Collectors Corner #10: The Russian Rocket - Pavel Bure

One of Steve's many cards of The Russian Rocket Pavel Bure.

The 10th Edition of Collectors Corner features Steven's super collection of none other than #10 Pavel Bure. When it comes to the 'Russian Rocket', everyone knows who he is by the nickname alone. Bure's skill set on the ice made him into one of the best players of his era.

​In Steven's case, he decided Bure would be his number one focal point of his card collecting journey. After a few tweets between me and Steven a little while ago, I jumped at the chance to feature Steven's Pavel Bure collection:

Introduction

​​Hello fellow collectors! My name is Steven and I've been collecting for most of my life. My first contact with the hobby came when I was six years old. For my birthday, my godmother gave me three packs of 1991-92 Pro Set, because she knew that I love hockey. Well, she probably gave me the best present of my life, because she gave me something else; a real passion for hockey cards. I became obsessed with them; reading their backs, trying to remember everything. As a completionist, I made trades to complete sets, like the McDonalds Upper Deck. I remember at school, bringing my box full of hockey cards and willing to make trades all recess.

As I grew older, I was fed up with building sets. I shift my habits to collecting players, but I didn't know at that time which player I was going to collect. So I paid a bit more attention to sports wrap-ups on the news. I noticed one player in particular: Pavel Bure.

He was everywhere, flying on the ice and making the news every time he played. I recalled being hypnotized by him, by his passion for the sport, the joy emanating every time he scores a goal. I knew at that moment he was the one I'll collect. 

I was in the game until college. Like many of us, I quit collecting for about a decade, until five years ago, while window shopping inside an enormous hobby shop. There was a jersey card of him I knew I didn't have, and the price was decent. So I bought it... with four other jerseys cards. I was immediately drawn into the hobby after and never left.

Steven, what do you like the most about collecting cards as a hobby?

Man, where to start. I think that collecting quenches my never-ending thirst for knowledge and my completionist side. I love to spend hours on my guides and forums, trying to find new cards that I didn't know the existence or just validating new entries. 

But the beautiful part of this hobby is without a doubt its community. I made new friends along the way, sharing our passion for hockey cards. I'm as excited as the person who got a white whale or a card he needed for his collection, and I love seeing pictures of hockey cards, a cool signature, a filthy patch.

You've been collecting Bure for a long time. How has your player collection evolved over the years?

He was still in the league by the time I collect him, but his cards were too much for the poor little kid I was back then. But I was able to assemble a collection of around 600 cards, mainly bases and inserts. I was able to grab some jerseys and numbered cards, but at that time, I didn't have any signed cards. When I came back five years ago, I was in a better financial position to buy those cards, so as of now, I have over 1900 different cards and counting.

What's Your Favourite Card in Your Collection?

I have many for various reasons.

​The 1990-91 Upper Deck #526, his rookie cards, are among them. I have them both graded PSA 10. I'm particularly proud of the French version because they are only 112 with that grade on the market.

​Also, the 1996-97 Upper Deck Game Jersey, the first set with a piece of clothing that changed the hobby completely.

In that same year, the 1996-97 Be A Player Link to History, the regular and silver version, are the only one manufactured cards with him signing with number 96, which he wore only two years. I love many other cards for their design, like the 2013-14 Panini Titanium Milestone Scorer and the 2013-14 Panini Playbook Then and Now Prime /25. 

A pair of 1990 Upper Deck Pavel Bure Rookies graded PSA 10 Gem Mint.

What's On Your Bure Wantlist?

​Right now, except oddballs, I finished his first six years. I'm at 95% of all his 1996-97 cards, but they will be tough to come around. Here they are:

• 1996-97 Black Diamond Gold #176
• 1996-97 Black Diamond Run for the Cup #RC14 (/100)
• 1996-97 Score Border Battle Winners #35 (We can just know if it's a winner with the plastic decoder from that time, which is nowhere to be found nowadays)
• 1996-97 Summit Artist's Proof #200
• 1996-97 Upper Deck Hart Hopefuls Gold #HH14 (/100)
• 1996-97 Upper Deck Lords Stanley Heroes Finals #LS18 (/100)

Click Here to View Steven's Pavel Bure Wantlist on his Website

Are there any 'White Whales' you'd like to add to your Bure collection one day?

I was quite lucky because I cross my number one white whale a couple of months ago when a 2015-16 Upper Deck Premier Inked Script came my way. This card is a banger with the "Russian Rocket" inscription!

Now the next card I want is a Bure shield. It will be a killer for my collection! But like I said, every card I need is a White Whale!

UD Premier Pavel Bure "Russian Rocket" Autographed Inscription.

How can other collectors reach out to you, Steven?

On Twitter (@burefanatic10);
On Instagram (@burefanatic);
On Sports Card Forum (@burefanatic10);
On Blowout Cards Forum (burefanatic10);
Bure Collection website: www.mypavelburecollection.weebly.com ​

Any final thoughts for all the collectors reading this?

Well, I'll say this: 

• - Have fun. Collecting hockey cards (or anything else) is cool, but don't be jealous over somebody else collection. You can't have them all, unfortunately. 
• - Take pride in what you have, it's the best way to enjoy that hobby. 
• - Have a budget, and sticks with it. Because when you go down that rabbit hole, you can end with quite a bill at the end of the month on your credit card! 

Happy collecting everybody! And I hope to talk with you down the road!

The Russian Rocket Card Gallery

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​If you want to get in contact with me about getting ​YOUR COLLECTION featured on my blog so I can share it with my viewers, please feel free to leave a comment on this post below, fill out a contact form on my Contact Page, or send me an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch very soon. :)

​Happy Collecting,

​- Aaron / creasecollector