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The last-minute touches continue to be made to the 32nd edition of the world’s biggest, best, and longest running hockey card and memorabilia show. The Toronto Sportcard and Memorabilia Expo, taking place at the Toronto International Centre on May 4-6, promises more than 400 booths, 800 tables, 250 dealers, and 100,000 square feet of rare collectibles from the world of hockey, football, baseball, basketball and non-sports.


One of the highlights of the Expo is the spectacular lineup of autograph guests. The roster includes no fewer than eight Hall of Famers and a group of hockey stars – namely the “Broad Street Bullies” – that still send shudders down the spines of fans some 30 years after their heyday.


On Friday, attendees can obtain an autograph from legendary Boston Bruin coach and general manager Harry Sinden (5 P.M., $30 per item). Sinden also coached Team Canada to a memorable triumph in the 1972 Summit Series versus the Soviet Union. Also appearing Friday is baseball great Bob Feller (7 P.M., $30 per item). Known as “Rapid Robert,” Feller generated fear in opposing batters’ hearts with a filthy fastball that helped him win 266 career games over an 18-year career with the Cleveland Indians in the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s.


Former NHL star Wilf Paiement, a 14-year NHL veteran who fired 356 career goals, will be appearing on Friday at 3 P.M. His autograph is free to anyone who purchases a weekend pass to the Expo.


Saturday’s autograph guests include two linchpins from the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty in the 1980s: defenseman Paul Coffey ($35 per item, $45 per bulky item, 2 P.M.); and goaltender Grant Fuhr ($30 per item, $40 per bulky item, 12 noon). This dynamic duo hoisted nine Stanley Cups between them. Also slated to appear is the great Boston Bruins defenseman, Raymond Bourque ($80 per item, $110 per bulky item, 4 P.M.).


No NHL team represented rough-and-tumble hockey better than the Philadelphia Flyers of the mid-1970s. NHL scribes at the time paid tribute to the club, which played their home games at The Spectrum located on Broad Street in Philadelphia, by labeling them “The Broad Street Bullies”. The Flyers utilized a combination of talent and intimidation to claim back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. Twelve members of those teams are scheduled to appear on Sunday headed by Hall of Famers Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent and Bill Barber. Other Flyer greats at the show include Dave Schultz, Wayne Stephenson, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Orest Kindrachuk, Ed Van Impe, Bob Kelly and brothers Joe and Jim Watson. Please note that Stephenson is a recent addition to the lineup while Gary Dornhoefer has been dropped from the original lineup.


Prices for the Flyers are as follows: Clarke - $49 per item, $65 per bulky item; Parent - $25 per item; Barber - $25 per item; Schultz - $25 per item; all others - $15 per item per player; 12-player Super Ticket - $219 per item, $239 per bulky item. Van Impe, MacLeish, and both Watsons will be appearing at 11 A.M. Clarke, Barber, Schultz, and Leach are scheduled to appear at 1 P.M. Parent, Stephenson and Kindrachuk are scheduled to sign at 3 P.M.


Tickets for Friday’s autograph guests will be available Friday afternoon in the autograph area of the corporate section. Tickets for Saturday’s guests will be available as of 10 A.M. on Saturday, while tickets for Sunday’s guests will go on sale at 10 A.M. on Sunday. All autograph tickets are limited in quantity, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.


Late additions to the autograph lineup include a trio of baseball superstars headed by Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins. Also appearing will be potential HoFer Andre Dawson, as well as 1971 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Vida Blue. All three will be signing May 5 at 10:30 am. Autographs are $20 each, with proceeds going to the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.


In addition, two trading card manufacturers – Upper Deck and In The Game – have announced details of their redemption programs for the event.



In The Game’s redemption program allows collectors to receive special foil-stamped cards numbered out of 10, or even 1/1 game-used memorabilia cards. A unique set entitled Maple Leafs Forever, devoted to members of the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be adorned with game-used memorabilia and available exclusively at the show. Collectors will be eligible to receive these cards by opening a variety of In The Game’s 2006-07 products at their booth. Details are available at their website.


Upper Deck, meanwhile, is offering a redemption program for collectors of their 2006-07 Beehive and 2006-07 Fleer Hot Prospects hockey brands. Anyone who opens a box of either product will receive one autographed Priority Signings Young Star Edition card. Quantities will be limited and will be an exclusive to the Expo.


Upper Deck also will offer a Sidney Crosby item exclusively at the Expo. His limited-edition All-Star vinyl collectible will be available for $100, with a limit of one per customer.



The Toronto Sportscard & Memorabilia Expo is a haven for collectors of all sports memorabilia, but it is no secret that the emphasis at this twice-annual event is certainly on hockey. No other sports collectibles show in the world offers the astounding selection of hockey collectibles as does the Expo. With the the high-profile success of youngsters Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin helping drive the market, the level of enthusiasm for hockey collectibles continues to be high.


As usual, the Expo will host avid sports card and memorabilia collectors from across Canada, the United States and Europe. Everyone has the opportunity to interact with the most prominent hobbyists in the hockey world. You may even wish to bring your own collectibles because many of these dealers are also active buyers at the show.


Admission prices are $12 per day for adults and $3 per day for children aged six to 12. Children between 6 and 12 can get in free with the presentation of a special online coupon. Children under six are admitted free. A weekend pass for adults is $25. The show hours are 1 P.M. to 10 P.M. on Friday, and 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday.


A very limited number of booths remain available. For more information, phone (705) 722-7593 or click here.