Video Box Break Highlights- 2009 Upper Deck Football Heroes

Product Preview- 2009-10 Draft Edition Basketball

Regular Set:

Rookie Cards (68)

Alma Mater (24)

School Ties (13)

Coaching Legends (3)

Tournament Titans (15)

Draft Class (10)

Insert Highlights:

School Ties Autographs (Varied #) – DUAL SIGNED

Draft Class Autographs (Varied #) – TRIPLE SIGNED

Box Break: (on average)

Four (4) Autographs per box.

All Autographs are limited numbered

Every pack contains an insert, signature, or numbered parallel card

Case Break: (on average)One (1) multi-signed card per case.

Configuration:10 cards per pack, 16 packs per box, 12 boxes per case.

Product Arrival Date: July, 28 2009

More Images on UD's Facebook Page

Nine things seen at the NHL Entry Draft

Live coverage from Montreal by my friends Jon Waldman and Russ Cohen. Lucky bastards :)

In honour of Hockeyology's ninth NHL Entry Draft coverage, we proudly present this look in and around the draft floor in La Belle Province.

Read the original and more from this year's draft.

2009 Upper Deck Heroes Football- The Case of the MIA | Card Corner Club

It isn’t always easy to review a product based on the results of one box. However, in the case of 2009 Upper Deck Football Heroes I definitely feel like my box yielded a decent representation of what the product has to offer, and with that in mind, I walked away with mixed emotions. First and foremost being that my box was of the dreaded “on average” variety.

I really, really want to like this product and I think the concept and brand name are great but it’s the checklist and execution that leave me feeling less than satisfied. With a name like Heroes, I don’t think it’s too much to assume that the base set be loaded with Hall of Famers, Legends, and Fan Favorites, and while enough of them are present to meet the minimum criteria of a product branded as Heroes I suppose, there are some glaring holes and odd inclusions in the checklist. The 490-card base set is instead comprised of Veterans, Rookies and Legends.

Read the rest

Is this card cool?

Beckett Sucks- SI Uncirculated?!?! WTF?!?!?

If you must know more

People Suck- A Sampling of eBay Idiots (Buyers and Sellers Alike)

I like the concept of people but people always seem to manage to ruin that concept. Thank to Mario at Wax Heaven for posting a great piece about some of the numerous vultures unloading Michael Jackson memorabilia into the market. Curious myself, I spent sometime looking on eBay and was amazed by the ridiculous prices being offered AND being paid, proving that it's not just sellers who can be idiots.

Here are some screen shoots including a few for completed listings, 1 of which is a 1984 Topps Wax Box that sold with a Best Offer of $223. Ridiculous. $50 for autograph REPRINTS, $10M for a domain name. Crazy. Michael Jackson Gem Mint 10 Graded Rookie Card?!?!?

Rest In Peace Michael- The King of Pop

Maybe it's the flashback of memories from my youth, when everyone it seemed was talking about, listening too and wanting to "be like Mike" w-a-y before Jordan.

The moonwalk, parachute pants, black leather matching pants and jacket, and pink shirts were suddenly cool.

The news of Michael Jackson's passing hit me out of the blue today and I am honestly surprised to admit that I'm just a little bit sad. Not that I was a fan of his music later in life as my tastes today run more towards Blink 182, Rancid, Evanescense, Daughtry, and Nickleback but it is unmistakable the impact he had on pop music making Thriller the greatest selling album in human history and producing what is to this day one of the greatest music videos of all time in Thriller. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

New Image Gallery From Panini- Donruss Classics Saturday Stars

My 2 cents on the Shaq Trade

Danny Ferry, GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers, took the easy way out. While Shaq is certainly a "sexy" acquisition, he doesn't in any way, solve the Cavs biggest problem, namely, the match up problem with Dwight Howard. Of that same mold is Kevin Garnett, both athletic bigmen who can run the floor and shoot from the perimeter. Shaq doesn't defend against either of these strengths.

