EMERALD CITY LEGENDS

FIVE PLAYERS WHO DRESSED FOR THE SEATTLE METROPOLITANS ARE ENSHRINED IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME. HERE’S HOW TO COLLECT ‘EM ALL.

What a glorious time this is for hockey fans in my home town of Seattle. Not only is the city on the verge of getting an NHL team, but interest In the area’s rich hockey history is at an all-time high. It all got me thinking about the Seattle Metropolitans, the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, and how to collect the Hall of Famers who played for that franchise. It turns out just five men who skated for the Mets were later enshrined. Together, they appear on fewer than 100 cards listed in the Beckett database, keeping the challenge of collecting them all well within the reach of a determined collector, especially one willing to accept lower grade copies.

Here’s what it will take.

Jack Walker, Forward Total Cards: 3

e 1960 Hall of Fame inductee won his first Stanley Cup as a member of the 1914 Toronto Blueshirts before heading out west in search of a higher paying gig. He spent 16 seasons in various Pacific coast leagues, including nine with the Metropolitans (1915-1924). ough he was revered as a defensive player, Walker was equally effective on the attack, netting 82 goals and helping on 58 others in just 186 games.

A er claiming the Cup in 1917 in Seattle, he went on to win the championship again in 1925 with the Victoria Cougars, making Walker one of just 11 players to capture the Cup with three or more teams.

Despite his lengthy career, Walker does not appear to have had any cards issued during his playing days. He does, however, appear in the 1983, 1985-87 and 1994 Hall of Fame Postcards sets as a member of the Metropolitans. Each of these can easily be purchased for just a couple bucks.

Gordon Roberts, Forward Total Cards: 7

“Doc” wasn’t just a nickname for the heavyshooting Roberts. A er scoring seven goals in two games to help

Ottawa retain the Cup in 1910, he enrolled in medical school at

McGill University and continued his hockey career in Montreal.

ough he had to repeat one year in college, he mixed education and pro hockey in Quebec until graduating in 1916, then moved out west to practice. Medicine was his primary vocation, but Roberts couldn’t stay away from the rink. He led the PCHA with 43 goals in 1916-17 as a member of the Vancouver Millionaires, then joined the Metropolitans for a 20-goal season in 1917-18. He returned to Vancouver for one more year before finally turning his full attention to medicine. Doc was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Roberts has four contemporary cards, including a 1910-11 C56 RC (#3). His most valuable card though is his 1911-12 C55 (#33), which is a bargain at its $400 book price.

Hap Holmes, Goaltender Total Cards: 9

Harry “Hap” Holmes spent eight seasons with the Metropolitans spread over two stops. He first was with the team from 1915-18 then, a er a one-year layover with the Toronto Arenas, he returned to Seattle from 1918-1924. He played 192 games between the pipes, a franchise record, and also set team marks for career wins (101) and shutouts (14).

When Holmes was honored by the Hall in 1972, he was remembered not only for his role in the 1917 Cup win, but as one of just two players in history to capture the trophy with four different teams. e other was Jack Marshall, another member of that 1917 club.

Holmes has just 10 cards, including an unpriced single in the rare series known as 1924-28 Anonymous NHL (#121). His highest book valued card is 2010-11 ITG Enshrined (#98). e card has a print run of 175 copies and is listed at $6.

Frank Foyston, Forward Total Cards: 10

e Minesing, Ontario native is widely regarded as the best player ever to lace ‘em up for the Metropolitans. During his nine-year tenure with Seattle, Foyston twice led the PCHA in scoring and was named the Champion All-Around Hockey Player as well. He is one of three players on this list who were part of the 1917 championship squad, scoring seven goals and 10 points in the four-game final against Montreal. He played in two more finals with Seattle, totaling 15 goals in just 10 games. Foyston also owns the franchise records for career games played (201), goals (174) and points (227). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1958.

Foyston has no contemporary cards, making him an easy player to collect. His most valuable base single can be found in the 201213 ITG Motown Madness series (#197). It books at just $2.50.

Lester Patrick, Defense Total Cards: 64

e Silver Fox is the standout on this list a er a highly decorated career during which he captured six Stanley Cups as a player, coach and general manager. He and his brother, Frank, are credited with conceiving a variety of rules that changed the game, including the awarding of assists, the placement of numbers on jerseys, the addition of the blue line, the forward pass and the penalty shot.

As a player Patrick spent just one season in Seattle, joining the team a year a er it won the Cup. He scored two goals and 10 points in 17 games during the 1917-18 campaign.

He also has the largest selection of trading cards, though none of them depict him with the team. His RC appears in hockey’s firstever set, 1910-11 C56 (#26), but his 1912-13 C57 single (#41) ranks as the most expensive single on the list, topping out at $1,000 in raw, EX-MT condition.

He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1947.