stewart20rulz
03-05-2009, 12:03 PM
First and foremost, I'd like to thank our generous sponsors at Press Pass for providing us this hobby box of 2009 Press Pass Eclipse Racing for review.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipsebox.jpg
2009 Press Pass Eclipse Racing Hobby Box
24 packs (5 cards per pack)
MSRP - $110-$125
Product Description
Base Set - 90 "astronomy themed" cards
Black and White Holofoil Base Parallel (Hobby Only--1:2 packs)
Inserts -
Ecliptic Path - 1:4 packs
Solar System - 1:12 packs
Autos and Race Used -
Solar Swatch - Event-used car cover memorabilia cards. Featured drivers will have a different card for each letter in their last name. Find three in each box on average (1:8 packs).
Burning Rubber - Race Used (Race Won) tire cards from the final 10 chase races in 2008. This insert set continues the Burning Rubber memorabilia insert set started in 2009 Press Pass which consisted of the first 26 race winners. Also look out for rare Prime Cut versions numbered to 25!!!
Under Cover Signature Series - RARE Event Used Car cover cards with the driver's autograph. These cards are numbered to the featured driver's car number.
Four Wide -- Four-piece memorabilia cards with race used tire, sheetmetal, firesuit and pieces of checkered flags. The fourth piece will be oversized and there will be four different versions for each featured driver. **Each box offers a chance at four different versions of super rare Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Four Wide memorabilia cards numbered out of only 3 each!!!***
Press Pass 2009 and Trackside Edition Autographs - Exclusive autographs only found in 2009 Press Pass and 2009 Eclipse (1:24 packs)
1 of 1 Press Plate Autographs
Black Hole Instant Win cards -- cards redeemable online for special prizes ranging from exclusive autographed cards to complete drivers sets of Solar Swatch memorabilia cards numbered 1/1 each.
Overall race used memorabilia odds - 1:8
Overall autograph odds - 1:24
VIDEO BREAK
PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrC7nkmO3w
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QO4PVgDbcE
What we pulled:
Base cards: One full set of 90 cards plus nine duplicates :thumb:
Black & White Holofoil parallel cards (1:2): (12 cards) -- #2 Martin Truex, #3 Kurt Busch, #10 Tony Stewart, #17 Kevin Harvick, #18 Jeff Burton, #22 Jimmie Johnson, #23 Michael Waltrip, #37 Ryan Newman, #43 Denny Hamlin, #44 Joe Nemechek, #46 Jimmie Johnson, and #56 Tony Stewart
Ecliptic Path (1:4): (6 cards) -- #EP1 Matt Kenseth, #EP5 Jimmie Johnson, #EP9 Carl Edwards, #EP11 Scott Speed, #EP14 Jamie McMurray, and #EP17 Greg Biffle
Solar System (1:12): (2 cards) -- #SS2 Carl Edwards and #SS5 Clint Bowyer
Solar Swatches (1:8) (3 cards) -- Waltrip (P) #ed/299, Edwards (S) #ed /299, and Earnhardt, Jr (First A) #ed/?? (Dale Jr versions rumored to be limited to 25 or less)
Press Pass Autographs: Dave Gilliland
My review:
BASE CARDS:
NCS Drivers: 1-30
Orbital: 31-36
Take Off: 37-45
Lunar Mission: 46-57
Brightest Stars: 58-69
Ground Control: 70-75
Pathfinders: 76-84
Stars Over NYC: 85-90
The base cards for the 2009 Eclipse set are made with sturdy cardboard and have black borders/black backgrounds. This is a significant difference from past Eclipse issues which were mostly white. All the base cards are based on an astronomy theme and most are very nice looking cards.
