Saturday, May 29, 2010

Box Break - 1993 Upper Deck Series 1

I started collecting baseball cards in 1990 thanks in part to a friend and a stop at a roadside flea market while on vacation. I can remember the impact Upper Deck had on the hobby in my early years of collecting, but the product always seemed to elude me. Come 1993 and it was a different story. I believe there were several gas stations in my area that carried the '93 product and I can remember how amazed I was at the overall quality, design and photography.

Recently I picked up a sealed box of Series One for dirt cheap ($3.00) and cracked open all the packs. I figured this is a set I may tackle completing because I like it so much. It was a blast from the past so to speak opening these packs. While I do like the design, the photography is what really caught my eye. Here are a few of the cards I thought the photographer did an excellent job capturing as well as a few of the hits from the box.

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Cal Ripken, Jr. Then & Now hologram

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Walt Weiss

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Kent Hrbeck & Kirby Puckett - I love these themed team cards...as cheesy as they may be.

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Carlos Hernandez

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Pat Borders

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Lance Parrish - I love how Cecil Fielder is peeking through the umpire's legs

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Brett Butler

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Craig Biggio

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Andy Van Slyke - that looks like it hurt!

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Mickey Morandini - I love the emotion in this photo...

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Mickey Morandini - and how the photo continues onto the front of the card!

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Wilfredo Cordero

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Carlos Baerga

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Jeff Hinson

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Scott Radinsky - that's one way of getting an autograph (putting ball in cup and lowering it down from above the dug out)

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Casey Candaele - look at the vertical on this guy!

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Otis Nixon - come'on, I had to include at least one Brave!

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Ken Caminiti

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Eddie Murray

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Gary Sheffield Triple Crown Contenders - seeded 1:15 packs and the box only yielded one...but at least it's one that will go into one of my player collections

Friday, May 28, 2010

Invading the blog...

Normally I wouldn't stray off topic on my blog, but my wife posted this today on Facebook while I was at work. I can't believe I missed this!

Click here...esp. if you have kids!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

NC Card show info

July 17-18 ~ Charlotte Toy, Hobby, Sportscard Show

jamesspence.jpg
James Spence Authentication (JSA) will be on site in Charlotte authenticating

autographs and accepting raw cards for submission to Beckett for grading.

JSA Contact: info@spenceloa.com or (ph) 973-898-1300

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Group Break - Random Drawing of Non-Team Specific Inserts

Just to make sure that someone didn't think I was rigging this break or keeping the good stuff for myself here is a video of the non-team specific cards randomly drawn for everyone that participated.

Random Drawing

This video officially wraps up my first group break. As I've said before this was a lot of fun and I hope to do another one in the very near future. If you participated and had fun as well please let me know. Leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

I had a LOT of teams unclaimed so there were some good cards that will be going up for grabs shortly in the trade section of my blog. If you saw something pulled (whether you participated or not) that you want don't be a stranger, contact me and we'll work something out. I would much rather send cards to people who want them versus of letting them pile up here.

Take care and good night!

Group Break results (Round 2)

Let's start round 2 with the box of 2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History. I had already participated in a group break of this product and was happy with the results so I thought I'd try my hand with it. The box yielded several inserts and numbered parallels so let's take a look at the hits.

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numbered parallels
Joba Chamberlain #66 (25/50), Carlos Zambrano #18 (132/150)
Historical Moments #194 (089/299), #172 (297/299)

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Box Score Memories
Victor Martinez #BSM-VM (852/999)
Yunel Escobar #BSM-YE (578/999)

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Cut From The Same Cloth
Joe Mauer / Russell Martin #CSC-MM (888/999)
* Since the Dodgers don't have an insert hit thus far I felt it fair that the Dodgers claim this card

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Franchise History
Francisco Liriano #FH-FL (699/999)
Dan Uggla #FH-DU (799/999)

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Franchise Members
New York Mets #FM-RWBS (300/999)
Houston Astros #FM-BLTO (451/999)
Florida Marlins #FM-RUH (188/999)

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Timeless Moments
Edinson Volquez #TM-EV (107/180)
Mike Lowell #TM-ML (776/999)

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20th Anniversary
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #851, Jorge Posada #831, Tom Glavine #836, Joe Torre #861
Atlantis Docs with Mir #841, President of the French Republic #856, Dow Jones Closes Above 5,000 #846, Colorado Avalanche #826

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autograph
Shairon Martis #125 RC

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A Piece of Hollywood
Sydney Greenstreet "Casablanca" #POH-SG
* This card will be random offed to the participants that didn't get a autograph or game used hit

* I've also decided to randomly draw names for the other inserts that aren't team specific that I pulled out of this box


