(the following post is intended to spread the word about a new product hitting the market. If Topps sent out these emails to Wax Heaven, they would be posted as well. What I am trying to say is, Topps—you know how to reach me!)
North Las Vegas, NV (September 17, 2008 ) – With die-cut and stunning foil designs, not to mention a stirring array of autograph and memorabilia cards, the 2008 MLB Upper Deck X release will keep collectors cracking packs for more. An impressive player lineup is further complimented by the set’s inclusion of such popular inserts as Upper Deck’s “Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection” and “Presidential Cut” signature cards.
“We’re extremely pleased with this year’s MLB Upper Deck X launch,” said Jason Masherah, Upper Deck’s senior brand manager. “The die-cut parallels are amazing and the ‘Xponential Dimensional’ foil cards will stand out against any card ever produced.”
With the MLB season now in its final two weeks of the regular season – and the Yankees missing out on the postseason for the first time in 13 years – Upper Deck’s “Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection” inserts now hold even deeper meaning for longtime fans and collectors of the Bronx Bombers. What’s more, it appears the long-suffering Chicago Cubs just might make it to the Fall Classic after all as the team is currently sporting the best record in the National League (91-58).
“It’s been an incredible season so far,” added Masherah. “And who would have guessed that the Tampa Bay Rays at this juncture would be leading both the Red Sox and Yankees in the A.L. East?”
The 100-card Upper Deck X regular set is further bolstered by four different levels of the 200-card “Xponential Dimensional” foil insert collection that falls at a ratio of one card per pack. With two UD X autographs, five YSL cards, 20 die-cut parallels and 20 “Exponential Dimensional” foil cards packing out in every box, collectors have hit the proverbial home run when it comes time to cracking packs of 2008 MLB Upper Deck X.
The autographed lineup includes such notable mainstays as Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr., along with up-and-comers like Evan Longoria, Ian Kennedy, Clay Buchholz and Alexei Ramirez. The Upper Deck X memorabilia cards have an even bigger assortment of top-tier talent including names like Derek Lee, Daisuke “Dice-K” Matsuzaka, David Ortiz, Jermaine Dye, Travis Hafner, Huston Street, Torii Hunter, Johnny Damon and Grady Sizemore.
The 2008 MLB Upper Deck X product carries a suggested retail price of $3.99 per eight-card pack with 20 packs per box. The product is available in stores now.
Not too excited. The jersey inserts remind me of spectrum except with an “x” instead of an “s” and the cards are not as shiny. I wish Upper Deck would just stick with their base set.
I am not too excited either, to be honest.
I think they might be retail worthy, if they have a guaranteed hit per box.
I get the same press releases as well. The thing I find curious is that almost half the text is fluff that has nothing to do with the set; and that UD included jpegs of what the gamers and the Xponential inserts look like, but not the base cards.
I am more excited about my upcoming doctor’s appointment than this set. Its called “Lets fill up the release schedule.” Extra Jersey Pieces + Open allowed slot on the release calendar + left over stickers = UD X Baseball.
I mean, they are so lazy they couldnt even come up with a name for it. “Umm what do you guys want to call this set? Ive got nothing. What should we call Upper Deck X?”
*crickets*
“I hate you guys.”
I just opened a pack of this stuff and it’s GAR-BAGE.
The reason they didn’t put the base cards in the ad is because they suck. If the whole set looked like the Xponentials they’d have something, but my God, the base cards are bad.
Still not collecting.
Why the hell should I bother? It’s obvious that the card companies do not care what we think.
I will not bust a new product until they’re worth busting.
However, I think a lot of us should join forces and instead of just blogging, create a sports card / memorabilia news and review site, and really get the hits, maybe rival the bozos in Dallas.
I don’t know, I’m just frustrated, and I hate wanting to follow a hobby that is pissing me off every day.
I do want to note something, though:
Beckett (and Tuff Stuff or anyone else) getting free product for review? That’s standard practice in most industries. Granted, Topps/Upper Deck/et al should not be hand-loading these boxes, they should get the same stuff a hobby (or retail) outlet gets.
However, actually getting the product for free for review purposes? That’s completely kosher, IMO. Granted, this is coming from the standpoint of being a video game reviewer for the past five years or so. Getting free product does not mean you like the product. It just means that you are able to review the product and give the company press. You still give an honest review.
Of course, with this industry being what it is, I fully expect that the only companies getting review product are Tuff Stuff and Beckett. In my opinion, the Internet needs a site to rival those companies, and hopefully get the card companies to support them as well.
An idea would be a site with 10-20 “reporters” for wont of a better word, where the news articles consist of actual news, press releases, OP/ED pieces, and video box breaks. This could expand down the line to interviews with industry figures or athletes about the industry, video footage of visits to the companies, all kinds of things. Forums would also be a strong move, although there are already tons of forums on the internet for sports card collectors that would dwarf any news site. Also, could expand into CCGs and non-sports collectables, as well.
We have all these people writing about cards and I think we would have a much stronger voice if we centralize. I know, I’m venting. Just tired of seeing crap products and knowing that no matter how much we bitch singly, nothing will change because the sheep continue to buy.
This is a craptastic product. The base cards feel like the super thin junky cards from the early 90′s. The design equally as bad. I did open some Ballpark or whatever, kinda cool. I hate the designs of Premier and other high end UD, but I liked this one.