Cards 1-30 are cards of the top Nascar Sprint Cup Series drivers. The cards have portraits of the drivers framed in black. The Elipse emblem is in the upper left corner with universal stars in the background along with bright solar streaks of orange and yellow. The solar streaks seem to almost be airbrushed with brilliant color and gives these base cards a nice touch. The driver's name is in silver foil centered at the bottom of the card and separated from the portrait photo of the player with an arc design in the drivers primary sponsor's color. For instance, the arc above Kurt Busch's name is in blue and almost has an airbrushed look with white blended in to the color. The back of the card is just as spectacular with the top half of the card having another photo of the driver. Below the photo is another arc type design in the driver's primary sponsor's colors. Below the "arc" design is a small bit of info about the driver's accomplishments in 2008 over a universal or space themed background. In the bottom corner is a small area showing the surface of a sun or bright star in orange. You can also find the Press Pass emblem and NASCAR logo at the bottom of the back of the card. The card number can be found at the upper left on the back of the card. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the these base cards. They are not too flashy, but look great with the brilliant airbrushed style color designs on the black borders and background. It's nice to see something different other than the typical white Eclipse base cards that have been produced over the years.
The next cards in the base set are Orbital subset cards #31-36. These by far are my favorite of the base cards. The cards are in landscape format with "ORBITAL" italicized in bold foil lettering at the top left. The cards continue with the astonomy theme with stars and planetary gases and lights in the background. On the left side of the card, you will find a portrait photo of the driver featured. On the right side of the card you have the driver's car screaming down a path of planetary rings symbolizing the car on a track. On the far right is a hint of the edge of a sun, bright planet, or similar galaxial body. The driver's name can be found at the bottom in silver foil lettering. The driver's name and driver/car photos are separated by a design in the driver's primary sponsors colors (airbrushed look) outlined with silver lines on the top and bottom. The Eclipse logo is on the left corner in silver foil. The back of the card features a portrait photo of the driver on the left and a statistical fact about the driver on the right.
Subset cards 37-45 are calle "Take Off". Once again, the background is black with stars and white streaks of star light. You'll find a photo of the driver in the foreground holding his driver's helmet. Behind the driver is a portion of the earth. Above the earth and behind the driver is a raceway leader tower with the driver's car number in the #1 position and his posted speed. In front and to the left of the leader tower is another tall pole with a small teletron at the top picturing the driver's car. The Eclipse logo can be found in silver foil on the right corner of the card. The driver's name is at the bottom in a square colored in the driver's primary sponsor's colors. If the primary sponsor's color is black, the secondary color was used. For instance, Ryan Newman's name is on a yellow airbrushed style background. To the right of the driver's name block is the words Take Off in silver foil with an arrow or rocket style design separating the two words Take and Off. The back of the card feature's a driver portrait photo at the top. Under the photo is a number representing how many poles the driver has one in his career. Below the pole number is a small paragraph giving some stats about the driver. In the background of the pole number and paragraph is a moon or planetary surface in bright white. The card number again is in the upper left and driver name is at the top at the upper right.
Lunar Mission subset cards are next (cards #46-57). It is another card in landscape format. The drivers name is printed vertically on the left side in silver foil with a triangle shape in the driver's primary colors pointing towards the name. The title "Lunar Mission" is centered at the top of the card in silver foil over a background picturing a track with the crowd in the background. Centered in the card is the drivers card. The car is pictured with jet blasts coming from where the four wheels and tires are giving the appearance the car is floating and blasting off above the track with white jet blast and smoke below the car. Above the track seating is a skyline of stars and planetary objects. The eclipse logo is in the lower right corner. The back of the card has the driver's photo on the left and a statistical fact on the right.
The next subset in the base set is Brightest Stars (cards #58-69). This set features the twelve Chase drivers from 2008. The Eclipse logo is in the upper left and the words "Brightest Stars" are on th right angled as though they are streaking thru the universe. Centered on the card is the driver's photo from waste up. Bright star lights radiate off of and surround the driver. The driver's name is at the bottom right in silver foil. A faceted star can be found in the bottom left featuring the driver's sponsor's colors. The back of the card features a photo of the driver's car at the top and a statistical fact at the bottom half of the card.
Cards 70-75 are Ground Control subset cards. These cards feature a large portrait photo of the driver framed in a star-filled black border. The words Ground Control can be found below the photo in silver foil. At the bottom of the card, you can find the driver's name in foil lettering in a box in the driver's sponsor color on a background of car dash guages. The eclipse logo is in the upper left corner. The back features the driver's photo and a statistical note about his career.
