Autographed Bob Chase card

Recently, my friend in Ft Wayne Indiana, sent me this great addition to my collection, an autographed Bob Chase hockey card.
Who is Bob Chase you ask, well let me enlighten you...
Bob Chase was born in Negaunee, Michigan January 22, 1926. He was raised in Marquette, Michigan and after high school joined the United States Navy. Bob served in the Navy from 1943-1947. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Bob entered Northern Michigan University at Marquette and graduated in 1952. While in college, Bob started his radio career in Marquette in 1949.
Bob moved to Fort Wayne to begin his radio career with WOWO AM 1190 in 1953 which included broadcasting Komet Hockey games starting with the 1953-54 season. Bob has not missed a season for 54 years since.
Join Bob Chase in his 55th consecutive season, calling exciting Ft Wayne Komet action radio rinkside on WOWO 1190 and Comcast KometCast!
I have no idea if this is a record, but record or not, 55 consecutive years broadcasting games of a single team is pretty impressive in my books, and this autographed card will go right along with my other prized collectibles.

Ritz Bits - Cheese That's In Your Face!

I love collecting ads, and always love fining any new ads that feature hockey in some say. I recently found this ad on the back of a comic book (Batman Adventures #1, June 2003) for Ritz Bits Sandwiches, which features two Ritz crackers slamming a chunk of cheese into the glass.
I love the ad, but I don't think you could pay me enough to try them. They are essentially two Ritz crackers (which I don't really like anyway), with some warm cheez Whiz glopped in the middle. More 'Mmmm in the middle. Not!

Why the Leafs Suck!

The most recent issue of Macleans magazine has one of the best magazine covers ever! When I saw this magazine on the magazine rack while standing in the cashier line up at my local Chapters book store, I made an impulse purchase, and picked up this issue.
When I see the Leafs logo, all I can think is "Leafs Suck!", so this magazine is going to have a special place in my hockey collection. Too bad they decided to go with the softer, less offensive word "Stink" instead of just going all the way and saying "Why The Leafs Suck!". We all know that is what everyone in Canada, other than Toronto, is really thinking... and I a sure many of them (Torontonians) are starting to agree with the rest of us.

Two cool Ft Wayne Komets game scheduels

First is the Ft Wayne Komets 2007/08 Schedule Pen

Back on June 2, 2007, I posted about the 1953-54 Ft Wayne Komets Spinning Schedule, which was by far the most innovative and unusual team schedule I had ever seen. It seems the Komets like to produce schedules that stand out from the pack, so this year they produced a schedule pen. But not just any old schedule pen. I have seen other teams print their schedule on a pen (last one I can remember was two seasons ago when the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL produced a large blue pen with their home schedule printed on it.
Taking the idea of a schedule pen to the next level, the Ft Wayne Komets of the IHL have produced a very unusual schedule pen for the 2007/08 season. As seen in the photo above, this looks like a regular 'click' pen, but it has a small metal strip on the side of the pen, which can be pulled out to reveal the full Komets home and away schedule. When you let go, the schedule springs back inside the pen.
Very cool schedule for my collection, and a great idea for all kinds of businesses etc that want an unusual way to advertise!
Posted by Ronn Roxx at 10:22 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: hockey, Pocket Schedules, Silly Stuff
Saturday, June 02, 2007

Next up is the 1953-54 Ft Wayne Komets Spinning Schedule

I have been collecting pocket schedules for over 10 years now and have seen many different size schedules, team schedules with multiple (different) covers, odd shaped schedules, schedules on bookmarks & coasters, etc. But today I found a team schedule unlike any I have ever seen before. Its a home schedule for the 1953-54 Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League. This unique schedule has a spinning front ring that allows you to chose the team or the month, and then it displays the game dates for the team or month you have chosen. As well as teams and months, it also has the category "Special"... not sure that that is for?
As a big fan of hockey radio broadcasts and a some time listener of Koemts games over the internet, I found it interesting that one of the sponsors on this schedule is Wowo radio. Pretty amazing that more than 50 years later they are still broadcasting Komets games on the same radio station in Ft. Wayne!

Nate Sawerchuck, Hockey Player

Big Breams. Bad Slapshop. Back around 2000, I had a friend in Idaho who was sending me all kinds of great Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) stuff. In one of his packages, I received a VHS tape with a movie called "Nate Sawerchuck, Hockey Player". It is a 23 minute mockumentary made by writer/director Steve Glines, who was a referee in the WCHL at the time.
Nate Sawerchuck (Cory Mclaughlin) may not have the skill for a professional hockey career, but don't argue that with the locals of Elk River, Wyoming. This small town hero has been in training since he was a little whipper snapper taking slapshots in the kitchen.
Professional hockey scout Mic Rody (Jim Stoner) discovers this diamond in the rough while stranded in the small mountain town. After Nate is made an honorary 13th round selection in the 1997 draft, Elk River erupts with support for its young star. With direction from his father/agent (Tom Mullin). Nate willingly takes on the role of a superstar.
If you are a fan of minor league hockey and TV & films such as Corner Gas, Slap Shot and This is Spinal Tap, then you will get a kick out of this goofy little film. I have probably watched 10 or more times over the past 8 years and, the more times I watch it, the funnier it becomes. The dry humor is not the sort of thing that everyone will enjoy (or get), but it is so easy for me to watch this and believe it is a true story.
You can check out the complete movie online at Spike.com.