Loot from Upper Deck

As most of you know I have been writing articles for Upper Deck's blog over the last couple of weeks. In exchange for writing they are offering cards, which is what they money would be spent on anyway so it's a win win for me cutting out the middle man.

In light of only needing 36 cards to finish my 2009 O-Pee-Chee base set, I requested a box of them thinking it would get me to completion or very close to it at least. I'll start by making it clear that I did not get a "loaded" box by any means, so don't get too excited.

Out of however many base cards are in a box, I needed SEVEN of them. Which left me with roughly 200 doubles and 100 triples, frickin sweet. I logged my SEVEN cards in, and went through Sooz's want list and she needed 36, and Flash over at Dropped Third Strike needed 63 of them. They each got more out of this than I did, even with the inserts. I got 4 inserts I really liked and the rest were blah. I have yet to go through the black borders to see how many I needed, but rest assured I will let you all know if that turns out to be disastrous as well.

Here are the highlights, no game used card in the whole box....

I have SO many doubles so if you are trying to put this set together and can help me get those last 29 cards I would be more than happy to send you plenty in return. I probably even have a couple of black border doubles floating around as I try to complete that next.

K-Mart blowout sale

Today I went to the local K-Mart to kill some time before heading to the gym and much to my surprise and delight they were trying to give away 2008 baseball cards. I don't really need any cards from 2008 that they were selling, but the blasters were either $9.99 or $10.99 down from $19.99. Oddly, the only 2008 blaster that was not half price was the Stadium Club but I opened enough of those at $2.99 that I won't complain.

Masterpieces, UD X, UD Series 2 and USA were $9.99 and Goudey was $10.99. I only saw one 2009 blaster and it was Spectrum, so that was an easy choice not to buy. The 2008 Upper Deck Series 1&2 Combo, as well as the 2008 UD Rookie Edition rack packs were both $1.99. They also had blister packs of 2008 Artifacts and Spectrum for $1.49 each (zzzz). I walked around the store holding the rack packs, and a Masterpieces blaster as well as a Goudey trying to decide which one to buy.

You all know I didn't need a single thing in the store. Not one. However, you also know I had to get something because it wouldn't be a 'Cardboard Problem' if I didn't have a problem. I picked 3 rack packs, and if you look at the pictures you will understand why I picked those 3 specific ones. (Jeter, A-Rod, and Pujols were each in different ones). I couldn't remember if I had the Pujols card or not so I figured better safe than sorry. Since I couldn't decide on a blaster it went to a vote. I asked my mom and my grandmother, each who know nothing but that they were cards, and they both picked the Goudey. I was half hoping they picked that blaster because there are more cards in the packs than Masterpieces.

So that is my heist for the day. A blaster and 3 rack packs all for less than the price of one regularly priced blaster. Now the problem is which one do I open first? I want to save the blaster for last I think.

What I Learned from 2008 Baseball Cards

10. Topps Series 1 always, always, always SUCKS. I say this, yet we pre-ordered a case because I am confident this year it won't. Every year I swear it off, and every year there I am like a schmuck on the day of release waiting to flush my cash.

9. Topps Heritage is fun. While you don't get much in terms of a bunch of auto's or game-used cards the cards are fun to break with all the SP's and variations. I particularly am fond of this one for whatever reason.

8. Yankee Stadium Legacy will be a life long pursuit at this point. I knew going into this whole thing that it was going to take some time, however after roughly a year I have about 650 cards (some laying around un-logged as usual), and I am barely to 10% complete. Good luck to me.

7. Blasters are my friend. When you have enough cash to buy a few packs, but not a hobby box these bad boys are the best. It's the fun of opening a whole box, with the bonus promise of a GU card in every box, or a bonus pack. Granted, I am not one of those people that pulls "MOJO" from a blaster, it scratches the itch.

6. Starting a business on eBay is not as profitable when the economy is rapidly on the decline, the President is a bozo, and people are just not spending.

5. Upper Deck Goudey was both fun to break, and profitable by a narrow margin. 'Nuff said.

4. FVF a.k.a. Final Value Fees can suck it. Never, ever list cards on eBay for auction unless you are going to pull significant cash on them because in the end, it eats your profits.