Well, at least there’s an Evan Longoria autograph in this set for me to collect…
I’m with Jason and his comment, It can’t be that difficult. Shit, we could even do daily reports on ebay prices on hot cards, honest reviews, and even maybe take back the hobby we all love.
dude Mario, if you’re going to just copy and paste these things from UD you should at least get some payola, seeing how this blog is the most read of its kind you’re basically giving UD a whole shitload of free adverstising. Same thing with any other card company if all you’re doing is letting them use your blog as a billboard, (as opposed to writing what you did up above here in the comments, in your main blog post)
I’ll be honest, if I knew a decent web designer, and had the money for hosting and stuff, I’d made the site and run it.
Tom, as far as just giving my personal opinion on the product, I did that a while ago.
http://completist.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/2008-upper-deck-x-preview/
I posted this because it was a chance to show off cards that hadn’t been seen before, at least not by a majority of collectors. Topps & Upper Deck both read the site but only one is available to me whenever I have a question or concern and sends me these emails to promote new products.
Sorry I’m going upstream on this one, I’ve opened two packs, where i work its $2 for 6 cards not 8 for $4, who knows, and they look pretty and you know it. Sure i won’t get an auto or a swatch but I like collecting for base cards and foil inserts not a piece of jersey the guy probably never even gave a crap about. It for the kids and kids at heart, if you want big money cards get the Ballpark box.
I agree with PAB. this just looks like Spectrum to me.
what I mean is, most of you’re visitors aren’t going to either read the comments here or remember your earlier blog post about UDX, they’ll just see essentially an ad for UDX with no commentary from you. Some people might even read it like it’s some kind of report you’re doing, like you interviewed whoever is in there.
I’m just saying with the amount of traffic you get for you to post unaltered promotional spin from whoever, you should at least get a box of whatever product it is. especially if you personally think said product is crap.
If I could get free test samples of products to do reviews it would be great but unfortunately I already wrote U.D & Topps about it and both didn’t even respond.
I even offered to send back everything on my own dime after I scan/review it.
that sucks, of course if they did send you a box for you to review if you got anything good in it there would be cries of box loading. what they ought to do is to send you a voucher or something that says “good for one free box of (insert product)” and let you take that to your local hobby shop to buy said box, and then of course work something out with the shop owner to get reimbursed
I don’t think UD/Topps is ever going to consider a blogger (no matter how popular) worth product. That’s why I suggested what I did earlier. Get us all together, have a news/review/trend site, and actually /be/ press.
Of course, they might still ignore us, but hey, who knows?
I just bought a few hobby packs of this set just to see what it was all about b/c the package was shiny and we’re all attracted to that lol. It appears that this is just another set where you get an insert in every pack and the inserts are really confusing, since the odds for them are not even fully stated on the packs or the box. I got a Torii Hunter X3, i have no idea what the odds of that is. The X die-cut cards come 1 per pack and a few of them weren’t even fully cut at the factory. I did get an autographed rookie card, but it was Luis Mendoza, so I can’t even find a silver lining here. The problem with card collecting is as follows: 1)base sets no longer mean anything 2)rookie cards have been whored by autograph, jersey, patch, mini and other various parallel versions of the original rookie cards found in the base sets, which render them worthless. 1982 Cal Ripken Rookie card? $30. If that card were made today and inserted into sets that have 10 different versions of the base card, the base card would be worth 5 dollars. This is the problem with Cards, too many types. Do we really need anything in a set besides maybe three inserts, and a few short prints and a base set? I don’t. I wish cards would go back to that. It was more fun and exciting then when you got a hit; and more valuable as well. Note: I did buy a hobby box of Allen & Ginter today, and nailed a Serena Williams autograph, but that still didn’t make me feel better at the end of the day.
Shawn You are complaining because you bought a few packs of retail cards and they don’t look good and an autograph of someone you have never heard of. Seriously you pulled an auto out of a retail pack I don’t care how cheap the cards look you pulled an auto. I would be pretty happy to pay $1.97 for a few packs and pull an auto.
your so luky you know that that cubs guy piched a no-hitter
Bought a blaster of this stuff today. Heres what i got if anyone cares.
10 Foil Cards.
11 ‘X’ Cards.
3 rookies.
1 guarenteed jersey card of kenji jojhima
awful looking set. Base is terrible. Seems like a little kid set. Great for a 9 year old. Anyone over 16, just NO.
Last time i buy an upper deck product in awhile
i busted a box of this just due to the guarantee and the price. i really like the xpotentionals inserts. other than that everything else seems a little cheapy. honestly i dont hate it as much as the rest, but it didnt exactly wow me. anyone would thought this would be the box of the year should just quit, as if expensive products can even get it right these days youd have to guess that something costing 30 bucks for 20 packs has to be cheap.
and for jason ballew, im totally with you on everything you said. well done. im not the best writer, but if you made a site like that id give my best contributions. we the collector have been screwed hard in the ass for too long… and were paying for this!
jvanhine90@hotmail.com
Bob Shepherd brought so much self-respect and class to all Yankee game. He was among a good-hearted, and will sincerely be uncomprehensible! : http://electricitymonitorblog.com