Final Score! Let's total up the number of base cards and inserts for each team claimed:

Braves - 4 base / 3 inserts
Cardinals - 5 base
Dodgers - 5 base / 1 insert
Indians - 6 base / 1 insert
Mets - 7 base / 2 inserts
Twins - 4 base / 2 inserts
Rays - 7 base
Red Sox - 11 base / 3 inserts *
Reds - 7 base / 1 insert *
Yankees - 11 base / 11 inserts

Group Break videos/results posted...finally!! (Round 1)

If I knew I'd have this much trouble trying to get the videos embedded into the blog I would have skipped the filming process all together. However I believe I've finally found an alternative way for everyone to view the video. Please click on the links below for each video. If you run into any problems please let me know. Thank you for everyone's patience!

2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic

2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History


Wow, what an adventure this has been! Now that it appears that I know what I'm doing let's get on to the hits the each box yielded. The box of 2008 SP supplied more inserts than I thought with each of the first two packs having a Marquee Matchup insert. The winners with these are the Braves, Mets, Red Sox and Yankees each with one card. Since no one claimed the Angels or Tigers those will go into my trade fodder piles.

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Jose Reyes / Tom Glavine #MM-32
Jered Weaver / Miguel Cabrera #MM-45
Johan Santana / Ryan Howard #MM-36
Vladimir Guerrero / Justin Verlander #MM-18
Chien-Ming Wang / Manny Ramirez #MM-14
Hideki Matsui / Daisuke Matsuzaka #MM-42

The next insert set was the Yankee Stadium Legacy that Upper Deck inserted throughout all of it's 2008 product. Pulled 6 total.

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Joe Pepitone #3649, 3574, 3599, 3624, 3549
Craig Nettles #3995

Authentic Achievements celebrating career numbers or other highlights yielded 6 total cards. Of these 6 only 2 were claimed - Twins & Yankees. This marks the first insert hit for the Twins so far.

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Miguel Cabrera #AA-49, Mariano Rivera #AA-30, Alfonso Soriano #AA-15
Matt Holliday #AA-6, Justin Morneau #AA-40, Ivan Rodriguez #AA-33

And finally the hit we all have been waiting for the autograph! I gotta say I had mixed emotions of pulling a card of one of the teams I collect, but I'm glad none the less that the team was claimed. Congratulations to the Red Sox.

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Jonathan Van Every #184 RC (425/999)

I had a lot of fun busting this box and I hope that everyone is happy with their hauls. The Red Sox and Yankees are obviously the overall winners here.

For those of you who want to keep score here is the overall break down for the teams that were claimed:

Braves - 3 base / 1 insert
Cardinals - 2 base
Dodgers - 2 base
Indians - 4 base
Mets - 5 base / 1 insert
Twins - 3 base / 1 insert
Rays - 3 base
Red Sox - 6 base / 2 insert
Reds - 3 base
Yankees - 8 base / 8 insert

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Group Break Completed...kinda

My wife strongly suggested that I video the group break this morning so I took her suggestion and used our HD video camera. I got through both boxes, uploaded the video and made a few additions...but now I'm having a hard time getting them uploaded so you guys and gals can view the video! I didn't know about the 10 min. rule on YouTube so no luck there. I'm trying to get them in my PhotoBucket account as we speak. I just wanted to let everyone know that all the packs have been busted and I believe everyone who participated will be happy. I hope to get these problems resolved soon so stay tuned to see what was pulled from the boxes!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Easy contest

Hop on over to Enough Already's blog and fill out a few simple questions to be eligible for several sweet prizes!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Group Break Starting Saturday 5/22/10

Man has it ever been a crazy week. First I find out at work that all of middle management has been let go. Then one of my top employees basically walks away from the job which put me in a bind. Then the new regional managers drop so much extra work into my lap because they don't know how to handle certain tasks. Gotta love those 50 hour work weeks! This is one weekend that I am really looking forward to.

All that said I am determined to start the group break this weekend. All participants need to submit your payment no later than 9 am Saturday, 5/22/10.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Group Break UPDATE

I appreciate the support and participation given so far towards my first group break. All that said I need everyone who wants a team or who as claimed a team to let me know (either reply to this post or e-mail me - flywheels at yahoo dot com). Boxes will be in hand tomorrow morning and Lord willing we'll get this break started this weekend.

If you have any questions please let me know or refer back to my original post here. Thank you!

David Justice Collection

David Justice was my favorite Braves player growing up, but my collection needs some work. If you have something not listed here please let me know so we can work out a trade.