The Cavs may prove me wrong but if not, Danny Ferry should be fired.

Look whose bigtime. Nice Job Gellman!

So I get my Tuff Stuff Direct eNewlster and see in the reading pane something that nearly made me throw-up in my mouth:

I mean WTF, the company that has been complicit in allowing 1000's of fraudulent autographs into the market by providing Coaches Corner an audience and thus adding their own degree of respectability via psuedo endoresment, is now a watchdog for fake sigs?!?!?! B.S. Screw that!!

So I click on the link, looking for a byline because we all know where this Peterson expose came from, and there it is:

Congrats G-Man!

O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey Scores Again

Guest Review- Russ Cohen

2009 O-Pee-Chee Premier hockey has a high price tag of around $170 bucks but this is a guaranteed hit product and the hits have to be good. Every box has a manufactured patch card, quad-auto rookie and an autograph card.

Every pack has five cards and in this set the base cards are worth something. The Sidney Crosby #’d to 75 and Bobby Hull #’d to 299 were two great base cards and my box was off to a good start. Both cards had nice action shots and statistics on the back.

See the pulls and read the rest

Game Used Gallery Preview- Sportkings Series C

To see the Image Gallery and access the game-used memorabilia checklist click here.

Every pack of Sportkings Series C will include 1 Authentic Game-Used Memorabilia Card or Cut Signature Card.

With the drastic reduction in Series C production to just 2,500 boxes the authentic game-used memorabilia cards will be very limited. Many of the Insert Sets have 9 silver versions and 1 gold version. Some have 19 silver versions and 1 gold version and the least limited insert set has 29 silver versions and 1 gold version.

Series C will be released in conjunction with The National on July 29, 2009.

Production has been drastically reduced to only 2,500 boxes.

Each box of Series C will contain:
2 hard-signed Autograph Cards

1 Authentic Game-Used Memorabilia Card or Cut Signature Card

6 Sportkings Base Cards including at least one Mini Base Card

That's 9 different cards in each box of Sportkings Series C.

This will allow a new group of collectors to begin collecting Sportkings while giving the collector who wants to continue collecting this product, a better value.

Don't Miss Other Posts

Did you know you can use Twitter without having a Twitter account? Sometimes I find information online that I don't want to copy and past or link to, so it is more practical to disseminate the information via Twitter.

A perfect example is preview or pre-release information on trading cards such as Upper Deck makes available on their Facebook page. Just look for this box in the left navigation for my latest Tweet (micro-blog post).

Maybe I Shouldn't Have Burned My Junk Wax

I love art and really appreciate artists because I suck at it.

Check out what this guy does with his junk wax.

Visit his website.

I'm going to find out how much it would cost to do a 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr RC.




Originally posted on Sports Collectors Daily

Subjects for Cards I Do and Don't Want to See Produced

OK, after this year, it's time for at least a temporary moratorium on overdone and non-endemic trading card inserts in sports products.

• Dinosaurs
• ALL Reality TV (American Idol, Survivor, etc)
• 80's Hairbands
• ANYONE from High School Musical
• Barack Obama
• Mickey Mantle
• Yankee Stadium (Make that ANY stadium)
• Historical Events
• B and C List Celebrities (You know who you are, now sit down!)
• American Presidents and World Leaders

Now, cards I would like to see produced as stand alone products or EXTREMELY WELL DESIGNED AND EXECUTED insert sets.

• X Games Athletes
• Sports Divas (Posed glamour shots and on field)
• Movie Posters
• Formula 1 Drivers and their Cars
• Music that defined an era- 50's Chuck Berry, Elvis, Buddy Holly, 60's Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, etc, 70's Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath etc (Note- IN MODERATION)
• A tribute to punk rock- Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Dead Kennedy's, Black Flag
• Heroes of War- Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Black Ops
• Comic Book Heroes and Villains- Spiderman/Green Goblin, Dark Knight/Joker
• Golf

When Hobbies Collide- Wizard World Philly Style

Show Coverage- Russ Cohen

Philadelphia – Wizard World Philadelphia has one day left and yet I feel like I spent a week there. I was there on Friday and I was in search of show exclusive comics, older comics, and show exclusive action figures. All of that was easy to find and I found a lot more than that.

