2008 Upper Deck II

My debut break on APAD is a 2008 Upper Deck II retail pack [$2.99 each] - I'm itching to bust some 'high brow' set builder products [Allen & Ginter and Goudey], but the retail versions aren't out yet. As far as strictly base cards, UD maybe the best product out there on a per pack basis, because there are 18 cards per pack, so it is almost like a 'modern jumbo pack.' It was only several years ago, where UD would only give you 10 cards per pack, for the same retail price.

Pack one [18 cards per pack]
#435 Tacoby Ellsbury - an up-and-coming young player who just does good things on the baseball field.

#481 Andy Marte - an uncorrected error card to add to my collection - sorry UD, but Victor Martinez is pictured.
#408 Chad Tracy - he's been somewhat lost in the desert in the last few years, but still a dependable player.

#604 Ryan Howard - another Howard card, which I don't particularly care for.
#584 Ramon Castro - wearing the shades
#535 John Lackey -
#592 Shelley Duncan -
#547 Jonathan Broxton -
#576 Ryan Church -
#608 Brad Lidge -
#523 Miguel Olivo -
#723 Matt Tolbert -
#765 Josh Willingham - even though the card is a common, it is disappointing to turn the card over and discover it is a team checklist card.
#736 Dustin Pedroia - Season Highlights subset.
#751 Torii Hunter - team checklist card; I hate these cards.

#713 Masahide Kobayashi - I like the reference to the former hot dog eating champion.
#SQ-36 Carlos Beltran Starquest insert - uncommon; whatever that means.

Comments - more cards in retail almost always means no 'hit' cards like autographs or game-used inserts [who needs those anyway?]. For a pure card afficionado however, ripping a pack of 2008 Upper Deck II may just cure the pack ripping craving without having to resort to busting a 'kiddie pack' like Topps or Topps Opening Day.