UPDATED 02/02/11

90 Donruss #704
90 Score #650
91 Donruss #683
91 Fleer #693
91 Fleer Ultra #394
91 Jimmy Dean Signature Edition #14
91 Leaf #77
91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #70
91 Score #55
91 Score #861
91 Topps #329
91 Topps Cracker Jack #14
91 Topps Stadium Club #26
91 Upper Deck #363
91 Upper Deck Denny’s Grand Slam #24
92 Baseball Enquirer #5
92 Donruss Triple Play Gallery of Stars #GS-9
92 Fleer #360
92 Leaf #404
92 Pinnacle #100
92 Pinnacle #588
92 Score #4
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92 Score Factory #B3
92 Topps #80
92 Topps Kids #32
92 Topps McDonald’s #28
92 Upper Deck #29
93 Bowman #578
93 Donruss #580
93 Donruss Spirit of the Game #SG2
93 Fleer Fruit of the Loom #30
93 Fleer Flair #5
93 Topps #170
93 Topps Stadium Club #660
93 Topps Stadium Club Toys ‘R Us #14
93 Upper Deck 5th Anniversary #A7
93 Upper Deck Fun Pack #64
94 Bowman’s Best #63
94 Donruss #25
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94 Donruss Triple Play Bomb Squad #5
94 Fleer #361
94 Fleer Lumber Co. #6
94 Fleer Team Leaders #15
94 Fleer Flair #126
94 Fleer Flair Outfield Power #7
94 Fleer Ultra #442
94 Fleer Ultra Ultra All-Star Team #18
94 Kraft Singles Superstars #25
94 Leaf Limited Gold All-Stars #14 (04621/10000)
94 O-Pee-Chee Premier All-Stars #24
94 Pinnacle #40
94 Pinnacle Power Surge #PS1
94 Score Tombstone Pizza Super-Pro #11
94 Sportflics 2000 #192
94 Topps Gold #630
94 Topps Finest #233
94 Topps Post #6
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94 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice Gold Signature
94 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice Home Run All-Stars #HA7
94 Upper Deck SP die-cut #50
95 Donruss #1
95 Fleer #305
95 Fleer Flair #326
95 Select Certified #64
95 Topps #620
95 Topps Bazooka #6
95 Topps Embossed #101
95 Topps Embossed Golden Idol #101
95 Topps Finest #98
95 Upper Deck Collector's Choice #156
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95 Upper Deck SP #28
96 Bowman’s Best #41
96 Pacific #16
96 Score Dugout Collection #51
96 Topps Finest Refractor #248
96 Topps Laser #69
96 Upper Deck SP #28
97 Bowman’s Best #79
97 Donruss #175
97 Donruss Preferred #34
97 Donruss Signature Series #28
97 Fleer Flair Showcase Row 2 #73
97 Fleer Ultra #373
97 Leaf #378
97 Pinnacle Denny’s Hologram #5
97 Score #33
97 Topps #244
97 Topps Finest #271
98 Bowman #20
98 Bowman’s Best #57
98 Donruss #7
98 Donruss Freeze Frame #7 (795/4500)
98 Pacific Paramount Special Delivery #7
98 Pinnacle Swing For The Fences #13
98 Topps Finest #5
98 Topps Opening Day #163
99 Bowman’s Best #3
99 Fleer Sports Illustrated #5
99 Topps #456
99 Topps Finest #73
99 Topps Gallery #18
99 Topps Gold Label Class 1 #38
99 Topps Stadium Club #264
00 Fleer Ultra #45
01 Bowman Chrome #95
01 Bowman Heritage #19
01 Donruss #42
01 Fleer Platinum #236
01 Fleer Premium #170
01 Topps #491
01 Topps Stadium Club #123
02 Bowman Heritage #92
02 Donruss Studio #198
02 Fleer #486
02 Fleer Platinum #55
02 Fleer Tradition #110
02 Fleer Tradition Update #U184
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02 Topps Traded Tools of the Trade bat
02 Upper Deck #552
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02 Upper Deck Diamond Collection bat #374 (623/775)
02 Upper Deck World Series Heroes #16
03 Donruss #177
03 Leaf #80
03 Topps #154
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03 Upper Deck MVP Celebration #MVP43 (0576/2000)
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04 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites bat #FFR-DJ
05 Topps Rookie Cup Green #73 (138/199)
05 Topps Rookie Cup Reprint #73
08 Topps Ring of Honor #RH-DJ

Brad Fullmer Collection

This is my current collection of Brad Fullmer. If you have something not on this list then please let me know and perhaps we can work a trade.

