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# Monday, January 26, 2009
Fleer 2008-09 Basketball
Posted by Tuff stuff

We're hitting the hardwood in this edition of Bustin' Wax, taking a look back at the rookies of 2008-09. Get it? Well, let's explain in:

2008-09 Fleer Basketball
  • 16 packs per box ($70)
  • 15 cards per pack

You see, this Fleer offering brings you the rookie class (30 in all) on 1986-87 retro cards. So you can see what O.J. Mayo would look like in that famous Jordan year. 

In addition to that, each box offers up four memorabilia or autograph cards per box. Here's what we got among those hits:

  • 1 Signature Approval auto: LeBron James
  • 2 Throwback Classic dual patch cards: Jerryd Bayless and Jason Thompson
  • 1 Genuine Coverage dual patch: Tim Duncan

The rest of the box are decent base cards, many in the throwback style.

71107.JPG



Monday, January 26, 2009 5:57:03 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
# Monday, January 19, 2009
UD Sweet Spot Baseball
Posted by Tuff stuff

We're staying with the high-end baseball products, breaking open a box of:

2008 Sweet Spot Baseball
  • 8 cards/pack
  • 6 packs/box ($95)
One auto card or memorabilia card per pack, on average. That has my interest! And some of what we got was cool, others ho-hum. But first this little diddy.

The last pack was thicker than the rest. When the cellophane was opened, it contained a tin box. I'm thinking, "Cool, must be something really good." Well, what was in it? Nothing. Nothing but base cards and an extra thick filler!! Wow, what a disappointment. Too bad it wasn't on video, because you'd all be groaning.

So what did we get among the goodies? Here's the list:
  • Sweet Spot Signatures: Bobby Richardson (numbered to 250)
  • Sweet Beginnings Auto: Brian Bixler (numbered to 699)
  • Sweet Swatch Quad Memorabilia: Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith, Will Clark and Ryne Sandberg
  • Sweat Swatch Memorabilia: Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz.
The coolest part of the base cards in the "stitching" placed along the sides of the cards.
sweetspot.jpg



Monday, January 19, 2009 11:05:55 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Baseball
Posted by Tuff stuff

There are times when boxes bring out the joy of the hobby and sometimes you get the scorn. This might be the latter.

And, yes, we'll have these on video again soon - so don't worry our reading-challenged friends.

Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Baseball
4 cards/pack/box ($99)

This pack is supposed to offer a memorabilia or auto card among the contents, with the big draw being multiple-autographed versions. And, the "base" cards are all limited in number as well. But....

The auto/memorabilia card in this pack was Jeff Francoeur, who signed some game-used pants in a super swatch. It's numbered to 99. In the past, you might get excited over this former Braves top prospect. But his lousy 2008 season (including a demotion to the minors) doesn't bring a lot of excitement into this mix.

The other base cards include:
  • Jake Peavy (numbered to 350)
  • Brian Roberts (numbered to 350)
  • Adrian Gonzalez (numbered to 350)
So, what do you think?



Monday, January 19, 2009 4:27:47 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [2]
# Friday, January 02, 2009
Press Pass Legends Football: Bowl Edition
Posted by Tuff stuff

We're taking it old school with this round of Bustin' Wax, leaving the video recorder in its case and just breaking it down list-wise. So what do we have on this post-New Year's doldrums?

Press Pass Legends: Bowl Edition
  • 5 cards/pack
  • 5 packs/box ($160)


Every card in this product is sequentially numbered to 299 or less, which I guess is a drawing point. There is also one Legendary Autograph per pack - so that's five "legendary" autographs in this box.

Who did we get? Well:
  • Pat Sullivan, MVP of the 1970 Gator Bowl (numbered to 25)
  • Roger Craig, 1982 Orange bowl (numbered to 75)
  • Tommy Frazier, Nebraska (numbered to 15)
  • James Lofton, Stanford (numbered to 25)
  • Steve Spurrier/Danny Wuerffel redemption

Base cards ranged from the numbered to 299 base set and one top 25 card of Billy Sims numbered to 250.

From there we had a Most Valuable Player Warren Moon (numbered to 250, Washington) and a Tommy Frazier Bowl Busters card numbered to 250.

An Institutional Icons card of Jimmy Johnson and Jim Kelly was also numbered to 250. From there, it was four red parallels each numbered to 150: Sonny Jurgenson, Bob Griese, Ken Stabler and Derrick Brooks.

Blue parallels included Bill Cowher, Felix Jones and Matt Forte (each numbered to 99).

10-yard line parallels (I think they're black with green) included Billy Kilmer and Joe Montana (numbered to 75)

The 5-yard line parallels (also black and green with gold lettering) consisted of Herschel Walker (numbered to 50).

There you have it. The base cards and parallels are nice, but it's the autographs you're after, and some of these names are a treat to run across again.  



Friday, January 02, 2009 8:07:48 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [2]
# Tuesday, December 16, 2008
2008-09 Artifacts Hockey
Posted by Tuff stuff

Baby it's cold outside, so we turned our attention to:

2008-09 Artifacts Hockey (Upper Deck)
4 cards/pack
10 packs/box ($80)

The product has some nice items inside, from a rookie redemption card, two rookie cards to and Autofacts signature card in each box.

