Random Card On My Desk:2014-2015 Upper Deck Artifacts Tundra Tandems Dual Jersey Gerry Cheevers/Phil Esposito

Year: 2014-2015

Brand:Upper Deck

Team: Boston Bruins

Card Type: Jersey Card

Card Numbered:N/A

Sorting: Will be placed in a snap case and put into a jersey card box/hockey section

Random Card On My Desk:2014-2015 Upper Deck AHL Anthony Mantha Autograph

Random Card On My Desk:2014-2015 Upper Deck AHL Andrei Vasilevskiy Autograph

Random Card On My Desk:2014-2015 Upper Deck AHL Nicklas Jensen Autograph

Review:2014-2015 Panini Preferred Basketball (BIG HIT!!)

High end is something I don't usually get to open as I can't ever afford to. So when it does happen, it's a rare occasion. So far the few boxes of high end that I have opened I have had some decent success. This time I wanted to hit the hardwood and try Panini's newest basketball release, Panini Preferred. I like the variety and different parts it offers and this years version comes packed with some pretty impressive booklets.

To me the most important part of the product is the iconic Silhouettes. Those are simply a thing of beauty and have been since Panini released them in Crown Royale. My luck either doesn't land me one in a box of Crown Royale or it lands me a poor one. Up to this point the best one I have pulled is a LeVeon Bell.

I may have pulled my best one yet in this box however....as always..you gotta read on to see.

BOX BREAKDOWN:

In each box of 2014-2015 Panini Preferred basketball is 4 cards. Three of those cards are on-card autographs and the final one is a memorabilia booklet. Boxes run just under $190. Yup, as I said, very high end.

BASE CARDS:
N/A. This is all about the hits!

INSERT CARDS:
N/A. This is all about the hits!

MEMORABILIA CARDS:
It's all about the booklet cards and there are many to choose from. You can get booklets from Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals to the eventual champ Spurs to Crazy Eights (shown below and of 8 players of a team) to Jumbo Booklets to more. If you like to collect booklets, some of these are totally wack!

Here is mine. It wasn't anything crazy like others you may see, but still a pretty cool 8-jersey lineup from the Miami Heat. 

  
AUTOGRAPHED CARDS:
My first two autographs from Preferred were very unimpressive for a high end product. Up to this point I was a bit concerned about value vs what was paid. The one thing that hadn't concerned me up to this point was design. Panini nailed that.

Here were my first two on-card autos from the box:
Rudez led all rookies in three point FG percentage but scored a avg a measly 4.8 PPG. 

Dantley wasn't a bad pull for a 6-time All-Star and NBA HOFer. But still lacks "star" qualities you would expect.

Then came the BOOM!!!!!!!That's when I landed this beauty that changed my outlook on this box. An Autographed Silhouette of Kyrie Irving. I can't wait to get this bad boy in hand and to share it right here with you guys! My first Irving autograph and it's a Silhouette!

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
A bit of a rough start in this box before landing a Kyrie auto. That kind of boom may not happen in every box but as high risk high reward buyers know, if you don't take the chance you won't ever know.

This product has plenty of boom involved from the booklets to the autographs and a nice checklist of players to help, but I think a product like this is specifically for those high end thrill seekers or for ones who may wanna jump in on a box break.

What Does An Fleer Ultra Hockey Rookie Redemption Look Like? See Here!

Patience. Something all of us must have when it comes to redemptions. That is something I had to learn with my first Upper Deck one in years....and it wasn't even for an autograph!!

In Upper Deck's 2014-2015 Fleer Ultra product, amazing product by the way, they inserted these that fell one-per-box that you needed to redeem online like a redemption card.

With early season hockey card products featuring carryover rookies, rookies that made their debut after the previous hockey card season, Upper Deck decided they would try to include those rookies before the following years products released by including these Rookie Redemption cards. So no waiting til 2015-2016 products to get those late skating rookies. Upper Deck has them now.

And in exchange for the redemption card I redeemed, 5 months later, I received this on Friday...

Not a bad looking card. Just seems like a long time to wait for an non-autographed card but I understand why. I do like the aspect of getting those late season rookies included somehow so you don't have to wait. Other sports could use that too. It also helps that he is in a Rangers uni even though he no longer plays there. I guess that is the only bad part of the redemption promo is UD keeping up on possible moves for these players as well.

So now I gotta ask your thoughts on this. Do you mind waiting for a non-autographed redemption card? Do you like Upper Deck's idea and attempt to try and get these rookies in? Let me hear your thoughts!

Review: 2014-2015 Donruss Basketball Hobby Box

Do you like retro feel products?Were you a fan of Donruss of the 90's? Do you collect basketball cards? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you will appreciate the power of 2014-2015 Donruss Basketball.