Next featured in the base set is the Pathfinders subset (cards 76-84). The name of the subset can be found in silver lettering at the top of theis landscape formatted card. The background on the card is a lunar surface with a skyline of a star filled sky. The driver's car is found in the center of the card driving on the lunar surface away from you along a path as you look at the card. To the left of the car is an encircled photo of the driver as a child and to the right of the car there is an encircled current photo of the driver. The driver's name is at the bottom in silver foil and the eclipse logo is at the top right. The upper right corner of the back of the card features a photo of the driver. A statistical note about the driver's path to stardom can be found on the bottom right of the back of the card.
Cards 85-90 are the Stars Over NYC subset cards. These are my least favorite of the base cards. Featured driver's photos are found in the middle of the card bordered with a nighttime skyline of NYC and a starry night sky. The drivers are featured in formal attire and some with other people (for example...Jimmie Johnson with Rick Hendrick). The drivers name and subset name can be found at the bottom of the card in silver foil. The back of the card features a fact about the Myers Brothers Award luncheon in NYC and a photo of the driver in formal attire.
Overall, I really like the base cards. They are sturdy and all though the black borders can lead to more condition sensitivity, I think the card stock thickness will more than make up for that as long as the cards are cared for. My favorite cards are the NSCS drivers cards, Orbital subset cards, and Take Off subset cards. My least favorite cards are the Stars Over NYC cards. I just don't care much for cards of driver's in formal attire. All the cards designs are nice and I like the airbrushed look of coloring of some of the card designs. I'd give the base card set a 4.5/5 for card design. I really like the new fresh look and design. It shows that not all card companies have lost their creativity and shows Press Pass put a lot of thought ito the design of these cards to make hem interesting and pleasing to look at. Believe me, when my wife says she thinks cards are cool, that means a lot. All the photos are very crisp and the only thing missing as far as photos is maybe adding more action shots. This set is full of portrait shots of the drivers on the fronts and back of the cards.
EXAMPLES OF BASE CARDS FOUND IN 2009 Press Pass Eclipse:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/scan0003-3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/scan0001-2.jpg
PARALLEL CARDS:
The Black and White Holofoil parallel cards mirror their base card counterparts except the eveything that is normally in silver foil is in silver holofoil and have a reflective characteristic. The cards themselves are abscent of color and are done in black and white shades. Although I'm not a big parallel card fan, I am glad that Eclipse did not go overboard with multiple different styles of parallel cards. If I had anything to change, I would make the parallel cards scarcer and make them numbered out of 250 or less and not seed them at 1:2 packs.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse5.jpg
INSERT CARDS:
The 9-card Solar System insert cards are on heavy duty stock and seem to made of an acetate based material. They are glossy and have a holofoil look when you tiltthem into the light. These cards look like they can take a beating. The upper left corner of the card features an orange planetary object much like a sun and have the Eclipse logo in the upper right corner. The insert name and symbol is featured in the upper left on top of the orange planetary object. The driver is featured in the center of the card and have an aura or glow surrounding them. In the background is a black star-filled space. The drivers name is in silver foil at the bottom of the card placed on a box colored in the sponsor's primary colors. The back of the card features the driver's car. Below the car is the planets going from right to left. Below the planets is a paragraph giving some stats about the driver related to the 2008 Chase to the Cup.
The Ecliptic Path insert cards consist of 18 cards and are very cool and easily pulled at 1:4 packs. They are made the same as Solar System inserts as far as material. These inserts feature both the driver and his car. They also have a holofoil sort of look with the shiny glossy finish. The name of the insert is found at the top of the card in silver foil along with the Eclipse logo in the upper left corner. The driver's car is featured on the left and looks as if it is flying away from a planet in the upper right corner. The planet and rear of the car are surrounded by bright red, yellow, and orangish colors. The drivers name is found at the bottom of the card in silver foil. The back of the card features the driver on the left and adriver fact on the right.