We found all of the above:
  • Drew Stafford Autofacts cards
  • Rookie redemption acrds
  • 1 Tundra Tandems dual jersey card: Jonathan Cheechoo and Michael Ryder (numbered to 75)
  • 1 Treasured Swatches dual patch card: Brendan Morrison (numbered to 199)
  • 1 Frozen Artifacts dual swatch card: Thomas Vanek (numbered to 100)
  • 2 Rookies: Mattias Ritola and Peter Vandermeer (both numbered to 999)
  • 1 Legends: Lanny McDonald (numbered to 999)
  • 2 parallels: Josh Harding (gold, numbered to 75) and Saku Koivu (bronze, numbered to 999).

For the rest, check out the video:




Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:48:47 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
# Monday, December 15, 2008
SP Rookie Edition Football
Posted by Tuff stuff

For some cards that feature good photography and some great rookie designs, be sure to check out:

SP Rookie Edition Football
  • 8 cards/pack
  • 14 packs/box ($60)

The idea behind the box is all about rookies, with four found per box. You can find rookie variations in the 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 SP designs.

There also two autographs per box, on average. Our two autographs were:
  • Fred Davis
  • Dre Moore

The rest of the pack were base cards, parallels and some inserts, but nothing that will blow you away.

For the complete box break, check out the video below:

 



Monday, December 15, 2008 7:58:49 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
# Wednesday, December 10, 2008
2008-09 SPx Basketball
Posted by Tuff stuff

Ahh, smell that? There's a little SPx in the air, and it comes in the form of:

2008-09 SPx Basketball
  • 3 cards/pack
  • 10 packs/box ($155)

You know the drill with this product - it's loaded with memorabilia cards and autographs - and it should be for that price. There are at least one of these goodies in every pack.

So what did we find in our box of SPx Basketball? Read on, and then check out the video for the complete opening.

  • Dual Scripts: Sean Williams and Leon Powe (numbered to 50)
  • Robin Lopez "SPX" triple patch auto (numbered to 599)
  • J.J. Hickson "SPX" triple patch auto (numbered to 599)
  • 3 Freshman Orientation dual patch cards: Ryan Anderson ("RA"), O.J. Mayo ("OM") and Marreese Speights ("MS")
  • 2 Winning Materials Trios: Triple patch cards of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Carlos Arroyo and Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
  • 2 Winning Materials dual patch cards: Elton Brand and Brandon Roy.

Nothing out of this world, but a fun box to open with a "hit" in every pack.

Watch the video for more:



Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:37:33 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
Donruss Sports Legends
Posted by Tuff stuff

It's always fun to break open a new product in the sports card hobby. And when I'm talking about new product here, I'm talking about:

Donruss Sports Legends
  • 5 cards/pack
  • 10 packs/box ($85)

The idea behind this set is to feature, well, sports legends. These include athletes in all sports, from bowling to gymnastics to pool. The allure, of course, is to snag some great patch and autographed cards of some of these legends. Personally, I think getting a card of Dolph Schayes is cool in and of itself.

Anyway, here are some of the "hits" from this box:

  • Professional bowler Pete Weber auto (numbered to 458)
  • Olympic softball pitcher Cat Osterman auto (Numbered to 493)
  • Rick Majerus sweater patch card (numbered to 400 - image the number of patch cards could be made from a Majerus sweater)
  • Elvin Hayes patch card (numbered to 250)
  • Sheryl Swoopes red parallel (numbered to 250)
  • Eddie Murray blue parallel (numbered to 100)

Other inserts numbered to 1,000 included a "College Heroes" Dan Issel, "Museum Collection" Cale Yarborough and a "Champions" Jean Cruguet.

For the rest of the break, watch the video below:



Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:06:12 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [3]
# Monday, December 08, 2008
Topps Tip-Off Basketball
Posted by Tuff stuff

So you can look like your favorite NBA player with tatoos, here comes:

Topps Tip-Off Basketball
  • 6 cards/pack
  • 36 packs/box ($35)

Nah, tatoos aren't the only thing to look forward to in Topps Tip-Off. This is a great set for set builders, and each pack offers a parallel card. Plus, there are rookie autographs in the product.

All of our parallels were the red variety, numbered to 2,008. Two exceptions were gold parallels numbered to 99 of Hakim Warrick and David Lee.

For the rest of the action, check out the video below: 



Monday, December 08, 2008 8:11:11 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]
# Friday, December 05, 2008
Donruss Elite Extra Edition
Posted by Tuff stuff

If you're looking for the latest baseball prospects from the latest college draft, look no further than:

Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball
  • 5 cards/pack
  • 20 packs/box ($80)

You have to be a pretty die-hard baseball fan/collector to know who most of these players are, as many just enjoyed their first taste of professional ball - most in the lower ranks. That said, here are the "hits." Let's see when these guys start becoming household names!

  • 1 Collegiate Patch auto: Ryan Perry (numbered to 248)
  • 4 autos: Niko Vasquez (numbered to 494), Tim Federowicz (numbered to 844), Yeicok Calderon (numbered to 819) and Ike Davis (numbered to 995)
  • 2 School Colors: Chase D;Arnaud and Jordy Mercer (each numbered to 1,500
  • 2 College Ties: Dusty Coleman/Aaron Shafer and Ryan Perry/T.J. Steele (each numbered to 1,500)
  • 2 Aspirations (blue): Try Haley and Curtis Petersen (each numbered to 150)

Want more? Check out the video:






Friday, December 05, 2008 9:04:35 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0]