2008 Upper Deck First Edition Update

I almost opted not to buy this pack. Why not? Because I had just picked up three other packs of UD baseball cards. The Topps selection was puny, and I was not about to drop $19.95 on a Tri-Star 16-pack box of junk. So, I saved myself about $19 about this instead... Besides, I love me some borderless baseball cards!


Brian Roberts (Orioles), Johnny Cueto (Reds), Jose Guillen (Royals). Is it just me, or does the last name "Guillen" always conjure up hopes of baseball greatness? Okay, so it's just me then?


In one of the stranger collations, the next cards are all horizontally-based... Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), Johan Santana (Mets), Rich Harden (Athletics). I like the Upton card! That's going into my next box of stuff for the girls over at Dinged Corners for sure!


David Murphy (Rangers), Craig Monroe (Twins), Pedro Martinez (Mets), and Jeff Francoeur (Braves). Francoeur gets the StarQuest nod in the pack. It's shiny and green and purple... Well, I guess when I put it that way, it's like Barney wrapped in foil... (shivers)

Sox Or No Sox: 8-23-08

Let's play America’s favorite pack opening game, Sox Or No Sox.

The rules are simple. We take one unopened pack of baseball cards that was randomly selected by yours truly. We then go through the pack card by card looking for those hard to find White Sox cards.

Our player in tonight's game is a 2008 Upper Deck First Edition Update pack. The pack contains 10 cards and 1 StarQuest foil card. Let's begin.

#1: Shelley Duncan – 426 - Yankees
Who? Must be all the injuries on the Yankees?

#2: Matt Garza – 480 - Rays
He made his first start of the 2007 season against the White Sox in a game the Twins won 12-0. Uh… next card.

#3: Trevor Hoffman – 453 - Padres
What’s the all-time Major League saves leader doing in an update set?

#4: Brian Wilson – 462 - Giants
Great. Now I have that Barenaked Ladies song running through my head. Has Brian ever pitched in a sandbox? The world may never know.

#5: Luis Gonzalez – 363 - Marlins
There is no text on the back, just stats dating back to 1990.

Halfway through the pack. Meh. I’m not feeling this pack. Let’s see if we can get a White Sox card!

#6: Joe Crede – 335 – White Sox
JOE CRE-DE!!! as Hawk Harrelson would say after a “Late Inning Joe” moment.

#7: Jhonny Peralta – 345 - Indians
Is Jhonny hiding a dyslexic problem? Or were his parents just unusually cruel or stoned… or both?

#8: Joey Gathright – 372 - Royals
Joey only seems to do well against the White Sox.

#9: John Lackey – 381 - Angels
Ladies and gentlemen, the most invisible 19 game winner in Major League history! Seriously, why hasn’t more been written about him?

#10: Francisco Liriano – 401 - Twins
Where do they keep finding them and why do they keep sending them against the White Sox? This may give the Twins the boost they need late in the season.
#11: C.C. Sabathia – StarQuest – SQ-35 - Indians
This product just came out and Sabathia’s been on the Brewers for two months. What’s up with that?

OK, our pack opening is complete. No trap cards and one White Sox card! That was an OK pack. The White Sox card saved it from being a meh pack.

So, that’s ½ point for each card in the pack. 2 points for the White Sox card.

Final score: 7 ½ points

One White Sox card of Joe Crede in this game! Let’s find some more next time on Sox Or No Sox.