I’ve covered a few of these shows (mostly non-sports items) and they always have a great energy and vibe about them. I especially enjoyed one seminar set up by Eric Simpson called “How to be a Wrestler”. It was an open panel discussion with Traci Brooks (TNA), Nidia (formerly with the WWE and now working the Independent circuit), Demolition, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, The Honky Tonk Man and Virgil. More to come on this later but it’s safe to say these grapplers were very open and honest and they didn’t hold anything back and they answered every single question that the fans had for them. The one theme that came out of this panel was the feeling that there will be an eventual return of “old school” wrestling. I would love to see that since that’s what I used to watch when I was growing up!

Read the rest . . .

Photos From the Recent NHL Awards

My partner in crime at Sportsology.net was fortunate enough to have a colleague attend this year's NHL awards. Check out the photos here on flickr.

Coaches Corner Threatens Blogger That Helped Expose the Truth

Read thru some of the recent posts and comments at Mike the Ring Guy's blog, The Sports Blog. Coaches Corner Auctions has threatened him in writing and more. In addition, SCD is choosing to be silent about their decision, including no editorial response to their recent decision to drop them as an advertiser.

Also, see actual letters of subscription (non) renewal sent to the editors of SCD and their lack of response.

Thank Mike for using your VOICE and doing your part to help collectors.

2009 UD O-Pee-Chee Baseball Had Some Nice Surprises

Guest Review: Russ Cohen

This release will appeal to Canadian baseball fans for certain but all baseball fans will like this lighthearted fun release that is made for set collectors!

This 600-card parallel set includes a hint of the 1971 black border design. Each box contains a New York, New York Card, a 1979-80 retro hockey card, 20th anniversary cards, plus some mini’s and one parallel per pack and there are 36 packs in a box. Each box goes for under $50, which means it won’t break the bank.

Read the rest . . .

SCD and Coaches Corner Part Ways!!!

Eat it O'Connell!! The power of the blogsphere proves once again who and where the real voice of the hobby comes from. Thanks to this breaking news to the blogsphere by Mike at Cardboard Connection and originally reported by the New York Daily News.

This is one of the reasons I love Twitter. Follow Cardboard Connection @sportscards .

Early Contender for Card of the Year!!

Mario at Wax Heaven and Robbiez at Superfractor provided an early preview of this year's Triple Threads and while some of the designs are obvious retreads, popular sentiment says that this card WILL BE the card of the year. Covet this . . .

Larger Image

Razor 2009 Sports Icons

Sports Icons has a upper-mid range price point at $100 SRP and delivers one cut signature card ecapsulated and authenticated by BGS. This product provides collectors the opportunity to acquire autographs from some of the most iconic athletes in sports history including; Wilt Chamberlain, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky and more.You can see the complete sell sheet here.

Read the rest to see who we pulled.

Upper Deck Cancels . . .

2009/10 UD Draft Basketball has been cancelled. No reason has been given yet. Check back for more updates. Thanks to Blow Out Cards for the heads-up.

2009 Bowman NFL Draft Picks Part 3 of 3- The Hits and Report Card

SP Legendary Cut Auto Hot Packs?!?! How do they know?

In doing my reseach for the previous post, I came across this auction:

The seller has excellent feedback and sells HUNDREDS of these types of auctions. Am I dumb or missing something? How do they know which pack is the CASE HIT!?!?!?

Still Big $$'s for SP Legendary Cut Auto's

Despite Upper Deck losing out on some players through the CMG licensing deal, SP Legendary Cuts returns for another year. Easily one of the most storied brands in UD's short history (relatively speaking) Cuts, never ceases to amaze me. Live for a few weeks now, from eBay, here is the highest selling card so far.

