2008 SP Legendary Cuts

Set Size: 200 cards (100 in the short set, 100 SP rookies)

Design Notes: A horizontal card with a greyish background, the player's name is at the bottom along with his team. A black-and-white action photo is paired with a color head shot. The backs use the same basic design as the front, carrying over the position at the top of the card as well as the headshot. A short writeup and career statistics are included.

Parallels and Similars: Only one parallel set was issued, the 1-of-1 serial-numbered Memorable Moments.

Distribution: Each box had 12 packs of four cards, though four packs held memorabilia cards and six packs included a Yankee Stadium Legacy card, plus there was a chance for autograph cards. Building a short set would take at least three boxes.

Thoughts: I like the design of this set. It's got a lot going on but it's not too busy, and it's not as "clean" as most Upper Deck releases, fitting in with the historical vibe the set was hoping for.

2008 Stadium Club

Set Size: 184 cards (50 SPs and 35 autographs)

Design Notes: In traditional Stadium Club manner, the fronts contain full-bleed photos. Team colors are used at the bottom where the player's name, team, and position appear in a horizontal banner. Backs are vertical with biographical information, statistics, and a highlight paragraph.

Parallels and Similars: Photographers Proofs in blue, gold, and platinum were issued for all of the cards except for the autographed rookies (variations exist for the short prints in Proof version). The short printed cards all have photo variations where the photo on the front does not match the photo on the back. First Day Issue parallels were issued on regular stock (retail) and/or foam stock (hobby). Additionally, printing plates are available for all cards.

Distribution: Card #1-100, divisible by three (3, 6, 9, 12, ..., 99) are serial numbered to 999.

Thoughts: Stadium Club had disappeared for five years before it came back in 2008. Unfortunately, it is one of the most-confusing releases ever, with short prints, divide-by-three short prints, variations, autographed base cards, and some strange way of determining two different types of the same parallel set. The hobby boxes, with one autograph per pack, cost over $200 each. While the base set photography is pretty solid, the cost and confusion turned collectors off pretty quick. I miss Stadium Club, but Topps should bring it back with a more traditional pack format.

I am trying to build a franken-set of this issue, using the retail First Day Issue cards in place of the #/999 divisible-by-three base cards in many cases. If you have anything on my want list (near the bottom of this page), I'd love to work out a trade. Know that I am currently living in Japan and don't have a lot of options when it comes to trade bait...

2008 Sweet Spot

Set Size: 100 cards

Design Notes: A fairly pure card front makes this issue of Sweet Spot one of the most beautiful. The player's name, team, and position are printed at the bottom in gold foil, and the Sweet Spot logo appears in an upper corner. Cards are embossed similar to the seams on a baseball, and a team color airbrushing/tinting is used outside those seams.

Parallels and Similars: None (rookie signature cards have a parallel and the relics have multiple-swatch versions).

Distribution: Hobby boxes contained six packs of eight cards each, and retail tins held three packs of eight cards each.

Thoughts: While the memorabilia cards are boring and most people buy Sweet Spot for the baseball leather signatures, the base cards here are fantastic. It reminds me of Ovation, which people didn't care much for. But if Sweet Spot didn't have the baseball leather autographs, would people buy it for the base design? I liked Ovation to some extent, because I enjoy things like embossing and card design and don't care much for the lottery aspect of card collecting that seems to dominate some discussions. Anyway, with a vibrant photo and no borders, this card set is one of those that might be added to my want list eventually.

2008 Topps Updates and Highlights

Set Size: 330 cards

Design Notes: As a part of the flagship issue, Updates and Highlights uses the same design as 2008 Topps, distinguished by the team name at the top in alternating team-color circles.

Parallels and Similars: There are several 2008 Topps issues using the design, but the only set that looks identical is the flagship issue this follows up. Parallels are similar to the Series 1 and Series 2 releases: gold foil, gold border, black, platinum, printing plates, silk, and a Chrome refractor rookie parallel.

Distribution: Two cards were inserted into each pack of 2008 Topps Heritage High Numbers. U&H has its own boxes, with 36 packs per box and 10 cards per pack. HTA jumbos and retail packs were also released.

Thoughts: There's not much to say here that hasn't been said about the flagship 2008 Topps set. The rookie selection in this set is one of the strongest in years.

1934-36 National Chicle R327 Diamond Stars

Set Size:108 cards, 2-3/8 x 2-7/8"

Design Notes: White borders surround player artwork, with his name somewhere near a border in all capital letters. The backs use green or blue ink to highlight the player's career; the cards carry copyright information including the year at the bottom.

Parallels and Similars: Some players have both green and blue backs and/or statistics variations on the back, making a master set complete at 170 cards. Cards have been reprinted over the years, and Topps issued a throwback National Chicle set in 2010.

Distribution: Cards were sold in penny packs with gum.

Thoughts: The art deco design of these cards is bold and really stands out compared to other issues of the time (like Goudey sets of 1935 and 1936). Putting a set together is out of my price range, so this is another issue that I would enjoy as a reprint set. I enjoy the art so much that I am one of the few who enjoyed the 2010 Topps National Chicle set.

Additional Links: Old Cardboard's page has a checklist and card gallery.