Over all, I think the two insert sets in 2009 Press Pass Eclipse are great looking cards. I like the Ecliptic Path the most out of the two sets. Both sets have well thought out designs and should be favorites for set builders to complete as both are not too large to complete or too hard to get.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse4.jpg
MEMORABILIA CARDS:
SOLAR SWATCHES:
The Solar Swatch cards are found 1:8 packs. The feature a letter in the driver's last name accompanied with a piece of event-used car cover. Most are numbered out of 299, but rumors have been circulating that the Dale Earnhardt Jr cards may be limited to 25 and less. The cards feature the driver and letter in a shield type shape with a solar surface complete with flares and glowing hot atmosphere at the bottom. The cards are made with heavy 55 pt to 75 pt stock and should be fun to chase to complete the set of your favorite driver. I think the design is spectacular and the different versions are a fresh change to the past car cover cards. The design to me is sort of based on the "Letterman" type cards you find in baseball products but are unique in their own sense. The only problem I might see is the quality. I can't really give an opinion based on one box, but we did have one card that has some defects. The Carl Edwards silver foil is missing bits and pieces on the "Solar Swatches" text. All of the Dale Jr. cards seem to be redemption cards, but given Press Pass' past customer service, I have a feeling it won't take long to get these cards redeemed for the real thing.
We pulled one 2009 Press Pass autograph which is a continuation of the autograph inserts found in the Press Pass 2009 product. Overall, I think the autograph card is clean and does not leave too much white blank area as seen on some past autograph cards.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse3.jpg
My overall opiniion of 2009 Eclipse is that it is a fabulous product. If you don't want a product chocked full of Truck, Nationwide, and other lower series drivers, this product is for you as it is centered around the top stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. If you're a base set collector, you can almost be certain that 95% or more of the time you will complete a base set with just one box. If you were ready for something different from eclipse, you got it this year. The white background and plain white bordered base cards were bypassed this year for the awesome looking astronomy theme black star-filled look. If you don't like too many different parallel cards, this product is for you as the only parallel set in the product is the black and white holofoil cards. We pulled all the advertised ratio of insert cards and memorabilia cards we were supposed to so overall, the product coalation gets a big A+ from me. I think maybe one more basic insert may have improved the product, but the two inserts offered are spectacular and should be easy to find if you like building insert sets. Although we didn't pull any super rare memorabilia cards or any Black Hole Instant Win cards, we did pull our prescribed amount of memorabilia cards. It's always fun to open a box knowing you are going to pull a minimum of three memorabila cards and one autograph. The quality of the cards in this box was flawless with the exception of the Edwards Solar Swatches card due to the foil lettering defects. I have heard of other 2009 Eclipse boxes having defective insert cards, but we did not have that problem with this box. The only disadvantage of Eclipse I can find is the typical higher cost of a box. With the current economic times, it may be tough for some people to justify buying a second box if they don't get one of the "big hits". However, for the cost, I think most of the buyers will be happy with what they get for the money.
Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set: 4.5/5
Fun: 5/5
Overall design: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Re-buy: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5.0
Please check out the Racing Forum for future contests for your chance to obtain the great memorabilia cards pulled in this box break.
To obtain 3 free base cards or 1 free insert or parallel card from this box break, go here:
http://www.sportscardforum.com/showthread.php?t=730142
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipsebox.jpg
2009 Press Pass Eclipse Racing Hobby Box
24 packs (5 cards per pack)
MSRP - $110-$125
Product Description
Base Set - 90 "astronomy themed" cards
Black and White Holofoil Base Parallel (Hobby Only--1:2 packs)
Inserts -
Ecliptic Path - 1:4 packs
Solar System - 1:12 packs
Autos and Race Used -
Solar Swatch - Event-used car cover memorabilia cards. Featured drivers will have a different card for each letter in their last name. Find three in each box on average (1:8 packs).
Burning Rubber - Race Used (Race Won) tire cards from the final 10 chase races in 2008. This insert set continues the Burning Rubber memorabilia insert set started in 2009 Press Pass which consisted of the first 26 race winners. Also look out for rare Prime Cut versions numbered to 25!!!
Under Cover Signature Series - RARE Event Used Car cover cards with the driver's autograph. These cards are numbered to the featured driver's car number.
