Phil Bourque

Phil Bourque is a Pittsburgh Penguin legend. If you don't remember his playing career, you may remember his personality around the city of Pittsburgh. If you don't remember that, you may recognize his voice from the radio broadcasts. If you don't remember that, I got nothing for you.

Phil never wanted to be anything other than a hockey player. However, he was never drafted and got to the Penguins by signing as a free agent in 1982 as a "walk-on" of sorts in training camp. Coming out of the OHL, he was given a three year contract by Baz Bastian and was sent to the AHL's Baltimore Skipjacks, the Penguins farm team at the time. While he eventually got his shot at a few NHL games the following season, he didn't stick and was sent back down to Baltimore the rest of that season...and the next...and most of the next...you see where this is going.  It wasn't until the 1988-89 season that he finally got his shot on the big roster and made it count.

Phil went on to help the Penguins win back to back Cups in 1990-91 and 1991-92 and after retirement, took to the airways as color commentator on Penguins radio broadcasts in 2003 (which he still does to this day). He has three more rings to show for it, too. The Ol' Two-Niner embodies what it means to be a Penguin and his loyalty to the team and city are unmatched.

This is signed on a 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee base card.  I actually bought this card signed from someone at a show. I've looked at Bourque autos before and I was fairly confident in it's legitimacy (plus, who would forge a Phil Bourque auto? Cousin Ray maybe.) It's signed on-card in what appears to be ball-point pen. 

And thats......

Good Hockey Talk.