Upper Deck's Clinton Blunder

Upper Deck had a clever idea when it came to its political cards. Rather than just have a regular photo giving card lovers a regular card, Upper Deck produced illustrated parodies of the nominees. Most were funny, except one.

Upper Deck didn't think about it until the cards were already in the packs, how a picture depicting Hillary Clinton as Morganna, The Kissing Bandit would be offensive. I get that there are no women in MLB, but what about women who played baseball. A League of Their Own is a popular movie, it's not as though no one would have thought of it.

This card is rarer than the other presidential cards (1 in 8 packs) because after printing some felt the card would be offensive. So they pulled the card manually from packs, but some cards have made it into circulation. These cards are fetching a hefty price tage. We're talking four figures here -- $1,500-plus.

Upper Deck plans to have another Clinton for Series II in May. With the way Obama has taken over, who knows if she is going to still be a candidate.

The one I would like to get is Rudy Giuliani playing the role of Jeffrey Maier.

2008 Upper Deck Series One Break

I'm annoyed at Upper Deck because they never give me anything good in hobby boxes. Someone might think I got something good here, but I don't. The auto isn't half bad, and I got a couple of good base cards, just not the only one I wanted- Pujols.

Here's a quick list of what I got:
-Hong-Chih Kuo Game Jersey

-Justin Duchscherer UD Jersey

-Ryan Theriot Inkredible


-Yankee Stadium Legacy Game 2122, Joe DiMaggio

-Yankee Stadium Legacy Game 2147, Johnny Mize

-Yankee Stadium Legacy Game 2172, Joe DiMaggio

-Yankee Stadium Legacy Game 2197, Allie Reynolds


-Julian Tavarez Gold card 42/99

-John Edwards


-John McCain


-O-Pee-Chee Jason Bay
-O-Pee-Chee Gary Sheffield
-O-Pee-Chee David Wright
-O-Pee-Chee Edgar Renteria
-O-Pee-Chee Ichiro
-O-Pee-Chee Eric Bedard
-O-Pee-Chee Hanley Ramirez

Base notables: Posada, Melky Cabrera, Ian Kennedy, Philip Hughes, Dice-K, Buchholz, Hochevar, Votto, Ichiro, Vlad, PUJOLS CHECKLIST, A-ROD CHECKLIST. A whole hobby box, and all I got of those 2 were checklists. Yawn.

2007 UD SP

Better late than never, so they say. I got a couple of boxes of 2007 Upper Deck SP for Christmas, and I also purchased a few packs here and there. I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed overall.

Every time you look on eBay you see all of these high end cards, and Rookie redemption cards going for upwards of $200-$300 in some instances. I bite the bullet and start shelling out $8 bucks a pack (I won't lie, I did feel the packs as I was buying some of them to try and only buy ones that have the By The Letter cards in them.), for a set that is only 100 cards, most of which I already had. Then I also got 2 hobby boxes... and I thought, 'Wow! I have 4 chances at a great auto pull!'... Like I said, I was disappointed overall.

I was able to make 2 complete sets, and still have triples of most cards. And here are the By The Letter cards I did get. (And yes, I got two of the same guy. Just my luck, right.)
















Needless to say, they are all currently for sale on eBay if you want any of them please feel free to bid on them. I did debate on keeping the Chris Young auto, but I'd rather have the money for someone I collect.

Maybe I'm Missing Something

Right now, I'm missing a 2008 Jeter Topps card.

For Valentine's Day, I received four jumbo and four regular packs of 2008 Topps. This was my gift and I love my boyfriend for it. I ripped the packs because it's been a while since I have gotten any cards. I've been saving money for other reasons and baseball cards haven't made the list.

Shockingly (well, not really), there was no Jeter base. I never get it and always buying the cardon eBay, but I bought another jumbo today just because I had to. Baseball cards are my crack. Anyway, no Jeter. So, I went to eBay and typed in 2008 Jeter. I saw UD cards, inserts and base cards. I also saw the Jeter 50th Anniversary card, but no base card. I went to the Topps website to scout the checklist.

No Jeter in the base set. Wait, what?

How can there be no Jeter card in Topps base set? Are they waiting for Series 2?

I'm really confused about this and don't understand. Maybe someone else can tell me what's going on.

2007 Turkey Red Hobby Box Break #1

As a long time fan of the Topps Turkey Red Series of cards, I pre-ordered 2 hobby boxes from one of my favorite eBay sellers at a great price. I was very impatient waiting for this product, but upon opening the first of the two boxes I was more than impressed and happy.

The box topper, was a Dick Perez signed Vlad card numbered 21/25 which made me very happy without having to see any more. Now aside from the fact that I am convinced that I got a "hot" box, it was like the packs never ended. Topps made a great product once again, with 24 packs per box and 8 cards per pack, you just can't go wrong here.