Bought with a Best Offer of $4,075 from the listed BIN of $4,999.

The next closest dropped the gavel at more than $2,600 behind the Iron Horse. This card of Nap Lajoie closed after 21 bids at $1,430.

The Steroids Wing of the Hall of Fame Just Keeps Getting Bigger

It may come as no suprise to most, but ESPN is reporting today that Sammy Sosa, the only person to hit 60 or more Home Runs in 3 consecutive years, was one of the players that tested positive in 2003.

This information came from the same list (that was supposed to be confidential and anonymous) that detailed Alex Rodriguez's usage earlier this year.

The Hall of Fame, at some point, needs to define and present to the Baseball Writers Association of America a list of criteria to use in determining who is and who isn't a Hall of Fame player from the Steroid Era. Either we throw out the records all together, or collectively admit that like it or not, this was a prevelant part of the culture.

I wonder how many other names will be leaked from this list and I'd really like to know who is doing the leaking. Maybe the list should just be published so the fans and media stop the guessing games.

What do you think?

UD Not Throwing in the Towel . . .Yet

Upper Deck appears, at least initiatally , that they are going to make a stab at NBA cards for the 2009-10 season. Officially the Paninni license doesn't exclusively kick in until October so the early look at SP Signature Edition on their Facebook page could prove to be their swan song when it comes to officially licensed cards.

Regular Set:

Regular Cards (100)

SP Signature Rookies (Varied #)

Top Inserts:

Star Signatures (Varied #)

INKcredible (Varied #)

SIGnificance (Varied #)

Break Summary: (on average)

Two (2) Autographs in every pack

Every Autograph card is foil numbered

Configuration: 4 cards per pack, 1 packs per box

Product Arrival Date: September, 2009

Opportunity for Collectors of: Minor Leaguers, TTM Autos, and Prospectors

This is a semi-cheap plug but it has definite relevance to collectors. The TheAutographCard.com and GamedayRosters.com have teamed up to provide opportunity to connect with Minor League All-Stars.

2009 Bowman Draft Picks Football Part 2 of 3 The Inserts

Video Box Break Highlights- 2009 Bowman Draft Picks Football- Part 1 of 3

The Generosity of the Blogsphere Humbles Me.

The blogsphere really gets it.

Networking and trading with collectors is about helping someone out by providing them something they need, that you have, that you don't need. It's really supposed to be that simple.

No book value bullshit, no Beckett (Sucks) geeks, just a honest comardarie that has helped restore my faith in people.

How thankful I am to not be dependent on this guy for help in building the huge Upper Deck 20th Anniversary Set.

This week I have been inundated with bubble mailers and received emails of cards to come from numerous people including;

Sooz and Marie of A Cardboard Problem. You can also follow them on Twitter @SoozInSports and @baseballzoch

Mike AKA "Motherscratcher" at Achiever Card Blog

A reader by the name of Rob who has a website called Readerman

Greg at Night Owl Card

Readers: Greg, Jason, Mark

If I have forgotten anyone, please email me with a kick in the head. I want to give you the credit you are due. Also, please give me sometime and I will make every effort to return the favor.

Again thank you to everyone and please know that I still have a L-O-N-G way to go. I just went over the 350 mark so I am at 14% completion.

Upper Deck 2009-10 Basketball Early Look

With the NBA Finals winding down, Carlsbad is already thinking about next year. (So is Orlando)

From the UD Facebook Home: Upper Deck The flagship brand delivers collecting excitement once again as 2009-10 Upper Deck Basketball introduces the largest autograph checklist ever in the product the 200-card UD Signature Collection Set.

