1999 Skybox Metal Universe Hobby Box Break (Metal is a Monster!)

1999 Fleer Skybox Metal Universe Hobby Box
24 packs, 8 cards per pack

This set is flat out bad ass.  There, I said it.  I feel better already.

From pack one, card one, I was a fan.

Beckett describes the cards in this set as 'Brushed metal backgrounds in 100 percent etched silver foil and an embossed nameplate with the look of forged steel.'

That sounds like the description of a stolen firearm a fugitive might be carrying.  That's not a card, that's an A.P.B..

Griffey front, Griffey back.  Industrial.

None of these shots were taken with a flash, I just finally managed to get a lamp closer to the cards.  These cards shine like mad in general, but at an angle or in direct light, they explode.  All you Shinesters out there would be hypnotized.

The set has 300 cards.  Cards 1-232 are like the ones I've posted so far.  Cards 233-300 are subsets.

 

The MLPD subset has 25 cards.  Most of the ones I pulled look gold but some have more of a silver background tint.  What does MLPD stand for?  Gotta be Major League Police Department, right?

Silvery.

 

Notice anything similar about the players in these pictures?

They literally all look angry.  The All-Angry-All-Star Team.  

It's almost as if the photographer insulted each player right before clicking.  "Hey Johnson!  Dork Bird!  Ya you!"  Click.  Sweet.  

Look there, two of them even have their arms crossed.  Tall glass of obstinate, anyone? 

This is hands down the angriest subset I have ever seen.  No way anything tops it.  "How can we intimidate the kids?"  "How about we take their heroes and make them look full of hate?"  "Perfect."  Click.  Click.  Click.  Just another Metal moment of perfection.

 

The Caught on the Fly 15 card subset is pure silver mirror.  It's nearly impossible to photograph these without getting the camera reflection.

 

See?  There's the camera and my finger in the lower left.

Also, never touch the front of these cards even lightly or you will leave your fingerprints behind.  There they will stay until 3978 A.D. when a fair haired orangutan named Dr. Zaius will find your precious trunk of baseball cards under a heap of rubble and sadly say "Oh great, another perfectly good cardboard mirror ruined by stupid fingerprint smudges.  These things never come off."

 

There's the camera again, BUT in this close up you can really see Fly.  How cool is Fly?  Fly is of course, bad ass cool.  Just as he should be.  It's the first fly I would gladly accept advice from.

On the back of Chipper Jones' card Fly calls Chipper, 'Chipster'.  He says 'Hey-yo' to Ben Grieve.  He notes the Cubs are 'Fuzzy Cubbies' on the back of Sosa's card.  He tells the Angels they look 'divine' with Erstad leading off.   And perhaps best of all, he calls Barry Bonds 'B-squared', apparently referencing the 400/400 club Bonds had recently joined (400 lifetime HR/SB). 

On one card Fly even claims he has spies working for him that are constantly feeding him all this information.  Now that I think about it, I have seen flies at ballparks.

The Building Blocks subset consists of 25 cards.  I truly think this is one of the best card designs I have ever seen.

Sir Beltre.

The overall look is so unique and creative, but what takes it to the top for me is that the team logo colors are non-traditional.

The backs are hysterical. 

 

Back to back 'Yo' cards!

This Drew back gets the crown.  What the heck is going on with this card?  Iron on the inside?  Pilot in a snow storm?  Zeus?  I love it.  Pure Metal.

The only bad thing about this subset is most of the players didn't make it to stardom.

Actually many of them didn't even stick around in the majors (here's Jeremy Giambi - he did okay, Cliff Politte, Carlton Loewer, Ryan Minor).

No matter.  They are all more than worthy of my binders.  I just wish an entire set was made exactly like these cards.  It's sad it will never happen, unless....Wonder Twin Powers Activate!  Form of...a card set!  Meh.  Nothing.  Darn it.

There's only a few of these Building Blocks cards on Ebay.  You'd think there would be a few hundred. 

Seeing one in person is like seeing Zeus pilot through a snow storm with iron in his backpack.  What the?

Now for the inserts...

According to my research, in the entire history of baseball cards, these are the only ones that use the word Neophytes on the card front (seriously).  This is also the same set that uses the word 'phat' several times on card backs.

The Neophytes inserts drop 1:6 packs on average.  Yeah, I said drop.  Problem?  That's how we roll in a Metal Universe post.  I'm trying to fit in.

Here's the back.  That's right, they went there.  Pop tune lyrics from the 80's:  'Oh, Ricky.  You're so fine...you're so fine you blow our minds!'  Plus there's a big picture and three IDENTICAL small pictures.  My God, Metal.  Fearless.