I did happen to win another hobby box on ebay for $66.00 which should be coming next week, and I am hopeful that one of them might contain my Pujols AU. Hopeful, but pessimistic none the less.

Here is the breakdown of the first hobby box:

Presidents: Clinton, Wilson
Road to 500: #324

Almost all RC'S including Hughes, Clippard, Dice-K, Dice-K checklist, Gordon, Kouzmanoff, Owings, Young, etc etc.

Box Topper: Vlad Guerrero Cabinet, Dick Perez Auto 21/25

Chromograph Refractor: Tony Gwynn, Jr.

Refractors: Ramirez, Hanley; Mantle

Chrome: Beckett, Oswalt, A-Rod, Miller RC, Gallardo RC, Slaten RC, Jones,

GU: Cantu BAT, Beltran JERSEY (2 color)

Silk Collection: Jason Bay 40/99











Hobby Box #2 break to follow shortly......

My Mailday

I got some other cards, but these two were by far my favorite. The UD Elements Auto is 15/15 as well. I love it.

Bubble Mailer Day 09-19-07

In today's mail I had a glorious package. I received the following 3 cards, for a decent shipping rate. Although high, I still got 3 cards for the price of most shipping charges for one card.





The seller of these cards was refractors4sale, and he is currently offering free shipping on the second card. Anyone looking for refractors, he had a decent selection at last look.

The Rookie Card and eBay

For the past several years I have been putting aside all Rookie cards, and first year cards into separate boxes from their respective sets. In doing so, my intention was to decide who I was going to seek out as a collection and try to complete it as best as possible with the funds available.

However, the problem with this comes shipping and handling charges. Recently, I have decided to start collecting Adam Lind cards because I figured they would be relatively easy to find in the tri-state area, and he wasn't a "Pujols" type of player, where his cards would be sky high on eBay and Beckett's website. I purchased one autographed card today on eBay, and the only reason I purchased it was because I can't go wrong with $4.99 for the card, even though the shipping is $4.00!!!! It is costing me $4.00 for standard First Class mail. Though that makes me very angry, in this case it evens out in my book. I will be scanning my Adam Lind collection once I get the cards that I have ordered, and put together my collection that I currently have. I am also willing to trade cards with any readers for multiple players, as would Sooz I'm sure

The point to the blog essentially is that sellers on eBay think that because the United States Postal Service raised their prices slightly that it gives them the right to overcharge the customer even more to compensate for the additional nickel it costs them.



Now if you go onto eBay you will see dozens of sellers charging $3-$5 for shipping one card. It is outrageous to think that these people do this with a clear conscience. My partner here purchased a card recently, and paid I believe $2.50 OR $3.00 for shipping and the card came in a regular white envelope with a $0.41 stamp. That seller should be disciplined by eBay since you can not take any action other than reporting them for excess shipping charges.

My advice to everyone is this: Try and buy what you can on Beckett from one or two sellers to save on shipping costs, and if you buy on eBay be very careful of the shipping cost before bidding, and if possible purchase from the same seller. Do not be afraid to report people for excess shipping charges as well.

Belated Birthday

I got a giftcard from Covered in Wrappers for my birthday to BC. I decided today was the day to get some cards. I picked up seven Topps Chrome ($2.99/pack). Just a little something to get through the day.

I wasn't too thrilled with these boxes from everything I heard. I decided to go for it anyway. Technically, they were free anyway.

The first pack I got a Mickey Mantle story card. Not too shabby, but it was in the second pack that I got a good card (finally!). Alex Gordon autograph refractor 155/500.

I also got a Mickey Mantle story card refractor. Those were the two biggies. Out of seven packs, I'm not complaining.

News from AP: Collection fetches $1.6 million

BURR RIDGE, Illinois: An octogenarian's collection of rare baseball cards fetched $1.6 million in a suburban Chicago auction, officials said.

Lionel Carter, 89, of Evanston, Illinois, began his collection as a 15-year-old when he eschewed a nickel candy bar for a pack of 1932 Delong cards. His stash of pristine cards ballooned to 50,000 strong with an estimated value of $3 million and became one of the most renowned collections in the United States.

"We don't say this lightly — he's considered one of the pioneers of the hobby," said Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions, which sold the collection in a three-week auction that ended Saturday.

Carter's mint condition Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for $165,000, three times more than similar cards have commanded. A set of 1938 Goudy Gum cards sold for $280,000 five times more than similar sets.

"I think people are paying more because it was owned by Lionel Carter," Allen said.
At least 5,500 cards were sold in this auction, and the rest will be sold at other auctions during the year, officials said.

Carter opted to sell his collection out of concern for his safety. Thieves broke into his house just north of Chicago last October and stole cards, although most were safely recovered by police.
"It was very sad," he said. "I didn't want to see them go. To me, it was part of my life. A big part of my life."