Regular Set:
Regular Cards (200)
Star Rookies (40)
UD Immortals (55)

Top Inserts:
UD Signature Collection
Sophomore Sensations Autographs

(# to 199)
UD Dual Game Jersey Parallel (# to 150)
VS. Dual Materials Parallel (# to 150)
UD Game Materials Parallel (# to 150)

Box Break: (on average)
Three (3) Memorabilia Cards in every box
Includes up to two (2) dual swatch memorabilia cards
One (1) Autograph per box
Two (2) Lenticular 3D Stars per box

Case Break: (on average)
Three (3) HOT BOXES per case
Every pack contains an Autograph or Memorabilia Card

ARRIVES IN SEPTEMBER 2009

See the rest of the image gallery at Upper Deck Facebook

Happy Friday Fun- Quiz Time

Where are they know?

Take the Quiz at Mentalfloss.com

Donruss Americana Box Break Image Gallery

Be sure to see the slideshow on the sidebar or a larger, collage style, at the bottom of the page. Again, I really, really like the Movie Poster Combo Material cards.

Beckett (Sucks) Pisses on the First Amendment

WARNING- PROFANITY LACED TIRADE AHEAD.



(You have been warned)






Fucking A!!! Shit, fuck, mother-fucker, cock sucking, jag-bag, dim wits with shit for brains.

The repulsive pukes at Beckett Media, now owned by Eli Research, have decided to threaten legal action against the folks at Boycott Beckett. it's bad enough they have laid off talented hard-working Americans (a lot of companies have) but these jobs weren't eliminated they were simply relocated to fucking INDIA in the name of the almighty fucking dollar. Choke on it you mother-fucker. Greg Lindberg you are a cock sucking, soul-less human being that should simply crawl back under the fat taint of whoever you have been hiding.

So a disgruntled employee, aware of the cock sucking and handjobs that take place between the like of Chris Olds, Tracy Hackler and the rest of the fucking remaining carcasses wasting air and valuable natural resources, has taken his VOICE to the blogsphere.

Apparently trade secrets, having "millions of dollars in the bank" and being a genuine hairy asshole licking son-of-a-bitch, allows you to say "Fuck You" to the freedom of speech guaranteed by the US Constitution's Bill of Rights. However, it's understandable that you may not know this because apparently, while enjoying the freedom this country provides to allow your disgrace for a company to be "be cash flow positive", in your globalist belief system have managed to further burden the US economy by in your small way contributing to the problem of globalization and continued US employment downsizing.

You publish a FUCKING magazine for goodness sake!! A shitty, antiquated, non-entertaining one at that. What gives you the right to threaten people who justifiably use their VOICE. Greg Lindberg of Eli Reseach, parent company to Beckett Sucks Media is officially the hobby Anti-Christ.

People sometimes email me asking, "What is your beef with Beckett?"

How's this for starters?


Thanks to Gellman at SCU

2009 Bowman Draft Picks Football REVIEW

Bowman Draft Picks Football debuts with an affordable way to amass a collection of rookies from this year’s draft. In year’s past this product was simply called Bowman but with the growing hype of the NFL Draft and their competitors using it in their early release product titles, Topps apparently decided to add the “Draft Picks” moniker, and deciding to drop Topps Draft Picks & Prospects. Typically speaking, BDP type products from other sports have come with 1 autographed rookie or prospect card per box. Topps added a little something extra for collectors this year and aficionados of manufactured letter patches will be happy to know that in addition to a hard signed Autographed Rookie Card, each box of Bowman Draft Picks will deliver one hard signed RC Letter Patch.

Read the Rest

Legendary Cuts Yields A Lot More Than Cut Sigs

Guest Review: Russ Cohen

2009 SP Legendary Cuts has a picture of Ted Williams and Derek Jeter on the packaging so already the expectation level is pretty high. Cut sigs are very rare and to be honest so are the hard signed autos as well. Lets see what I walked away with. I got five memorabilia cards. One of them is very rare. The Joe Mauer, “20th Anniversary Retrospective” dual color piece is a one per case hit! It’s a great looking card so that’s a nice score. Mauer is one of the top two or three backstops in the game today!

