2005 Just 9 Beckett Inserts

Set Size: 9 cards

Design Notes: A player photo appears inside a giant number 9, with the word "JUST" overlaid on the left side. The bottom contains the player's name, position, team logo, and the MiLB logo. The backs use a similar design and include prior year statistics.

Parallels and Similars: None known.

Distribution: Uncut sheets of the nine-card set were included in an issue of Beckett magazine in 2005. The cards are perforated and can be easily separated into individual cards.

Thoughts: I like the idea of free cards and exclusive promos, though like most Just issues the design isn't exactly eye-catching, with a lot of empty white space. The photo is pretty uninteresting as well. Felix Hernandez is the first card in the set, though an intact sheet can be had for $6 or so on eBay.

2007 Justifiable Just Black Edition

Set size: 50 cards

Front Design: The card features a black background with nearly-vertical grey stripes. The player's name, position, and organization are printed on the left and right of the photo, which is outlined in white.

Back Design: A cropped version of the photo from the front is printed in a rhombus; the player's name is above the photo and his position below. Biographical and minor league stats are beneath the photo. A serial numbered hologram sticker is placed over the lower-right edge of the photo.

Parallels and Similars: This set is one of several parallels - a few color versions, a few glossy color versions, and autographed versions of each.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2007 Justifiable.

Thoughts: Unlike many parallels, where just a border or foil color changes, this parallel changes the entire background to black. However, Just Minors products were meant for autographs, and most cards from these releases are forgotten. I don't care for the white border around the player, though without it his legs might disappear into the background.

2005 Just Autographs

Set size: 70 cards

Front Design: A color photo is placed on the left side of the horizontal-format card, beneath which is the player's name and team. The right side of the card has the Just Minors logo and the team's logo in grey.

Back Design: A cropped version of the front photo is in a gold frame in the upper left, and the color team logo and player's name is beneath. Biographical and prior-year statistics are on the right.

Parallels and Similars: Several, including printing plates, autographs, colored parallels, and glossy parallels with colored parallels. Most, if not all of those parallels are distinguished by serial numbering.

Distribution: Cards were sold in pack form - four cards per pack including one autograph, and twelve packs per box.

Thoughts: As with other Just Minors products, the focus is on the autographs, so the card design here leaves plenty of room to put the autograph sticker with not much effort put into the design. In fact, it follows some of the same basic principles as another recent set featured here: 2004 Justifiable. It's not surprising that Just Minors has moved away from trading cards to releasing autographed and game-used full memorabilia items. To see an autographed version of this card, see this post.

2004 Justifiable

Set size: 90 cards

Front Design: A diamond-shaped player photo with a white border sits over a light-black (wouldn't that be grey?) team logo. The bottom of the card has the Just logo, followed by the player's name, position, and team in a wide black-bordered diamond.

Back Design: The front photo and diamond crop is repeated on the back with a gold border; the player's name is in the upper left and card number in the upper right. Just beneath the photo is his biographical information and the only notation as to the set, followed by prior minor league statistics.

Parallels and Similars: There are three colored parallels, four printing plates, and four autograph parallels to this base set.

Distribution: Each set-box of Justifiable included one complete set, while foil packs were also distributed.

Thoughts: The Just Minors products focus on autographs of minor league players, so there isn't too much effort put into base set design, as you can tell. There's plenty of room on the front for the autograph sticker, and space on the back for serial numbering. Like most Donruss issues of 2004-2005, the set is an afterthought to the autograph checklist.

2005 Just Autographs Signatures

Set size: 49 cards

Front Design: The horizontal cards have a color action photo on the left side, about two inches square. The player's name and team are centered in the border beneath the photo. The MiLB logo serves as a background for the lower right side of the card, with the Just Minors logo in the upper right. A sticker autograph is placed across the photo and mILB logo.

Back Design: The photo is cropped somewhat smaller in the upper-left. The player's biographical data and prior year statistics are on the upper right; the bottom of the card is reserved for the player's name, copyright information, and a holographic authenticity/serial numbering sticker.

Parallels and Similars: There are three parallels of the autograph set. The non-autographed version has several parallels of its own - the full unautographed set has 70 cards.

Distribution: The autographs were inserted into packs of Just Autographs, with one autograph in every pack.

Thoughts: Other than the invasive foil sticker, this is a nice design. The back may not have much data, and more could be added by moving the MiLB logo and sticker, but it's a decent layout. Boxes are pretty cheap - 12 packs of 4 cards each (12 autographs) for about $35. While many (most?) of the players don't make the majors, at this price a couple boxes could yield some good players, and for $35 it could be a fun break.

2007 Just Rookies Autographs

Set size: 64 cards

Front Design: The set parallels the 2007 Just Rookies issue, with the added addition of a holographic autographed sticker on the front. The design has a full-bleed photo with a white rectangle around the player, and additional white tracing around the player's body. His name, position, and organization is at the top.

Back Design: The photo from the front is repeated, and text includes biographical information and minor league statistics. An authenticity hologram and the Just Minors logo fill the bottom third of the card.

Parallels and Similars: I already mentioned this set is a parallel of the 2007 Just Rookies base set, but there are 23 total parallels of the base issue, including autographed and non-autographed versions and printing plates for both.

Distribution: Cards were inserted into packs of Just Rookies. Each pack contained one autograph (though it could be a serial-numbered autograph parallel).

Thoughts: The lack of a border is a plus, but the white outline around the player's body detracts from the image. We all know how annoying sticker autographs are. At least it covers an appropriate part of Lotzkar's body?