1999 Kenner Starting Lineup Cards

Set Size: 38 cards

Design Notes: The 1999 set has the player's name on the left-hand side, and the player's photo jumps from the background with a black shadow effect. The backs are black on white.

Parallels and Similars: Unknown, though other 1999 issues might use the same design.

Distribution: Cards were packaged with action figures of the pictured player.

Thoughts: This is a very vibrant design, with the graphics and player photo really standing out. Included with a toy, the cards have a very kid-friendly design. It also looks very much like the designs Fleer created in the late 1990s. Interestingly, despite the cards being part of the 1999 issue, the statistics only include about half of the 1998 season, and the cards carry 1998 copyrights.

For those of you who read every day, don't worry. I'm done with SLUs for a while!

1999 UD Choice StarQuest Red

Set size: 30 cards

Front Design: In a design similar to, yet even more confining than the flagship 1999 Upper Deck release, a color photo is inside a red foil trapezoid with lines emanating from the center of the card. The player's name is at the top, with his team and the StarQuest logo at the bottom.

Back Design: The lines and red color repeat in the background. A cropped version of the picture is at the top, with the team logo and player's vitals. The player and team names and a career highlight appears beneath the StarQuest logo.

Parallels and Similars: This red version is a parallel of the "base" blue version; gold and green are the other two parallels. The StarQuest line was migrated to flagship Upper Deck and used as retail inserts in 2008 and 2009.

Distribution: Red parallels were inserted into packs of UD Choice at a rate of 1 in 23 packs.

Thoughts: I have a hard time finding red foil attractive. The same can be said for gold foil, only because it's been used so much by now. The cards aren't ugly, and can certainly be seen mixed in with a stack of base cards. For an insert in a low-price release, it's not too bad. I would like to have seen more done with the space on the back. Roger Clemens did much more in his career before the 1998 season!

1999 SP Top Prospects

Set size: 126 cards

Front Design: A color photo is surrounded by a "dried marker line" border and a thick white border; the player's team name appears at the top; the SP Top Prospects logo, his name, position, and team logo appear across the bottom. The card fronts are foilboard.

Back Design: The player's name and vials appear at the top. A color portrait in a similar "dried marker" border and a short career highlight and team logo fill most of the card. The bottom of the card contains recent and career minor league stats.

Parallels and Similars: A parallel with holofoil instead of standard foil exists, called the President's Edition. These are extremely rare, serial numbered to 10.

Distribution: Cards were issued in 8-card packs for about $5. There are a few insert sets including an autograph set.

Thoughts: I could do without the foil board. It makes the card feel like a failed ancestor of 2010 Bowman Platinum. Otherwise, the design is nice and simple. The border is surprisingly attractive and unique, though there is too much white (foil?) space around the photo. Russell sure looks sexy with that slick hairstyle, though. Maybe he gave Upper Deck his modeling head shots for his card. You know, in case baseball didn't work out. The only thing I really don't like about this set is the lack of team affiliation. The Akron Aeros mean nothing to me if I don't know to whom they belong.