Four Wide -- Four-piece memorabilia cards with race used tire, sheetmetal, firesuit and pieces of checkered flags. The fourth piece will be oversized and there will be four different versions for each featured driver. **Each box offers a chance at four different versions of super rare Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Four Wide memorabilia cards numbered out of only 3 each!!!***
Press Pass 2009 and Trackside Edition Autographs - Exclusive autographs only found in 2009 Press Pass and 2009 Eclipse (1:24 packs)
1 of 1 Press Plate Autographs
Black Hole Instant Win cards -- cards redeemable online for special prizes ranging from exclusive autographed cards to complete drivers sets of Solar Swatch memorabilia cards numbered 1/1 each.
Overall race used memorabilia odds - 1:8
Overall autograph odds - 1:24
VIDEO BREAK
PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrC7nkmO3w
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QO4PVgDbcE
What we pulled:
Base cards: One full set of 90 cards plus nine duplicates :thumb:
Black & White Holofoil parallel cards (1:2): (12 cards) -- #2 Martin Truex, #3 Kurt Busch, #10 Tony Stewart, #17 Kevin Harvick, #18 Jeff Burton, #22 Jimmie Johnson, #23 Michael Waltrip, #37 Ryan Newman, #43 Denny Hamlin, #44 Joe Nemechek, #46 Jimmie Johnson, and #56 Tony Stewart
Ecliptic Path (1:4): (6 cards) -- #EP1 Matt Kenseth, #EP5 Jimmie Johnson, #EP9 Carl Edwards, #EP11 Scott Speed, #EP14 Jamie McMurray, and #EP17 Greg Biffle
Solar System (1:12): (2 cards) -- #SS2 Carl Edwards and #SS5 Clint Bowyer
Solar Swatches (1:8) (3 cards) -- Waltrip (P) #ed/299, Edwards (S) #ed /299, and Earnhardt, Jr (First A) #ed/?? (Dale Jr versions rumored to be limited to 25 or less)
Press Pass Autographs: Dave Gilliland
My review:
BASE CARDS:
NCS Drivers: 1-30
Orbital: 31-36
Take Off: 37-45
Lunar Mission: 46-57
Brightest Stars: 58-69
Ground Control: 70-75
Pathfinders: 76-84
Stars Over NYC: 85-90
The base cards for the 2009 Eclipse set are made with sturdy cardboard and have black borders/black backgrounds. This is a significant difference from past Eclipse issues which were mostly white. All the base cards are based on an astronomy theme and most are very nice looking cards.
Cards 1-30 are cards of the top Nascar Sprint Cup Series drivers. The cards have portraits of the drivers framed in black. The Elipse emblem is in the upper left corner with universal stars in the background along with bright solar streaks of orange and yellow. The solar streaks seem to almost be airbrushed with brilliant color and gives these base cards a nice touch. The driver's name is in silver foil centered at the bottom of the card and separated from the portrait photo of the player with an arc design in the drivers primary sponsor's color. For instance, the arc above Kurt Busch's name is in blue and almost has an airbrushed look with white blended in to the color. The back of the card is just as spectacular with the top half of the card having another photo of the driver. Below the photo is another arc type design in the driver's primary sponsor's colors. Below the "arc" design is a small bit of info about the driver's accomplishments in 2008 over a universal or space themed background. In the bottom corner is a small area showing the surface of a sun or bright star in orange. You can also find the Press Pass emblem and NASCAR logo at the bottom of the back of the card. The card number can be found at the upper left on the back of the card. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the these base cards. They are not too flashy, but look great with the brilliant airbrushed style color designs on the black borders and background. It's nice to see something different other than the typical white Eclipse base cards that have been produced over the years.
The next cards in the base set are Orbital subset cards #31-36. These by far are my favorite of the base cards. The cards are in landscape format with "ORBITAL" italicized in bold foil lettering at the top left. The cards continue with the astonomy theme with stars and planetary gases and lights in the background. On the left side of the card, you will find a portrait photo of the driver featured. On the right side of the card you have the driver's car screaming down a path of planetary rings symbolizing the car on a track. On the far right is a hint of the edge of a sun, bright planet, or similar galaxial body. The driver's name can be found at the bottom in silver foil lettering. The driver's name and driver/car photos are separated by a design in the driver's primary sponsors colors (airbrushed look) outlined with silver lines on the top and bottom. The Eclipse logo is on the left corner in silver foil. The back of the card features a portrait photo of the driver on the left and a statistical fact about the driver on the right.
