1993-94 Leaf Hockey Series 1

Leaf first venture in to hockey with 14 cards a pack. Mario Lemieux on the cover of their set. Series 1 consist of 220 cards and inserts 1-5. Their insert sets feature Lemieux, All-Stars, rookies, goalies, and hat tricks split in two series. At the time they offer Lemieux poster after sending 10 wrappers to them.

6 - Pat Elyniuk - I like how on back of the card they put city landmark as background behind the player. It brings out "They represent this city" outlook. Back of Elyniuk card has statue of Abraham Lincoln from Lincoln Memorial in DC. Strange seeing Elyniuk in different jersey other than Winnipeg Jets. Another note one of my favorite cards was his 92-93 Topps Stadium card.

206 - Darryl Sydor - LA skyline in the background. He spent 15 years in the NHL. Currently assistant coach of Minnesota Wild

220 - Martin Straka - I remember that skyline of downtown Pittsburgh. Having been there few times I know it was taken on top of Mount Washington Incline. Straka last played in NHL in 2007-08 before spending his remaining six years of his career in Czech league.

181 - Craig Janney - St. Louis Arch in the background. This his first full season with Blues the fans sang the blues over Janney/Adam Oates trade which Bruins got the best deal.

191 - Patrice Brisbois - defending Adam Graves at the Rangers zone. Montreal skyline on back of his card.

190 - Stephan Lebeau - different Montreal skyline shot on back of Lebeau. I like they put him firing a shot as he was trying break one of glass windows.

 68 - Grant Fuhr -Hall of Fame career with multiple All-Stars and Stanley Cup wins. During this time he split time between Toronto and Buffalo. Back of his card featured lovely Niagra Falls.

174 - Rob Pearson - I like how they put him celebrating behind Toronto downtown skyline with CN Tower

51 - Chris Chelios - one of greatest American players to play in the league. Hall of Famer played 27 years in the league. By time he called it quits he was 48. Recently put out his autobiography. He's in faceoff zone behind downtown Chicago skyline.

108 - Scott Young - looks to be skating down the ice with a puck. Quebec City skyline on back of his card.

153 - Calle Johansson - Another Capitals card, but with different background. Capital building featured on back of his card.

75 - Nelson Emerson - background on back of card same of Craig Janney. He's looking to pass the puck.

131 - Petr Svoboda - back of card same as Grant Fuhr

92 - Ulf Samuelsson - different shot of downtown Pittsburgh this time from north of the river. He's known for knee-on-knee check on Cam Neely in 1991 playoffs effectively ending Neely's career.

 Leaf fires a shot and into the goal for this design.

2014-15 Hoops

This year NBA Hoops cards has Kobrick on the cover. Comes with 10 cards, 9 base including a rookie and 1 base insert. Let' open and shoot

229 - Jrue Holiday - good design. Action shot, with team logo, and player name. Back of the card has huge team logo and the usual stats.

224 - Gerald Green - about slam the ball

281 - Shabazz Napier - one of rookie cards

130 - Charles Boozer - base insert green card. New team, but action shot of him playing with his previous team.

20 - Tyler Hansbrough - I expected him to be a good starter

83 - Kemba Walker

108 - Kevin Love - in his new jersey still trying fit in with Cavs

105 - Lance Stephenson - another new team, action shot from previous team. Signed huge contract with Hornets, but have not made impact yet.

127 - DeAndre Jordan - David Lee about to get posterized

121 - Shaun Livngston - remember serious knee injury he suffered few years back. He bounced back to return to the court.

1994 Leaf Limited Rookies

Another interesting pack I got in my latest Collector Crate.
The scan does not do these cards justice, they are insanely shiny, but in the end all 5 cards were base.  There was the possibility of pulling a Phenom insert numbered to 5000.

The back of the card is also highlighted with some holofoil.

1996 Leaf Preferred

I ended up getting another Collector Crate, because I forgot to unsubscribe, and this was one of my more interesting packs.  I don't remember seeing this when it came out in 1996, but then I was trying really hard to finish my degree.  And I'll bet at the time this was pretty pricey stuff.  But after opening this pack I'd love to rip a full box.  You get 6 cards per pack, 5 base cards and one steel card.  I'm guessing this didn't sell too well because this was Leaf Preferred's premiere and farewell edition.  The pack is pretty heavy.

First up is this order card for the limited edition Frank Thomas charity cards.  Yikes $20 a pop.  I just looked over at COMC and there are two of these that are graded and they are both well under that $20 price tag.  But in the mid-90's a limited run of 3500 would probably have justified the price and it's for charity!!

I got to add an Ignitor card to my collection, even if it features Paul in a Twinkie uni.  The base cards are alright.

I really was hoping for a better player, or at least one I would want for my collection, but this will end up in a trade package eventually I'm sure or maybe I'll decide to collect the whole set.  There are two parallels to the steel cards you could pull too.  A gold version and the Power version  numbered to 5000. The set also includes the insert Stare Masters and a press proof parallel for the base cards.

After I opened this pack I went to look for the checklist, you can find it HERE. And promptly bought the Paul Molitor and Frank Thomas on COMC during my black Friday shopping spree.