Read the rest and see more images.

MLB News and Notes- Oddities and Surprises

With the season well under way at this point, and teams and there fans no longer being able to use the excuse that, "it's still early" we have already seen several unexpected and/or surprising happenings. Here are some highlights. Please add to the list in the comments.

Raul Ibanez is leading the league in almost every major offensive category.

Tom Glavine was released from the Braves.

82 Wins might be good enough to win BOTH league's Central Division

The Red Sox are 6-0 against the Yankees

The Dogers are running away with a division title barring injury

Manny Rameriz is suspended for testing positive to a controlled substance.

Alex Rodriguez admits using steriods over a 3 year period while with the Rangers

Despite injuries that lead to trips on the disabled list by Carlos Zambrano, Derrick Lee, Aramis Rameriz, and Alphonso Soriano the Cubs are only 2.5 games back of the Brewers.

There is currently a 3 way tie in the NL Central and one of the teams is the Reds!!

Roy Halliday has 10 wins already

Zach Greinke has an ERA of 1.55

With 34 steals, Carl Crawford has more stolen bases than total of most TEAMS.

#1 Draft Pick Stephen Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, is trying to get the Nationals to sign his client to a record and bank breaking $50M signing bonus.

Carlos Zambrano announces his retirement . . . in 5 years

WOW!! Blowout Cards Specials- Donruss Elite Extra Edition

Every Tuesday, Blowout Cards has Twitter specials. With the recent call-ups of some heavily touted (hyped) players and the MLB Draft, this caught my eye.

Highlights include:-

Rookie Cards, autographs and game-used cards of the biggest prospects in baseball - Gordon Beckham Buster Posey, and Matt Weiters.

Look for rookie cards and autographs from other top prospects such as Rick Porcello, Neftali Feliz, Isaac Galloway, Ike Davis, Logan Morrison, Michael Taylor, Caleb Gindl, Mat Gamel, Wilmer Flores, Bryan Petersen, Allan Dykstra, Ryan Perry, Tyler Ladendorf, Michel Inoa, Xavier Avery, Anthony Gose, Jordan Danks, Shooter Hunt and Chase D'Arnaud.

Other notable names include:* Jose Duran (SS, Brewers) - 2008 Big 12 Player of the Year* Sean Ratliff (OF, Mets) - Played for Stanford in the College World Series* Kyle Russell (OF, Dodgers) - Slugging outfielder our of University of Texas* Juan Carlos Sulbaran (P, Reds) - Advanced pitcher from American Heritage HS in Florida* Rafael Rodriguez (OF, Giants) - Signed for a $2.55 million bonus in July. . .on his 16th birthday* Cat Osterman - 2005 ESPY for Best Female College Athlete and Top Female Olympic Performance, 2006 ESPY for Best Female College Athlete, 2004 Olympic gold medal winner.

Donruss Americana Box 2 of 3 Results

WHAT WE FOUND: (Box 2 of 3)

Commons: (12) - #5 Joey Lawrence, #13 Jeffrey Tambor, #33 Gerald Okamura, #38 Vicki Lawence, #42 Malcolm McDowell, #47 Tracy Lawrence, #53 Daniel Baldwin, #63 Elijah Wood, #77 Taryn Manning, #89 Irvin Kershner, #99 William Forsythe #100 Julia Louis Dreyfus

Signature/Material Parallel (1)- #80 Paul LeMat

Gold Proofs (1) - #62 Chazz Palminteri

Private Signings (2) - #74 Corbin Bleu 59/250

Cinema Stars (1) - #14 Elijah Wood 541/1000

Hollywood Legends (1) - #23 Burt Lancaster 421/1000

Hollywood Legends Materials (1) - #7 Lou Costello 354/500

TV Stars (1) - #21 James Cann 859/1000
Movie Posters Combo Materials (1) - #64 – Gary Cooper/Teresa Wright 306/500

Finally, a Design to Be Excited About!!

