Vicarious pain. We know it well don’t we?
- The second-hand embarrassment of seeing a friend crash and burn hitting on someone in the most cringe-worthy way possible.
- The sudden realization your bud is very obviously misjudging how a joke coming from them at eight years old is about to land with their father (“What’s the difference between snow men and snow women?”)
- Seeing anyone else take a shot below the belt (we all go into the fetal position, RIGHT?)
It’s not happening to us, but man do we feel it.
Cue yours' truly stumbling across the story of one Aron Gratias of northern Saskatchewan and the gut punch that came with the apparent theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of Wayne Gretzky memorabilia. Ughhh….
As reported by
Colleen Silverthorn of CBC News , Gratias, who was in the process of moving communities, had chosen to store the expansive collection of jerseys, sticks, cards and other memorabilia in a storage container among other pieces of houseware that would eventually be relocated. Two weekends ago, a gutting find awaited his father in law as he checked in of the family’s belongings: the locks on the container had been cut. Aron’s wife confirmed his worse fears upon her visit: all the memorabilia had been removed, while other equally valuable home items were left untouched.
Among the stolen items were:
- 19 Autographed jerseys
- Large sized autographed pictures and paintings
- Autographed sticks and encased autographed pucks
- Approximately 10,000 cards, 2200 of which were Gretzky (including a graded PSA 8 rookie and many autographed cards)
- 1979 Gretzky Mattel dolls
- Autographed, and non-auto’d, figurines
- Team Canada autographed photos
It would not be unreasonable to estimate the financial loss as being well into the six figure range financially. Just a heartbreaking loss for a die-hard collector with eyes on passing these treasures, and the stories connected to them, down to his grandkids when the day came. Hopefully with the story being shared across North America and Europe a miracle may see Aron with some of his gear back. As for us all: let’s keep our stuff safe, ok?
Positive vibes and love to you and yours my friends. Let’s all take care of each other, ok?
If you or someone you know is in crisis and suicidal, please reach out! You are not alone, people care, and people want to help! You are loved and worth the time! Go
here to Wikipedia for a list of international suicide crisis hotlines and reach out to the appropriate one.
_______________________________________________________________________
Do you have a piece of treasured memorabilia that has a great story behind it? Let me know and you can be featured in an article. Doesn't matter how big or small the piece is, how valuable it may be, or whether it's a common item or more oddball. If you think it has a story, contact me via the information below and we'll chat. In the meantime, check out some previous "Display Case" articles via the links below to see what others have submitted in the past...
______________________________________________________________________
Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Facebook: ShawnMcShawn
_________________________________________________________________________
Previous “Ultimate Set Build” Articles
1959-60 Parkhurst
59-60 Base
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee
80-81 Base
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee
90-91 Base
1991-92 Upper Deck
High Series Young Guns
1994-95 Fleer
94-95 Base
1998-99 UD McDonalds Ice
Gretzky Base
2005-06 ITG Heroes & Prospects
Prospects Base
2005-06 Upper Deck
Young Guns
2005-06 Upper Deck MVP
MVP Rookies
2008 UD Champs
Champ’s Mini Signatures
2016-17 Upper Deck Parkhurst
Rookie Red Parallel
2017 Upper Deck Toronto Maple Leafs Centennial
Maple Leafs Marks
2018-19 Upper Deck Tim Horton’s
Clear Cut Phenoms
Previous “Stats Leaders & Hobby Hits”
Scoring Leaders: February 2022
Wins Leaders: February 14 2022
Previous “Hobby Oddballs”
Ovechkin Series 26 MacFarlane
Previous “Eye-Graines” Articles
1989-90 OPC Randy Cunneyworth
Previous ”The Display Case” Posts
#1: The “Frankenstick!”
#2: Your desk has the right to remain collectable!
#3: Have Pads, Will Travel
#4: Pick a Pekka (Rinne) Autographed Mask
#5: Ted Lindsay Gets Kronwalled?
#6: The Only Thing We Have To Fehr Is Fehr Himself
#7: “Hungary” For Team Canada Swag
#8: The Soldiers Kid and “The Kid”
#9: Fan Appreciation & Player Humility Via The '72 Series
#10: Bobby Orr and....Birth Control?!?!?!
#11: Johnny Bower The “Portrait” Of Health At 88!!!
#12: Scotty Bowman – Stick Detective!!!
#13: Touch 'Em All Joe!!!
#14: Joey and Sergei's European (Lockout) Adventure!!!
#15: I’d Give The Jersey Off My Back For You…
#16: The Case Of The 1940’s Era Leafs
#17: Scrapping The History Of The Isles...
#18: Gretzky “Re-Signs” in Edmonton
#19: Gilmour Is Such A Caricature!!!
#20: Toys In The Attic
#21: The Right King Place At The Right King Time
#22: Momma Bear Takes On A “Killer”!!!
#23: Leafs Lunch Stool
#24: The 50 Goal Stub
#25: Scoring From The Rafters
#26: Junior Jersey Mail Order Mayhem!
#27: Stick with the Stick!
Previous “Who Am I?” Articles
#1,
#2,
#3,
#4,
#5,
#6,
#7,
#8,
#9,
#10,
#11,
#12,
#13,
#14,
#15,
#16,
#17,
#18,
#19,
#20,
#21 ,
#22 ,
#23,
#24,
#25,
#26,
#27,
#28,
#29,
#30,
#31,
#32,
#33,
#34,
#35,
#36,
#37,
#38,
#39,
#40,
#41,
#42,
#43,
#44,
#45,
#46,
#47,
#48,
#49,
#50,
#51,
#52,
#53,
#54,
#55,
#56,
#57>,
#58,
#59
Previous “Devil In The Details?” Articles
Centering
Corners
Previous Random Hockey Musings
Oh? Canada? A Hockey History…
Industry Blow To Topps Possible Foreshadowing For The NHL, NHLPA & UD
As The Fanatics Plan Unfolds What To Make of the NHL, NHLPA & Upper Deck
2021-22 Tim Horton’s Upper Deck
Looks like marriage is in…the cards?
Long Island “Cheap Heat” Courtesy of CM Punk
Join the Discussion:
»