2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes Hockey Cards

Product Review

2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes Product Review

Reviewed by Ryan Cracknell

Good: Extremely focused, strong autograph and game-used memorabilia lineups, some compelling design elements.

Bad: Lots of blurry and pixelated photos, so many head shots make many of the base cards look the same, a lot more prospect-focused than expected.

The Bottom Line: 2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes Hockey is celebrating its tenth anniversary for a reason. Hockey card collectors love goalies. Other than maybe football quarterbacks, there is no other position in sport as collected as the netminder. This set delivers spans several eras, delivering compelling card backs, and tons of autograph and memorabilia cards. Although a solid release in nearly every aspect, the all-goalie focus does lead to many base cards looking the same. It's also unfortunate that many of the photos are blurry to the point where they shouldn't have been used.

Card Design: 3.0/5.0

I'll freely admit, I love looking at dramatic goalie masks. Plenty of cards in 2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes offer looks at some of the greatest masks of all-time. For that reason alone, these cards are fun to pour through. Base card backs also give extensive profiles, giving collectors a chance to learn more about goalies past, present and future.

My favorite cards come from the Masked Men 4 inserts. Yes, they spotlight the masks I already love, but that's not the only reason. The Die-Cut Ruby versions, the most common type, have a shimmering red background and are cut out in the shape of a 10.

The autographs and memorabilia cards stick to familiar In the Game designs. As usual, the use of sticker autographs are the best in the hobby. They're clear and fitted perfectly within the borders of the card. I actually did a double-take to see if they were on-card this time around.

While the hits and inserts look great, the photography used on many of the base cards is very poor. Lots are very soft. Others are blurry. Without an NHL license, In the Game is limited in the photos they can use. They do a great job of creating cards that don't draw attention to missing logos, but often this means zooming in on a photo to the point where it doesn't look optimal. Ironically, for 2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes, it's often the newer players that look the worst. Most of the vintage players come with sharp black and white portraits, while NHL stars from the past 25 years use more game action. As images are cropped to their faces, they appear to be blown up far more than they should be.

What is lacking on the base cards as far as images go, In the Game makes up for it with well-written bios that go in-depth into the player and their notable achievements.

Checklist: 3.5/5.0

2011-12 In the Game Between the Pipes has goalies. Lots of them: legendary goalies., current goalies, future star goalies, goalies who made big impacts and goalies who didn't do much at all. I'm always a fan of focused checklists and In the Game is probably the best at this in the hobby right now.

However, the pre-release material did make it seem a lot more centered on current and past NHL stars. Prospects make up a big part of the final checklist. This is particularly clear in the base set and in the autographs. I have mixed feelings about this. While I really enjoy sets dedicated to a specific theme, the goalie focus seems much more geared toward looking back than prospecting. And that's what I was expecting. Yes, the checklists were available well in advance of the set's release, but not everyone is going to study them with great detail. It's also one thing to read it and another to actually see the results coming out of packs.

I love how In the Game has made an attempt to make every card count - even the decoy cards. The company introduced a series on nine-card puzzles to add something a little extra to the often discarded points cards single-box buyers might not find a lot of use for. And while it is a great concept I hope makes a regular appearance, it could use some tweaking. First, I'd like every puzzle piece to have something interesting going on. By having a nine-card puzzle with one player, there are a lot of nondescript shoulders and collars. Why not have the puzzle make a larger collage - either of a single player, a collection of players from the same team or another unified theme. This would make every card stand on its own but made better with the full puzzle.

However, if In the Game sticks with the over-sized portrait, individual numbering for the different players would be appreciated. Some chins and shoulders are easier to identify than others.

Value: 4.0/5.0

In the Game continues to cram boxes with hits and inserts at a reasonable price. Granted, many of those autographs are going to come from lower-tier players when it comes to secondary value, but the theme ensures that those collectors who are busting boxes are more likely to get something they at least have a passing interest in.

With autographs and game-used memorabilia cards each falling 1:8 packs, collectors are guaranteed two of each per box. Many boxes also have a fifth hit.

Common with In the Game products, many of the hits have stated print runs but they're not serial numbered or noted on the cards themselves. This tweak (even if it simply states to print run with the text on the back of the card) would give collectors more clarity in what they have and add further value.

The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0

As one might expect, Between the Pipes is for goalie fans and historians. The somewhat narrow appeal may not be for everyone. However, those that appreciate the importance of goalies and their visual spot in hockey are bound to be impressed with the in-depth bios, premium content and marvelous masks. Hits and inserts fall frequently enough that every pack is something of an adventure, even though the price isn't obscenely high. With so much going on, both in the aesthetics and textually, it's also the kind of set young collectors and their family may enjoy building together, and building an appreciation for both the game and the hobby.