Donruss Americana 2009 went live this week and one insert set in particular, I believe, has taken a step in the right direction with regards to design. Check out the front and back of the this Movie Poster Materials card. Movie posters in and of themselves are cool, throw in the fact that this one depicts a great baseball story starring legendary actor Gary Cooper as the original Iron Man, Lou Gehrig, and you have a winner.

But wait, the real key is how they incorporated the worn materials. Instead of disrupting the full image of the movie poster on the front, they inserted the materials and a smaller picture of the movie poster on the back. Regardless of how you feel about Donruss, Hollywood sets, Americana, you have to admit, this is a design that would has great cross-over potential for more traditional sports themed products.

2009 Donruss Americana Highlights and Results

Release Date: Jun 03, 2009

Pack SRP: $25.00

Master Configuration: 5 cards, 4 packs, 20 boxes

Direct Configuration: 5 cards, 4 packs, 10 boxes

PER BOX ITEMS: 4 Memorabilia or Autographs, 1 Parallel, 2 Inserts,1 Other insert or parallel

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Each box will deliver four autographs or material cards (including at least one autograph)

WHAT WE FOUND: (Box 1 of 3)

Commons: (12) - #14 Eddie Deezen, #24 John Kerr, #31 Dylan McDermott, #332 Fred Willard, #48 Michael Beck, #49 Denzel Whitaker, #65 Yancy Butler, #66 Olesya Rulin, #71 Tony Todd, #81 Swoosie Kurtz, #88 Erin Gray, #100 Julia Louis Dreyfus

Gold Proofs (1) - #19 Patty Duke 43/50

Private Signings (2) - #93 Luke Gross 18/50, #97 Teddy Gentry 49/50

Cinema Stars (1) - #14 Elijah Wood 181/1000

Hollywood Legends (1) - #23 Leslie Howard 598/1000

Hollywood Legends Materials Golden Era (1) - #12 Douglas Fairbanks Jr. 39/50

TV Stars (1) - #20 Tori Spelling 126/1000

Movie Posters Combo Materials (1) - #26 – John Wayne/Natalie Wood 33/500

Image Gallery to come as well as results from 2 more boxes.

Product Review- UD Ultimate Collection NHL Style

Guest Review- Jon Waldman

Since the NHL Lockout, Ultimate Collection, formerly Premier Collection, has had a bit of the short-end-of-the-stick treatment from the hobby. In past years it was sandwiched between high-end sets such as Sweet Shot, OPC Premier and The Cup and like a hook up between spring formal and prom, it was quickly forgotten.

Read The Rest

Mailday!! Badwax Group Break Results

Mail Day- From A Cardboard Problem

Following @SoozInSports and @baseballzoch on Twitter, otherwise known as Sue and Marie from A Cardboard Problem , is cheap, fun entertainment. Marie was kind enough to send me 8 cards from the UD 20th Anniversary set and I needed 6 of them!!! Thank you!!! The others will be used for trade bait as I think I have found a couple of, equally crazy, people working on this set as well.

Check Out Our Interview With Phillies GM Ruben Amaro

The Game Baseball Podcast - -
Special Guest Phillies GM Ruben Amaro


Card Corner Radio
(Use the Widget on the left navigation bar to listen)

Back In Black – UD Delivers A Solid, No Nonsense NBA Product

Guest Review- Doug Cataldo

When you open a pack of cards, you hope you get something of value, isn’t that the goal? These days it is a little difficult to tell. One day you just might want to cut to the chase, others you might just want to collate a set. So the answer maybe, maybe not would apply as collectors are sometimes tough nuts to crack. The varieties of collections varies often, some collect only certain players or teams, some are looking to turn a profit on the gamble that they find something special in a pack or box and some just collect to collect. What kind of collector would a box of cards that contains two packs each with only one card appeal to? Apparently several, collectors seem to love high-end basketball products and that is the premise of 2008-09 Upper Deck Black NBA Basketball cards.

