1992-93 Pro Set, Brett Hull

Who is this? One of the newest members to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Brett Hull

What is this? An autograph card from the 1992-93 Pro Set set

Where'd I get it? Through the mail in the early '90s

How much did it cost? Got the card in a pack plus a couple of 25 or 26 cent stamps

Why is this so special? It's Brett Hull, who was inducted into the Hall today.

Brett has 741 goals for his career, which is third all-time. He was an 8-time All Star with the Blues and Stars. He scored 50 goals in 50 games twice and is one of two players to do it more than once (some guy named Gretzky is the other). He had 33 hat tricks in his career and he led the league in scoring three times. He had more playoff power play goals than anyone else. He is the only player to score 50 goals in college, the minors, and the NHL. Plus, he has his name on Lord Stanley's Cup twice.

Basically, Brett Hull was one of the premier hockey players of his generation.

1992 Classic Four Sport Manon Rheaume

Who is this? Female hockey player, Manon Rheaume.

What is this? An autograph card from 1992 Classic Four Sport, card number 224.

Where'd I get it? Out of a pack in 1992, probably from a card shop.

How much did it cost? Whatever the pack cost, plus two stamps.

Why is this so special? As far as I know, this is the first female to play professional hockey with the big boys. During the 1992-93 season, Manon got into two games with the Atlanta Knights (Tampa Bay's top affiliate) of the old IHL. Unlike Cammie Granato, who was known as a good hockey player playing against other women, Manon made her name playing against guys.

I remember the media making a big deal out of this with Classic doing the same by making a ton of cards of her for a few different sets. I sent this card to the Knights. They must have forward the letter to her, since it was unlikely that I actually sent the card to her while she was with the team (life was rough before the internet). In here two games with the Knights, she played sixty-six minutes and gave up seven goals. Ouch.

The next few years she played a few games in the ECHL, PSHL, WCHL and two more games in the IHL (where she did much better than the first time around). All told, she played in twenty-two minor league games (according to hockeydatabase.com).

Well, I just checked her Wikipedia page and she was not the first women to play minor league hockey. But, she was the first one to play in an NHL exhibition game, which she did twice. So, that is even cooler.