UPDATED 02/02/11

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94 Bowman #76
94 Bowman’s Best #55
94 Collector’s Choice #643
94 Collector's Choice Silver Signature #643
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94 SP #4
94 Upper Deck #532
94 Upper Deck Electric Diamond #532
95 Best #81
95 Classic 5 Sport #114
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95 Classic 5 Sport Autograph #114
95 Signature Rookies #21
95 Signature Rookies #21 Autograph (3275/5750)
95 Upper Deck Minor League #90
95 Upper Deck Minor League Future Stock #90
96 Fleer Excel #186
97 Best #46
97 Best Autograph #46
97 Bowman’s Best #175
97 Bowman’s Best Atomic Refractor #175
97 Bowman Chrome International #166
97 Topps Stars Always Mint #102
98 Bowman #115
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98 Bowman Certified Blue Autograph #2
98 Bowman Scout’s Choice #SC7
98 Bowman Chrome #115
98 Bowman Chrome Reprints #39
98 Bowman’s Best Best Performers #BP5
98 Circa Thunder #109
98 Circa Thunder Fast Track #3FT
98 Donruss Crusade Green #117 (176/250)
98 Donruss Rookie Diamond Kings #12 (202/10000)
98 Donruss Collections #702
98 Donruss Preferred Mezzanine #152
98 Donruss Preferred Great X-Pectations #12 (1411/3000)
98 Donruss Signature Series Autograph
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98 Donruss Signature Series Millennium Marks (1025)
98 Donruss Signature Series Signature Proof #88
98 Finest No Protector Refractor #241
98 Flair Showcase Wave of the Future #5WF
98 Fleer Sports Illustrated World Series Fever #142
98 Fleer Tradition #267
98 Fleer Tradition Promising Forecast #3PF
98 Leaf Fractal Foundation #178 (2299/3999)
98 Leaf Fractal Materials #178 (1932/3250)
98 Leaf Fractal Matrix #178
98 Leaf Rookies & Stars #142
98 Leaf Rookies & Stars Freshman Orientation #7 (4406/5000)
98 Leaf Rookies & Stars Hard Drives #19 (1301/2500)
98 Leaf Rookies & Stars Ticket Masters #10 (1823/2500)
98 Pacific Omega Red #148
98 Pacific Online #447
98 Pacific Online Red #337
98 Pacific Revolution #88
98 Pinnacle #58
98 Pinnacle Artist Proof #AP25
98 Pinnacle Inside #130
98 Pinnacle Inside Club Edition #130
98 Pinnacle Plus #58
98 Score Rookie Traded #RT249
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98 Skybox EX2001 Signature 2001
98 Skybox Dugout Axess #113
98 SP Authentic #23
98 SPx Youth Movement #17 (978/1250)
98 Sports Illustrated #144
98 Sports Illustrated #165
98 Sports Illustrated Extra Edition #165 (121/150)
98 Stadium Club One of a Kind #338 (19/150)
98 Studio #100
98 Studio Press Proofs #100
98 Studio Freeze Frame #27 (1069/4500)
98 Topps New Breed #NB2
98 Topps Chrome New Breed #NB2
98 Topps Gold Label #96
98 Topps Stars Gold #97 (466/2299)
98 Topps Stars Supernovas Gold #S7 (39/50)
98 Topps Tek #77 (pattern #25)
98 Ultra #283
98 Ultra Rocket to Stardom #6RS
98 UD Choice #124
98 Upper Deck #281
98 Upper Deck Destination Stardom #DS40
98 Upper Deck Star Rookie #7
98 Upper Deck Retro #59
98 Upper Deck Retro #121
98 Upper Deck Retro New Frontier #NF21 (338/1000)
98 Upper Deck UD3 Embossed #95
98 Upper Deck UD3 Light F/X die-cut #5 (1992/2000)
99 Bowman International #67
99 Bowman Chrome International #67
99 Circa Thunder Rave #228 (138/150)
99 Finest Milestones Doubles #M40
99 Finest Refractor #127 (446/500)
99 Fleer Tradition Warning Track #131W
99 Fleer Tradition Rookie Flashback #8RF
99 Pacific Platinum Blue #262
99 Pacific Aurora Toronto Fall Expo embossed #111
99 Pacific Invincible Opening Day #90 (67/68)
99 Pacific Paramount Holo-Gold #141 (116/199)
99 Pacific Paramount Red #141
99 Skybox Star Rubies #166 (48/50)
99 Skybox EX Century #41
99 Skybox Molten Metal Metal Smiths #64
99 Skybox Molten Metal Metal Smiths Xplosion #64