Uh, er....ahem.  Here's a Boyz With The Wood insert.  Yeah.  Yup.  These fall 1:18 packs.  So...anywho.  Alrighty.  Okay then.  What's next?  Ah...the final insert.

Mark McGwire Diamond Soul insert.  These are seeded just 1:72 packs so this is a nice pull if you don't mind McGwire.  Looks wild.

There it is:  The madness, brilliance, meanness, beauty, goofiness, too-coolness, and all around genius of 1999 Metal Universe.

  

What do you guys and gals think?  Did any of you collect these in 1999?  Do you like this set?  I'd be interested to know the general thoughts out there.

Thanks for reading!

2010 Topps Heritage Hobby Box Break

2010 Topps Heritage Hobby Box
24 packs, 8 cards per pack
1 Real One Autograph or Relic Card per box




















I am in agreement with most collectors that find the 1961 design rather boring and plain.  But there are also so many different colorful cards in this set that 2010 Heritage quickly won me over.

I decided to show a wide range of cards so those who are on the fence as to whether or not to buy a box can really get a full feeling of what to expect.

For player and team collectors, there are many cards of players in their new uniforms (airbrushed I assume - looks great though).

Most of the pictures showing multiple cards display larger images if you click them.

A lot of the 1961 design looks fantastic.

The manager cards certainly work.

As do the team cards.  Although I admit I never know what to do with my team cards from any set and as a result they all end up in my commons boxes no matter how cool they look.

You can't do much with a checklist but these bring back some '09 memories at least.

Very colorful.  I really like the look of these two cards.

The good old rookie star.  And of course the RC logo telling us it is in fact officially a rookie card.

I pulled three more of these but ten is enough to show (more than enough).

Rookie Star and RC logo, meet Giant All-Star Rookie Trophy.  I always loved the giant trophy.

Three great players for sure.  It's amazing that Gordon Beckham is slotted to play second base this year.  If his bat explodes like I'm convinced it will, he could catapult himself into one of the three best second baseman in baseball in no time flat.

There's a ton of history in this picture.  An important card.  Four classy players who have been through it all.  I'm not sure we will see four teammates so successful for so long ever again (yes I know Pettitte left the Yanks for awhile).

Royals Bashers and Boston Speed Party?  Stretching things a bit here aren't we?

Pedroia had 20 steals and was caught eight times.  His stolen base percentage means he actually hurt his team more than he helped it when he decided to try for a stolen base. 

As for DeJesus and Gordon, they combined for 62 extra base hits in 2009.  Their teammate Billy Butler had 72 extra base hits on his own.  I guess that's the curse of a team with one good hitter.  Butler can't be on every card.

Nicely done.

OMG!  Ham the Chimp!  Finally!

It's hard to find a pitcher good enough to put side by side with Whitey, but King Felix IS that good.  I'm predicting he wins the 2010 Cy Young.

As with the Then and Now card, I received just one New Age Performers.  They are both really nice designs.  I wish the seed rate was a little higher.  They each fall 1:15 hobby packs.

I never tire of Ruth cards.  As far as I'm concerned Ruth was so far above the rest of players in the history of Major League baseball that he seems almost mythical.  If I could pick any three players to watch live in their prime it would be Ruth, Josh Gibson, and Cobb.

A bit of history.

I really like these cards.  Too bad they are all short prints.

Another super looking card that is always a short print!  It frustrates me that two of my favorite designs in the set are harder to come by.

At least I got a decent amount of them.  Card numbers 426-500 are all short prints.

You can also tell short prints because their backs are lighter in color (Hart card).  This makes things easy.

My final two SP's.

You also get either this Advertising Panel or a Topps Stamp Album.  From the sound of it I'm glad I got the panel.  It is 3.5 x 7.5 inches.

The stated odds of getting a one card buy-back pack are 1:2 hobby boxes. 

Now for the hits...

Chrome inserts serial numbered to 1961.  I'm happy with this mix of players, especially Markakis.

Here's a chrome serial numbered to 561.  A decent player but not the best pull.

Ah, no Real One auto. 

The good news is I'm an Orioles' fan and Millwood is on the Orioles now.  Also the orange and black right side of the card looks Orioles-ish.  A coincidence I'm guessing.  The bad news is Millwood is an average pitcher nearing the end of his career.

So, my two biggest hits were a little disappointing, but this set certainly is not.  The basic design is plain but all the other cards you can pull (and there are many) are colorful and alive.

Overall I think the set is wonderful.  What do you guys think?  Is 2010 Heritage a set you enjoy collecting or are you skipping this year's edition?