2013 Montreal Impact v DC United

2013.08.17 Montreal Impact v DC United, Stade Saputo, Montreal, Que, Canada

Impact defeat the United 2-1 on 2 goals from Marco Di Vaio, one of which was nominated as goal of the week. The DC goal was scored by Conor Doyle to tie the game in the 81st minute before a sellout crowd of 20, 801...

Impact Fans below the Olympic Tower

Stade Saputo as seen from the Olympic Tower

Montreal Impact Kia

Wandrille Levfevre - played in one game with the Impact, previously played for the Montreal Impact in the NASL.

Autograph book - As we left the stadium, there were two non-dressed players signing autographs outside the main entrance. The line had been closed after a set number of people, but we were told by the staff that often the players will continue to sign for anyone waiting. After the remaining fans received their autographs, Levfevre came over and continue to sign. The other player signed 2 more additional autographs and left. Staff were handing out the above autograph book, which measures 4 x 6 and features 2 players per page, with a brief bio and room for a signature.

Game Day lineup card with Felipe on the cover, a single fold 8.5 x 11 sheet.

A great experience, fan activities before the game and a very friendly staff.

I created this commemorative cover before I went to Montreal, dropped 2 similar envelopes in the mail, but then found out Canada Post does not work on Saturday. This cover received an Aug 19 postmark. In any case I am sending this out to Marco Di Vaio in hopes of obtaining an autograph. With any luck I will repost with good results.

Updated 2013.08.27

2013 Topps Archives - Pele

2013 Topps Archives Baseball (1975 throwback)

Pele autographed card

Odds: 1:41,000 packs

Came across information about this card while researching the new Topps MLS cards. 

In one chat room there was a question of how come Pele gets put in a baseball set, but not the soccer set. I agree I would love to see the older NASL players autographs inserted into the MLS set.

However Topps' primary sets are baseball, and the 2013 Archive set not only includes Pele, but include heavy metal rock stars like Sebastian Bach, tommy Lee, Lita Ford and Dee Snider; actors Jack Palance, Ava Gardner as well as the usual baseball players. The set utilizes all throwback designs another popular trend from Topps

2013 Topps Major League Soccer

Topps has put out a set of MLS trading cards for the 2013 season. I picked up several packs and pulled the following cards.....

Ramiro Corrales

San Jose Clash - 1996-1997

Miami Fusion - 1998

Metrostars - 1998-2000

San Jose Earthquakes - 2001-2004, 2008-

Hamarkameratene - Norwway 2005-2006

SK Brann - Norway 2007
US National team - 1996-2008

The autograph card, chrome background, with the Topps certified autograph sticker added.

Numbered 24/50.

Federico Higuain base card and purple back variant (numbered 52/99).

200 base cards in the set plus short prints and variations - Purple numbered to 99, blue numbered to 50, gold numbered to 25 and black numbered to 10

Rivalries insert - Chicago v Kansas City

This Is Soccer insert (TIS-#)

This card features Red Bulls' Fabian Espindola #9, hard to tell from the photo. The back of the card provides insight on Espindola - attacks the channels of the field for the full 90 minutes.....

Kyle Beckerman front and back- 1978 throwback

1978 Topps English design featuring players of the MLS.

I like the throwback design, typical of recent Topps products...

Mini insert - Thierry Henry

Relic - the set includes multiple variations with and without autographs

2013 Cosmos v Strikers

Diomar Diaz

Deportivo Petare - (Venezuela)

Mineros de Guayana - (Venezuela)

Kyle Reynish

Real Salt Lake 2007-2012

Chris Rodd

Bryne FK (Norway) 2007-2010

David Diosa

Dane Murphy

DC United - MLS 2008

VFL Osnabruck - Germany 2009-

Henry Lopez

Noroeste - Brazil 2011-2012

Satoru Kashiwase

Shimizu S-Pulse - Japan

Ft Lauderdale Strikers arriving for the game

Manny Gonzalez - Strikers

Unknown Cosmos - as a group of players came out of the building, it was difficult to keep track. Without a number next to the name it can be difficult to figure out who the player is...

There was one player who outright refused to sign any autographs for the crowd, all of the other players were very gracious...

2013 Cosmos v Strikers

Nane, Veeder, (?), Noselli, Szetela

Alessandro Noselli

Mantova - Italy Serie B 2004-2008

Sassuolo - Italy Serie B 2008-2012

Danny Szetela 

Columbus Crew - MLS 2004-2007

Racing Santander (loaned to Brescia Calcio) - 2007-2009

DC United - MLS 2009

Hunter Freeman

Colorado Rapids - MLS 2005-2006, 2012

New York Red Bull - MLS 2007-2008

Toronto FC - MLS 2008

IK Start - Norway 2009-2010

Houston Dynamo - MLS 2011

Jimmy Maurer

Universidad de Concepcion - Chile 2012

Joseph Nane

Toronto FC - MLS 2010

Colorado Rapids - MLS 2011-2012

Ayoze

Tenerife - Spain 2003-2010

Las Palmas - Spain 2004-2005 (loan)

Sporting Gijon - Spain 2010-2012

Sebastian Guenzatti

Korey Veeder

Columbus Crew - MLS 2011-2012

2013 New York Cosmos - NASL

2013.08.03 NY Cosmos v Ft lauderdale Strikers, Shuart Stadium - Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

James M Shuart Stadium was home to the Cosmos 1972-1973...

The second coming of the NY Cosmos saw a late victory, 2-1 over the Strikers. The Cosmos scored first on Peri Marosevic's goal, the first in club history since 1984.

The Strikers came back in the 73rd minute to tie the game on a goal from Walter Restrepo. When it seemed the game would end in a tie, Alessandro Noselli snatched the victory in stoppage time before a capacity crowd of 11,929 fans.

Prior to the game the Cosmos honored former Cosmos players including Pele, Carlos Alberto, Barry Mahy, Shep Messing, the late Giorgio Chinaglia and former Striker Teofilo Cubillas...

Messing, Cubillas, Pele, and Alberto with the Strikers captains..

Flag honoring Pele flying over the field. Chinaglia, Beckenbauer and Alberto were also honored with their numbers flying high...

Barry Mahy

Scunthorpe United FC - 1963-1967

New York Generals  - 1967-1968

New York Cosmos - 1971-1975

United States National Team -  1973

Nelsi Morais

Santos (Brazil) 1970-1975

New York Cosmos - 1975-1980

Update 2013.08.12: I had sent an envelope to the Hempstead, NY postmaster requesting a cancelation for Aug 3 to commemorate the Cosmos Inaugural game. I picked up the mail this morning and added the art for the cachet. The cancel is not the best strike as the latter part of the city and the state are missing, but the date is clear. A nice cover that has plenty of space for an autograph should the opportunity arise...