Subset cards 37-45 are calle "Take Off". Once again, the background is black with stars and white streaks of star light. You'll find a photo of the driver in the foreground holding his driver's helmet. Behind the driver is a portion of the earth. Above the earth and behind the driver is a raceway leader tower with the driver's car number in the #1 position and his posted speed. In front and to the left of the leader tower is another tall pole with a small teletron at the top picturing the driver's car. The Eclipse logo can be found in silver foil on the right corner of the card. The driver's name is at the bottom in a square colored in the driver's primary sponsor's colors. If the primary sponsor's color is black, the secondary color was used. For instance, Ryan Newman's name is on a yellow airbrushed style background. To the right of the driver's name block is the words Take Off in silver foil with an arrow or rocket style design separating the two words Take and Off. The back of the card feature's a driver portrait photo at the top. Under the photo is a number representing how many poles the driver has one in his career. Below the pole number is a small paragraph giving some stats about the driver. In the background of the pole number and paragraph is a moon or planetary surface in bright white. The card number again is in the upper left and driver name is at the top at the upper right.
Lunar Mission subset cards are next (cards #46-57). It is another card in landscape format. The drivers name is printed vertically on the left side in silver foil with a triangle shape in the driver's primary colors pointing towards the name. The title "Lunar Mission" is centered at the top of the card in silver foil over a background picturing a track with the crowd in the background. Centered in the card is the drivers card. The car is pictured with jet blasts coming from where the four wheels and tires are giving the appearance the car is floating and blasting off above the track with white jet blast and smoke below the car. Above the track seating is a skyline of stars and planetary objects. The eclipse logo is in the lower right corner. The back of the card has the driver's photo on the left and a statistical fact on the right.
The next subset in the base set is Brightest Stars (cards #58-69). This set features the twelve Chase drivers from 2008. The Eclipse logo is in the upper left and the words "Brightest Stars" are on th right angled as though they are streaking thru the universe. Centered on the card is the driver's photo from waste up. Bright star lights radiate off of and surround the driver. The driver's name is at the bottom right in silver foil. A faceted star can be found in the bottom left featuring the driver's sponsor's colors. The back of the card features a photo of the driver's car at the top and a statistical fact at the bottom half of the card.
Cards 70-75 are Ground Control subset cards. These cards feature a large portrait photo of the driver framed in a star-filled black border. The words Ground Control can be found below the photo in silver foil. At the bottom of the card, you can find the driver's name in foil lettering in a box in the driver's sponsor color on a background of car dash guages. The eclipse logo is in the upper left corner. The back features the driver's photo and a statistical note about his career.
Next featured in the base set is the Pathfinders subset (cards 76-84). The name of the subset can be found in silver lettering at the top of theis landscape formatted card. The background on the card is a lunar surface with a skyline of a star filled sky. The driver's car is found in the center of the card driving on the lunar surface away from you along a path as you look at the card. To the left of the car is an encircled photo of the driver as a child and to the right of the car there is an encircled current photo of the driver. The driver's name is at the bottom in silver foil and the eclipse logo is at the top right. The upper right corner of the back of the card features a photo of the driver. A statistical note about the driver's path to stardom can be found on the bottom right of the back of the card.
Cards 85-90 are the Stars Over NYC subset cards. These are my least favorite of the base cards. Featured driver's photos are found in the middle of the card bordered with a nighttime skyline of NYC and a starry night sky. The drivers are featured in formal attire and some with other people (for example...Jimmie Johnson with Rick Hendrick). The drivers name and subset name can be found at the bottom of the card in silver foil. The back of the card features a fact about the Myers Brothers Award luncheon in NYC and a photo of the driver in formal attire.
