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Won't you be my neighbor?
1991-92 Pro Set Platinum Card #297 - Fred Rogers, Celebrity Captain
By Sal J. Barry
Published May 9, 2008
Click photo to enlarge
During the 1991-92 season - which was the NHL's 75th Anniversary- each team appointed a "Celebrity Captain" Some teams appointed ex-players, while other teams appointed celebrities from film and television. The Pittsburgh Penguins appointed Fred Rogers as their Celebrity Captain.
Fred Rogers…as in Mister Rogers…as in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - that children's TV show that lasted over thirty years.
Many of these Celebrity Captains were featured in the 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum trading card set. "Mister Rogers" appeared in that set of hockey cards. The front of the card shows Rogers' in his trademark sweater and comfortable shoes, while the back talks of his history (as of 1991):
A genuinely kind and caring man, Fred Rogers pioneered children's television. His show ran from 1968 to 2001 for a total of 998 episodes, and had a big impact on the lives of millions of children - both American and Canadian - growing up during that time, myself included.
Click photo to enlarge
But his work went further than producing this long-running, award-winning program. When a $20 million endowment for public television funding was in jeopardy - President Nixon wanted to use half of that money towards the Viet Nam War - Rogers spoke with the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His speech was successful; not only did the Senate refrain from cutting the grant, but they increased it to $22 million.
Rogers was also an advocate of the VCR. In the Supreme Court case Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Rogers testified on behalf of the VCR manufacturers, stating that he did not mind his show being recorded and watched at a later time because "…some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the Neighborhood at hours when some children cannot use it," and "that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important." Rogers was one of the most prominent witnesses to testify on the issue. Think about that next time you record a Rangers-Leafs matchup to enjoy later.
As a child of the 1980s, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was one of the "big three" of children's shows in my life - the other two shows being Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Rogers stressed values and community, without being religious or preachy. He stressed that we are all special just the way we are, and discussed "real" issues for children, such as anger and fear, and how to cope with these. His kind words and acts were above and beyond a simple game that we enjoy so much.
It doesn't always have to be about hockey, does it?
Notes
1. "Won't you be my neighbor?" is a line from the theme song what Mister Rogers sang at the beginning of his show.
2. All the information about Senate funding and the VCR is from Wikipedia - give credit where credit is due.
3. Rogers' speech to the Senate can be seen here. It's about six minutes long, but poignant and totally worth watching.
1991-92 Pro Set Platinum Card #297 - Fred Rogers, Celebrity Captain
By Sal J. Barry
Published May 9, 2008
Click photo to enlarge
Fred Rogers…as in Mister Rogers…as in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - that children's TV show that lasted over thirty years.
Many of these Celebrity Captains were featured in the 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum trading card set. "Mister Rogers" appeared in that set of hockey cards. The front of the card shows Rogers' in his trademark sweater and comfortable shoes, while the back talks of his history (as of 1991):
The soft voice of Pittsburgh Penguins Celebrity Captain Fred (Mr.) Rogers has resounded over radio and television for more than 35 years. The composer, musician, writer and producer developed his first children's program in 1953 for WQED, the nation's first community-supported public television station. During the seven years of The Children's Corner, he began studying theology and child development. He was ordained by the Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1962 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the media.At the time this card was made, I did not understand why the Penguins selected Fred Rogers as their Celebrity Captain. Most of us don't correlate the kind and soft-spoken "Mister Rogers" to the high-sticking and hard-checking sport of hockey. There is really no connection, though Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was produced in Pittsburgh, making him a hero even more so to the people of that town.
Rogers began appearing on Misterogers in 1963, and distribution to PBS affiliates began in 1968. The show, which became Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1969, contains nearly 600 episodes and reaches seven million families each week. Through a nonprofit corporation, Rogers produces a variety of materials to encourage the healthy emotional growth of children and their families.
A genuinely kind and caring man, Fred Rogers pioneered children's television. His show ran from 1968 to 2001 for a total of 998 episodes, and had a big impact on the lives of millions of children - both American and Canadian - growing up during that time, myself included.
Click photo to enlarge
Rogers was also an advocate of the VCR. In the Supreme Court case Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Rogers testified on behalf of the VCR manufacturers, stating that he did not mind his show being recorded and watched at a later time because "…some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the Neighborhood at hours when some children cannot use it," and "that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important." Rogers was one of the most prominent witnesses to testify on the issue. Think about that next time you record a Rangers-Leafs matchup to enjoy later.
As a child of the 1980s, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was one of the "big three" of children's shows in my life - the other two shows being Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Rogers stressed values and community, without being religious or preachy. He stressed that we are all special just the way we are, and discussed "real" issues for children, such as anger and fear, and how to cope with these. His kind words and acts were above and beyond a simple game that we enjoy so much.
It doesn't always have to be about hockey, does it?
Notes
1. "Won't you be my neighbor?" is a line from the theme song what Mister Rogers sang at the beginning of his show.
2. All the information about Senate funding and the VCR is from Wikipedia - give credit where credit is due.
3. Rogers' speech to the Senate can be seen here. It's about six minutes long, but poignant and totally worth watching.