In every box of 2014-2015 Donruss basketball is 24 packs with 8 cards per pack. Boxes will run you a little under $70 and carry three hits per box. Boxes are also heavily loaded with insert content.

BASE CARDS

Sorry I forgot to take a picture of the base cards, but you will get the point in a second when you see the rookie cards as they are the same design other than the added Rated Rookie. You can also see the base card design featured below in the inserts section.

There are 200 cards in the base set with the soon to be mentioned Rated Rookies.

This was an interesting twist to the product,seem as if rookies were limited in the product or what I would consider base card Sp's. Out of the 24 pack box I only found 6 rookies meaning they fall at a rate of 1:6. I haven't been able to confirm this, but it seems to be that way with baseball as well. If this stands true, it not only puts added value onto them, but it makes set collecting a bit more fun as it will be a chase. To me, that's the biggest thrill of trying to complete a set. Having to chase down those missing singles and how excited you are when each one arrives in the mail. That also adds value on the set.

I like the base card design despite the thicker border, but the photography is very nice. So it evens it out. For the rookies, the throwback appeal of Rated Rookie is a draw in for me as a collector from the 90's.

INSERTS

The inserts in Donruss are one of the biggest draws to me about the product. They are well designed and with so many of them being numbered they bring added value to a box.

This product overall has a ton of throwback designs especially the inserts. Just take a gander at the Donruss logo. Panini hit a lot right on the dot in terms of this. The nostalgic insert and parallel sets that are included are Court Kings, Elite Series, The Rookies, Production Line and Scoring Kings. They’re all well represented in this triumphant return of Donruss Basketball. We will get to these throwback inserts in a second.

The base cards in Donruss all have parallels. They range from Press Proofs to Stat Lines that range in numbering and go as low as to 1. My box had three base card parallels including a Chris Bosh Silver Press Proof numbered to 25.

My favorite base card parallels are these Swirloramas. So cool looking. I just wished my camera could have captured them better.

Now onto some throwbacks!

The Scoring Kings and Court Kings  have a canvas feel to them. Brings me back.

Inserted one-per-pack, Elite can be found. I like the design as it strays away from the usual silver background.

The Elite also have parallels. They are numbered all the way to one. I landed a Elite Red numbered to 25. Love the rainbow appeal.

A couple other inserts in Production Line and

 

The Rookies that include top rookies from this years class and uses the throwback design in doing so. Great way to capture them.

Elite Dominator looks awesome. Cracked ice appeal and very reminiscent of the 90's design. These are numbered to 999.

 

Some of the inserts in the product also have parallels from Stat Line to Press Proofs. Here are three that I pulled.

THE HITS

The hits in the product also have a throwback appeal as well. This Gamers jersey card feels like it would have been produced in the 90's. I was a bit surprised with all of the numbered items in this product that this jersey card wasn't numbered.

I really liked this design. The added rainbow foil was a big plus.

And my final hit of the box was a player that seems to have been around for centuries in Jason Terry. This was nice looking autographed card as well on the Elite design. There are a wide variety of these die-cut autographs to pull as well from the base Die-Cut ones numbered to 249, the Red Parallel I got numbered to 99 all the way to a Black Parallel numbered to 1.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

I think with a great price point, tons of numbered and fun inserts, great base card photography, and a chance at some big hits, Donruss is a great way to go.

Sometimes the simplest of products can be the most fun.

HOBBY TOPIC: 2014-2015 Panini Preferred Basketball

This series is all about you, the readers. My opinion is mum on every subject, however, you guys have the open mic per say on here. So without further ado, here is today' topic:

BREAKING NEWS! I am going to add Hobby Topic more often throughout the week when more products are previewed or released. That way you can leave your opinion on each of these products along with other hobby topics as well. I have also changed the POST TITLE and added what the topic is about. I have also added info on the products when the topic is about them. This should be fun!!

What are your guys thoughts on Preferred 14-15? Do you like the new look booklets? Have you tried this product in the past? What are your thoughts on it? Do you like the price point for four cards? Do you like not having base and having all hits instead?

Here are some images and information for you to nibble on to help with this discussion.

 

Pre-Ink

 

  

Every four-card pack of 2014-15 Preferred Basketball will deliver three autographs numbered to 99 or less and one booklet card. With some new booklet additions you could find in your pack as well.

HOBBY TOPIC

This series is all about you, the readers. My opinion is mum on every subject, however, you guys have the open mic per say on here. So without further ado, here is today' topic:

HOBBY TOPIC THIS WEEK!

What are your guys thoughts on Upper Deck's new upcoming hockey card release 2014-2015 O-Pee-Chee Platinum? Do you like the design? Is this something you would like UD to expand to other sports with? Is there something you would improve about it?

Here are some images for you to nibble on to help with this discussion.