3. "Short Print" is no joke, and is a mild understatement to say the least. When you collect Pujols or Jeter and it takes 18 boxes to get 2, they are not kidding. Good job by us collecting these two.

2. Target is THE BEST place. 2008 Stadium Club Blasters is all I am going to say because really, the rest of what you can get there is just a bonus.

1. Good friends buy cards, or trade cards. Best friends get you Albert Pujols Triple Relic Auto's.

I finally obtained a "centerpiece" card to my Pujols collection, and it finally feels well rounded, and it "completed" it (and me, sadly or happily).

2008 UD Masterpieces Case Autographs

OK, now that you have all seen the game used cards, I'm sure you're interested in what autographs were pulled. I am still leaving something out because I'm banking on Sooz telling you about it. I didn't include the dual GU/Auto cards since they were posted in the previous blog. Here goes:

2008 UD Masterpieces Game Used Cards

This is the breakdown of Game Used cards that we pulled from the case, we ended up with 2 Freddy Sanchez and 2 Khalil Greene. The "holy grail" of Game Used cards, and well the case will be posted by Sooz, hopefully later tonight. Probably one of the best cards we'll ever pull. I'm going to do a blog of all the auto's later tonight or tomorrow so everyone can see them. Everything is in the store.

2008 Masterpieces Victor Martinez Patch

This was another sweet looking patch card we pulled from the case. I also scanned the black bordered parallel, which we ended up with two of if anyone is looking for one.

So far, I scanned and listed all of the blue, brown, green, red, and black parallels, as well as all the SP's, auto's and game used cards. Stop by the store if you are looking for the player you collect.

2008 UD Masterpieces Dan Uggla PATCH!

Slowly going to reveal the goods... We just got done breaking the rest of the case, and I have been listing like a machine so I am going to give you a sneak peek at one of the more interesting players we pulled 2 good cards of.

Mr. Dan Uggla


Stay tuned for cool players and cards today! And as always, if you can't wait get on over to our eBay store and check it all out!! Baseball cards make great holiday gifts, at least we like getting them.

2008 UD Masterpieces Short Prints

The complete set is 120 cards, with cards 91-120 being short prints. Of course Pujols and Jeter are short prints, cards 116 and 104 respectively.

We just listed all of the SP's from the first 4 boxes. Plenty of good cards, including both Cal Ripken Jr. cards, 92 and 101. These seem pretty hard to come by on eBay, as well as Nolan Ryan which we haven't got yet...

The regular base cards will be listed soon, if there are any you need to complete your set, e-mail us with what you need and we'll get back to you with a fair price on a lot of cards.

To check out all the Masterpieces cards in our store, click here.

2008 UD Masterpieces Box 4

The saga continues... Box 4 and no Albert Pujols card. Big surprise, right?

At any rate, I'm not sure how I feel right now about opening any more of these alone. I am mad that I still have no Pujols card, and I feel terrible smashing the rest of these by myself just to try and find one. I also would feel terrible just smashing the rest of the case for the obvious reason of that we are partners on this stuff. Though I am pretty sure Sooz would rather have the money than listen to me deliberate opening vs. not opening.

To check out all the cards in our store, click here.

Now that I am done complaining and ranting, here are the highlights of box 4:
-Stroke of Genius Kelly Johnson Autograph


-Captured on Canvas Game Used Jersey card of Matt Cain


-Green Bordered Stan Musial serial numbered 47/75


-Red Bordered Ryan Howard


-Black Bordered Felix Hernandez


-Black Bordered Tim Lincecum


-Black Bordered Russell Martin



There were also 4 Yankee Stadium Legacy cards as usual. All of these cards with the exception of the YSL and Russell Martin are for sale in our eBay store.

Just so you all know, most of our prices include the option to make an offer, and we ship up to 20 cards for only $3.00. (Shameless store plug)

Perhaps tomorrow will be another break... or you will all wait about a week for the rest, lol. (I'm not sure which one I am cheering for honestly.)