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99 SP Authentic Chirography #BF
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99 SP Signature Edition Autograph #BF
99 Stadium Club #26
99 Topps #134
99 Topps Chrome New Breed #NB2
99 Topps Gallery #64
99 Topps Gallery Players Private Issue #PP3
99 Topps Gold Label Class 1 #53
99 Topps Gold Label Class 2 #53
99 Topps Gold Label Class 3 #53
99 Topps Opening Day #80
99 Topps Stars Foil #32 (132/299)
99 Topps Stars Two Star Foil #32 (172/199)
99 UD Choice #108
99 UD Choice Choice Reserve #108 (51/100)
99 Ultra #204
99 Ultra Gold Medallion #204G
99 Upper Deck #141
99 Upper Deck Game Jersey #BF
99 Upper Deck Black Diamond #51
99 Upper Deck Black Diamond Double #51 (2639/3000)
99 Upper Deck Encore Holofoil #54 (115/125)
99 Upper Deck MVP #125
99 Upper Deck MVP Super Script #125 (18/25)
00 Fleer Tradition Update #U12
00 MLB Showdown 1st Edition #266
00 Pacific 2001 Fall Expo embossed #262
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00 Pacific Omega Premiere Date #148 (47/77)
00 Pacific Paramount Holofoil #141 (55/99)
00 Pacific Revolution #149
00 Skybox #19
00 Skybox Star Ruby #19SR
00 Topps Chrome #354
00 Ultra Gold Medallion #49G
00 Upper Deck Victory #133
01 Bowman Heritage #164
01 Donruss #94
01 Donruss Baseball’s Best Silver #94
01 Donruss Classics #88
01 Donruss Classics Chicago Sun Times Collection #88 (5/5)
01 Donruss Elite #94
01 Fleer Focus #99
01 Fleer Platinum #56
01 Fleer Showcase #68
01 Pacific #443
01 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia #94
01 Topps #409
01 Topps Home Team Advantage #409
01 Topps Chrome #383
01 Topps Chrome Retrofractor #383
01 Topps Gold Label Class 1 #15
01 Topps Gold Label Class 2 #15
01 Topps Heritage (black back) #188
01 Topps Limited #409
01 Topps Reserve #82
01 Topps Stars #52
01 Ultra #30
01 Ultra Gold Medallion #30
01 Upper Deck #64
01 Upper Deck MVP #30
01 Upper Deck Vintage #31
02 Donruss Elite #137
02 Donruss Fan Club #52
02 Donruss Fan Club Credits #52 (36/100)
02 Donruss Fan Club Credits #52 (99/100)
02 Donruss Fan Club die-cut #52
02 Fleer #441
02 Fleer Authentix First Row #121 (145/150)
02 Fleer Authentix Second Row #121 (175/250)
02 Fleer Focus Jersey Edition #51
02 Fleer Focus Jersey Edition Century Parallel #51 (107/120)
02 Fleer Maximum #80
02 Fleer Platinum #116
02 Fleer Platinum Platinum #116 (104/202)
02 Fleer Premium #120
02 Fleer Tradition #221
02 Fleer Tradition Update #U210
02 Fleer Tradition Update Tiffany #U210 (55/200)
02 Stadium Club Born in the USA Relic Bat #USA-BF
02 Topps #41
02 Topps Gold #41 (1781/2002)
02 Topps Chrome Black Refractor #41 (05/50)
02 Topps Opening Day #55
02 Topps Traded Gold #T78 (1690/2002)
02 Topps Traded Refractor #T78
02 Topps Traded Tools of the Trade Relic bat #TTRR-BF
02 Ultra #73
02 Upper Deck #549
02 Upper Deck Ball Park Idols #5
02 Upper Deck 40 Man #21
02 Upper Deck MVP Silver Parallel #10 (52/100)
02 Upper Deck Victory #38
02 Upper Deck Victory Gold #38
02 Upper Deck Vintage #24
03 Donruss #82
03 Donruss Career Stat Line #82 (117/322)
03 Donruss Season Stat Line #82 (19/59)
03 Donruss Champions World Series Champs #WSC-14 (0539/2002)
03 Fleer Tradition #119
03 Leaf #1
03 Topps #74
03 Topps Chrome Black Refractor #187 (002/199)
03 Topps Heritage #96
03 Upper Deck #273
03 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Archives #98 (0589/2500)
04 Bazooka Bazooka Blasts #BB-BF
04 Donruss Career Stat Line #72 (264/354)
04 Fleer Tradition #193
04 Topps #103
04 Topps Black #103 (42/53)
04 Topps Gold #103 (0475/2004)
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04 Topps Relic bat #BF 
05 Donruss #72
05 Donruss Red Press Proof #72 (094/200)
05 Fleer Tradition #55