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.

Cal Ripken, Jr. Then & Now hologram

Walt Weiss

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

Carlos Hernandez

Pat Borders

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

Brett Butler

Craig Biggio

Andy Van Slyke - that looks like it hurt!

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

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

Wilfredo Cordero

Carlos Baerga

Jeff Hinson

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

Casey Candaele - look at the vertical on this guy!

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

Ken Caminiti

Eddie Murray

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

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!

NC Card show info

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

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

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.

numbered parallels

Joba Chamberlain #66 (25/50), Carlos Zambrano #18 (132/150)

Historical Moments #194 (089/299), #172 (297/299)

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


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


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


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


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


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


autograph
Shairon Martis #125 RC

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

Easy contest

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

02 Topps Traded Tools of the Trade bat

02 Upper Deck #552

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

03 Upper Deck MVP Celebration #MVP43 (0576/2000)

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

94 Bowman #76

94 Bowman’s Best #55

94 Collector’s Choice #643

94 Collector's Choice Silver Signature #643

94 SP #4

94 Upper Deck #532

94 Upper Deck Electric Diamond #532

95 Best #81

95 Classic 5 Sport #114

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

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

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

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

99 SP Authentic Chirography #BF

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

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)

 

04 Topps Relic bat #BF 

05 Donruss #72

05 Donruss Red Press Proof #72 (094/200)

05 Fleer Tradition #55