 

 

Leave your thoughtful comments below!

Breakin Wax: 2014-2015 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Hobby Box

Young Guns. Enough said. If that doesn't give you enough reason to want to open a box of Upper Deck hockey, then what is?

In every hobby box of 2014-2015 Upper Deck Series 1 is 24 packs and 8 cards per pack with boxes running just under $70. You will find 2 UD jersey cards, three Shining Stars, one Shining Stars Gold Rainbow, four canvas' and six of those aforementioned Young Gun rookie cards.

Not only does the Young Guns grab my attention, but the photography that Upper Deck strives by is simply amazing. Look at some of these base cards. If only more companies paid this much attention to photography detail.

Back of card

Here are the Young Guns I pulled. There is a good mix of players some of whom are becoming stars, some who may become stars later on. That's the fun of pulling Young Guns. Not to mention with these falling 1:4 packs, it drives the value up on them as well.

I even pulled a Young Gun Exclusive parallel numbered to 100

The 2000's Hockey Heroes that fall 1:12.5 packs

Canvas Cards. Love these. The regular players fall 1:7 while the Young Gun I pulled fell 1:48

Here are the Shining Stars you will find 4 of per game. A fun foil insert with a nice design.

However, the Gold Rainbow parallel of Shining Stars if much more impressive to look at. My picture doesn't do it justice.

And finally, my two Game Jersey cards. Not bad too shabby players.

Overall, I am a big fan of this product. The Young Guns are the hottest rookie cards out there. Between the nice photography on the base cards, the Young Guns, the nice looking inserts, I felt as if the jersey cards were bonuses here even though you are guaranteed two per box. There is much more to find in here besides what I pulled. Just look up further details where they sell the product.

Every year this product is released, puck fans are all over it. After opening my first hobby box, I usually do retail packs, I can see why.

Breakin Wax: 2014-2015 Fleer Ultra Hockey Hobby Box (Big Hit)

Finally! That was the first words out of my mouth when Upper Deck announced they were releasing a Fleer Ultra product. Now the next thing I thought about was if it can be done right, I had no doubt of Upper Deck's abilities, it's just hard to recreate something. But, I will be the first to say, kudos to UD. They did a heck of a job. Check this out!

Each box of 2014-2015 Fleer Ultra comes with 18 packs and a box can be found for roughly $70. The fun thing about this product is that there are NO guaranteed hits. This is a huge thing in the hobby since you don't find many products like that anymore. To me, this was another positive. That means when you do hit something, it will be worth it and you will feel like it was worth it. Sort of like it did for me...ooops...it slipped out. You still will have to read on!

The base cards are a simple design with a player photo and name below. It wasn't quite the photography I expected but not bad. They still look nice but could use a little less white.

Back of base card..

That's a good start with the base cards, now onto what rest of this product has.

A rookie redemption. These fall 1:18 or one per box. When I asked Upper Deck about them I was told these would be released in April. I am very curious what it will look like.

Gold Medallion parallels that fall 1:2 packs. The word Gold Medallion is written on the card behind the player.

My Platinum Medallion falling one per box. Pulled a decent player and the card looks really nice with the rainbow foil.

Fun inserts! Just like the product from the 90's, Upper Deck did a great job recreating fun inserts for this product. The Buckets Die-Cut inserts fall 1:9.

The Gongshow Grinders fall 1:18. Overall you should find 4 fun die-cut inserts per box.

Another fun insert was the Road To The Championship. Great design and a fun "mock" ticket embedded into the card. These fall roughly one-per-box and range from Conference Quarterfinals 1:35 packs all the way to Stanley Cup Finals at 1:300 packs. The one I pulled falls 1:58 packs.

The hits in this box kept rolling. I pulled a Bonus pack that falls 1:3 boxes. These are sick!

In each of the bonus packs, you get at least two Ex cards and either a Ex parallel or a Jambalaya insert. I got the parallel numbered to 25.

The design for the Ex cards is superb! They look just like the originals but in a new updated design. UD needs just to do a separate product like this. Please do one!(By the way in case you were wondering, that is a wood table and not the card. That part is clear acetate.)

Then this bad boy was found. These are really cool. There are many versions of the National Heroes satin flag relics to be found. This Oshie one falls 1:150 packs.

And my box wasn't done yet. I then pulled a Russian version of the National Heroes satin flag and this time it was signed. If it had been the unsigned it would have been a big 1:225 pack pull, I would imagine this one is much tougher. Not to mention, it's one of hockey's biggest stars and limited to 25.

Overall, AWESOME PRODUCT! I would have been happy without the two National Heroes hits. Those just put an extra layer of icing on the cake. If you are a fan of Fleer Ultra, like fun and tough to find inserts, and collect hockey cards, I say go get a box. Upper Deck has a winner right here.