But that's not the topic of today's post. Today I wanted to showcase my collection of Tony Gwynn Sweet Spot Signatures that I've accumulated over the years. Let's start with my most recent purchase:
2005 UD Sweet Spot Classic SS Signatures #TG
I was the lone bidder on this card back in November. I think the high starting bid of $49.99 scared people away. Can't blame them. Had I known that I'd have to pay $59.05 after shipping and taxes, I probably wouldn't have bid on it either.
Regardless, it's still a good looking card and either my 20th or 21st autographed Gwynn card.
Next up is one of my favorite Sweet Spot Signatures designs:
2008 UD Sweet Spot SS Signatures #S-TG
Unfortunately, 2008 was also one of the years that have fading issues. I haven't pulled this card out of my box in quite some time. Half of me doesn't want it to accelerate the fade... while the other half doesn't want to discover that autograph is already gone.
2003 UD Sweet Spot SS Signatures #TG-AU
How do I know that Gwynn didn't hold these cards and actually sign them? One look at the autograph above should explain everything.
2003 UD Sweet Spot Classic Greats Autographs #CG-TG
2007 UD Sweet Spot Classic SS Signatures #SPV-TG
This is my other favorite Sweet Spot Signature design. This card also has some fading issues, but seeing Jack Murphy Stadium in the background takes my mind off of the problem.
Well that's all I've got for today. Here is your question of the day:
What Upper Deck baseball product do you miss the most?
I wish I had the tech skills to create a sidebar poll like Dime Box Nick, but I don't. So share your thoughts down below and I'll tally the results up in a few days.
Happy Thursday and sayonara!
Beautiful signatures of Tony! Sweet Spot is as good a choice as any for a UD product to miss.
ReplyDeleteUpper Deck was OK, can't say I miss them. I'd like to have Masterpieces around again, but even UD couldn't keep that going more than 2 years.
ReplyDeleteAwesome sigs of Mr. Padre.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want it every year, but I loved the design of Baseball Heroes.
I only ever collected Upper Deck in their first 3 years of existence. I mainly have fond memories of the 1990 set and those Reggie Jacksons!
ReplyDeleteI sympathize a lot with your faded autograph concerns. In 1991 I got Juan Marichal's autograph on an 8 by 10 photo. I pulled it out of storage a few years back at my parent's place and discovered that my "autographed photo" is no just a "photo" - the autograph had faded so much you can barely detect it is there anymore!
I miss the unique photography of the early 1990s.
ReplyDelete40man or victory. Just like topps total, those sets featured full rosters. Also, legendary cuts.
ReplyDeleteWho's this Tony Gwynn guy? Oh yeah, he played for the Braves, right? hehehehe. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Gwynn collection!
ReplyDeleteAs for what UD product I miss the most... gotta go with Collector's Choice. The price point, plus the absolutely amazing photography work for those were top notch.
Collector's Choice is definitely a set I miss but as a product I honestly miss the Denny's Holograms most.
ReplyDeleteI've been going to Spring Training games with my father-in-law for a few years now, and have a collection of signed baseballs. One thing we learned from another autograph hound is to never have a ball signed with a regular ink pen. The ink gets absorbed by the leather over time. Unfortunately my father-in-law has a Yogi Berra auto that is succumbing to this and is barely legible now. Ballpoint pens are best!
ReplyDeleteSweet Gwynn auto collection.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great collection; sorry about the fading. I wonder if the horsehide/cowhide of the ball is absorbing the ink or something?
ReplyDeleteI miss the great photography of Upper Deck when they made all 4 sports, only Hockey the last ten years, wish someday they can get back the other 3 sports.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to vote for Masterpieces as well.
ReplyDeleteI like these but they seem to fade over time so I have avoided them overall
ReplyDeleteI really miss Masterpieces. That was a really good looking product.
ReplyDeleteSurvey says...
ReplyDeleteMasterpieces 4
UD Heroes 1
40 Man .5
UD Victory .5
Collector's Choice 2
Although this post was Sweet Spot based, I added my vote to Masterpieces. Beautiful product.
dennis - thanks dennis!
night owl - i definitely think there's too much of a good thing. for example, i love stadium club. and this year's sc was exceptionally beautiful. but there's a point where even that product will lose its shine. i think masterpieces if a classic product, because upper deck didn't drive it into the ground like topps tends to do with some of their product lines
collecting cutch - lol. i just commented to night owl about overdoing certain products
sean - sorry to hear about the marichal photo. i'm scared to dig up some of my autographed photos sitting in boxes now
sumomenkoman - me too
gcrl - it was nice to see topps bring back topps total this year. shame they made it an expensive online product
johnnys trading spot - yeah... and chipper jones is mr. padre ;)
lee hero - i've really grown to appreciate collector's choice in recent years. i had the opportunity to buy some of those 90's sets for a few bucks each, but passed. major hobby regret.
nick vossbrink - denny's holograms rule. i miss the days of hanging out with friends eating grand slam breakfasts and collecting my pack.
matt - yeah, that's what i've been told as well. shame upper deck didn't know that. i also think some of the sweet spot swatches they used were fake leather or something. that probably played a role in the fading as well
captkirk42 - thanks! i'm kind of on a gwynn roll right now. picked up another autograph on black friday
peter k. steinberg - i think that the leather or fake leather definitely played a role in the fading.
sg488 - me too. if i had one hobby wish, it would be no more mlb, nba, nfl, or nhl license monopolies
adam kaningher - if i could only pick one... that's mine as well
sport card collectors - yeah. it's a shame. because the idea behind them was awesome
the snorting bull - i know. i'm especially fond of the matted/framed parallels