Read the rest and see what else we pulled.

Randy Johnson Wins #300

Possibly the most exclusive club left in baseball ,it will be a very long time before any one comes close. Realistically the only current players with even an outside shot are Johan Sanata and C.C Sabbathia. Even then they would both need to stay healthy for the next 10 years and average about 17 wins a season. What that means, is that in all actuality, we probably have just witnessed the last member to ever enter the 300 Win Club.

If only his rookie cards weren't victims of the mass-production era. Take your pick from 1989 Upper Deck, Donruss, Fleer, Score or Topps Traded. With 300 Wins a foregone conclusion going into the '09 campaign, it's too bad Upper Deck didn't have the for sight to include buyback autographed RC's of the Big Unit. That might have actually made one of his RC's worth something.

Congrats Randy.

Ok You Decide- Should the video stay or go.

Two of the people I respect most in the blogsphere (Mario at WaxHeaven and Adam at SportsCardsUncensored) have differing opinions on the video I posted regarding fraudulent sticker autographs. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt our hobby, so you decide. My readership isn't anything close to theirs, so for a community opinion, please promote this poll on your site. Thanks.

UD 20th Anniversary Set Building Update

My quest to complete UD's 20th Anniversary Set is still at just over 10% with 258 cards, thanks to the following additions from (the) Nite Owl I received today.

For those of you out there that have been setting them aside for me, I'm ready when you are. Email me for my snail mail address and include a reminder of what you collect so I can attempt to return the favor. Also I am more than willing to reimburse you shipping costs if you want. Just note the total in your email with PayPal address. Thanks to all who have helped and will help me with this daunting project.

Multiple New Product Info

Today www.BlowOutCards.com has released product information on their pre-sell page on the following products:

Football- 2009 Donruss Rookie Stars Longevity

Baseball- Topps Ticket to Stardom

Hockey- 2009/10 UD Black and OPC

I might be preaching to the choir but they are a great resource for early product info.

The National- Resources To Stay Connected

Stay abreast of all that will be happening at the 30th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention and connect with them on Facebook.

New autograph guests added.

VIP experience detailed and more.

Goodwin Champions Updated Image Gallery . . .

. . . is now available on Upper Deck's Facebook page.

Here is a tease.

Fake Sticker Autos- A Video Response to SCU

Gellman at Sports Cards Uncensored

has brought this new scam to the forefront

and you can read his recent posts here and here.

This was too easy. Be careful out there!!

A Great Idea Executed to Half Ass Perfection

Ok first off, shouldn't the ticket stub be of a Rays home game?

Or, if Longoria accomplished something special in this game, shouldn't the picture have him in his road uniform.

I have not see the card back but I give it a 50/50 chance that his personal box-score from this game is actually detailed.

Classic case of a company trying to "stick something different in a card" and letting the execution and design fall by the wayside.

When was the last night you got a hot box? (get your mind out of the gutter)

So my box yielded an eye-popping 14 autographs, one of them an auto-memorabilia card, plus two memorabilia cards, rookie cards, and a 20th anniversary buyback which means this box may have been the hottest box I’ve ever opened.

My 20th anniversary buyback was of Dwayne Henry, a veteran journeyman of the era, and I didn’t get a “What If?” card. I got a boatload of Team USA base cards and autographs and I'm happy with that because Joe Mauer, Billy Swift, Nomar Garciaparra and Todd Helton all had memorable cards of the same sort. No I won't leave out Mark McGwire but that card has fallen on hard times for obvious reasons.

The O-Pee-Chee preview cards were a nice addition and I also got a David Price rookie (plus eight other rookies including Detroit's Rick Porcello and Toronto's Ricky Romero) so all in all for $60-$65 it is one of the best breaks I’ve ever had.

See the complete image gallery.

Video Box Break Highlights- 2009 Topps Series 2 Baseball