets put aside. Luckily there was still a lot of sheets left and was able to put together a couple of sets. You've probably seen the cards but here are the sheets in all of their glory. (front and back)

The one thing with collecting the sheets, you do get some doubles, which is not a bad thing.

Enjoy.

OH CANADA

 Good day, eh. Greetings from the Great White North. I'm late posting this mailday  but what better day to get caught up.

Jon over at.A Penny sleeve For Your Thoughts recently had some giveaways during his Take my Stuff Tuesday and Free stuff Friday. I was able to grab a few cards fitting my collecting needs. Correspondence was great as Jon informed me he would be sending by PWE and I was fine with that.

A few weeks later I came home to not one, not two but three PWE's all on the same day. He had mentioned he might find some other cards to send with my "winnings". 

Envelope number 1 contained some Monkees cards, baseball (and Blue Jays content), hockey and 2011 ITG Canadiana.  Gotta love Stompin' Tom and The Hockey Song.  

I has a few cards from this set and glad to add these. I guess I should put this on my "set to be completed" list. 

Envelope number 2 contained some Jeter cards and more Canadiana. I wonder why they were classified as Athlete and not Wrestler. Met Dave Thomas ("Coo loo coo coo, coo coo coo coo" ) once at the Gretzky Tournament and got his autograph.

Envelope number 3 had baseball Topps 50th Anniversary and non-sports-Howard the Duck and Desert Storm. Actress, actor and author. America's Sweetheart, Pa Cartwright and this adaptation of one of Leacock's short stories.

What could be more Canadian than Canadiana?

Oot and aboot

 Had these pictures on my phone and finally getting around to share.

Today we visit Paris. This would be Ontario, not France. We bring you some history of Paris native Charles Joseph Sylvanus Apps. (Jan 18 1915-Dec 24 1998). He was a pretty incredible man. He captained the Toronto Maple Leafs and won Stanley Cups. He won a gold medal in the British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games). He represented Canada at the Olympics. He was a member of the provincial parliament. He's a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Canadas Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Is it any wonder the arena in Paris is named after him.

Here are some shots of the exterior and interior of the arena. Enjoy.