1992-93 O-Pee-Chee #384 Brian Bellows

1990-91 Upper Deck #126 Brian Bellows (Autographed)

Signed at the same time as this card.

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #165 Brian Bellows (Highlight)

1990-91 Score #322 Brian Bellows (All-Star)

It was always exciting to see a hometown hero get his own "All Star" card.  The first one I remember was Frank Viola's 1985 Topps All-Star baseball card.  That one confused the hell out of me, though, because I knew that Frankie was not actually a member of the 1984 American League All Star Team. 

1991-92 Stadium Club #87 Brian Bellows

1991-92 Pro Set #109 Brian Bellows

1990-91 Score #7 Brian Bellows

1991-92 Score Canadian #160 Brian Bellows

1990-91 Upper Deck #308 Team Checklist (Brian Bellows)

1990-91 Pro Set #130 Brian Bellows

1984-85 Topps #71 Brian Bellows

1990-91 Topps #70 Brian Bellows

1989-90 O-Pee-Chee #177 Brian Bellows

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #167 Brian Bellows (RC)

Brian Bellows was my first favorite hockey player.  Dino and Neal were great, of course, but Bellows was the hot rookie in town when I first noticed the North Stars.

1985-86 7-Eleven #9 Brian Bellows

1984-85 Topps #71 Brian Bellows (Autographed)

In the spring of 1991, near the beginning of the North Stars' exciting run toward the Stanley Cup Finals, I went to a card show at the legendary Thunderbird Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, right next to the Met Center.  The big attraction to this particular show was the in-person appearances and autograph signings by Brian Bellows and Mike Modano.  I met both and had each sign a card for me.