Overall, I really like the base cards. They are sturdy and all though the black borders can lead to more condition sensitivity, I think the card stock thickness will more than make up for that as long as the cards are cared for. My favorite cards are the NSCS drivers cards, Orbital subset cards, and Take Off subset cards. My least favorite cards are the Stars Over NYC cards. I just don't care much for cards of driver's in formal attire. All the cards designs are nice and I like the airbrushed look of coloring of some of the card designs. I'd give the base card set a 4.5/5 for card design. I really like the new fresh look and design. It shows that not all card companies have lost their creativity and shows Press Pass put a lot of thought ito the design of these cards to make hem interesting and pleasing to look at. Believe me, when my wife says she thinks cards are cool, that means a lot. All the photos are very crisp and the only thing missing as far as photos is maybe adding more action shots. This set is full of portrait shots of the drivers on the fronts and back of the cards.
EXAMPLES OF BASE CARDS FOUND IN 2009 Press Pass Eclipse:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/scan0003-3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/scan0001-2.jpg
PARALLEL CARDS:
The Black and White Holofoil parallel cards mirror their base card counterparts except the eveything that is normally in silver foil is in silver holofoil and have a reflective characteristic. The cards themselves are abscent of color and are done in black and white shades. Although I'm not a big parallel card fan, I am glad that Eclipse did not go overboard with multiple different styles of parallel cards. If I had anything to change, I would make the parallel cards scarcer and make them numbered out of 250 or less and not seed them at 1:2 packs.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse5.jpg
INSERT CARDS:
The 9-card Solar System insert cards are on heavy duty stock and seem to made of an acetate based material. They are glossy and have a holofoil look when you tiltthem into the light. These cards look like they can take a beating. The upper left corner of the card features an orange planetary object much like a sun and have the Eclipse logo in the upper right corner. The insert name and symbol is featured in the upper left on top of the orange planetary object. The driver is featured in the center of the card and have an aura or glow surrounding them. In the background is a black star-filled space. The drivers name is in silver foil at the bottom of the card placed on a box colored in the sponsor's primary colors. The back of the card features the driver's car. Below the car is the planets going from right to left. Below the planets is a paragraph giving some stats about the driver related to the 2008 Chase to the Cup.
The Ecliptic Path insert cards consist of 18 cards and are very cool and easily pulled at 1:4 packs. They are made the same as Solar System inserts as far as material. These inserts feature both the driver and his car. They also have a holofoil sort of look with the shiny glossy finish. The name of the insert is found at the top of the card in silver foil along with the Eclipse logo in the upper left corner. The driver's car is featured on the left and looks as if it is flying away from a planet in the upper right corner. The planet and rear of the car are surrounded by bright red, yellow, and orangish colors. The drivers name is found at the bottom of the card in silver foil. The back of the card features the driver on the left and adriver fact on the right.
Over all, I think the two insert sets in 2009 Press Pass Eclipse are great looking cards. I like the Ecliptic Path the most out of the two sets. Both sets have well thought out designs and should be favorites for set builders to complete as both are not too large to complete or too hard to get.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse4.jpg
MEMORABILIA CARDS:
SOLAR SWATCHES:
The Solar Swatch cards are found 1:8 packs. The feature a letter in the driver's last name accompanied with a piece of event-used car cover. Most are numbered out of 299, but rumors have been circulating that the Dale Earnhardt Jr cards may be limited to 25 and less. The cards feature the driver and letter in a shield type shape with a solar surface complete with flares and glowing hot atmosphere at the bottom. The cards are made with heavy 55 pt to 75 pt stock and should be fun to chase to complete the set of your favorite driver. I think the design is spectacular and the different versions are a fresh change to the past car cover cards. The design to me is sort of based on the "Letterman" type cards you find in baseball products but are unique in their own sense. The only problem I might see is the quality. I can't really give an opinion based on one box, but we did have one card that has some defects. The Carl Edwards silver foil is missing bits and pieces on the "Solar Swatches" text. All of the Dale Jr. cards seem to be redemption cards, but given Press Pass' past customer service, I have a feeling it won't take long to get these cards redeemed for the real thing.
We pulled one 2009 Press Pass autograph which is a continuation of the autograph inserts found in the Press Pass 2009 product. Overall, I think the autograph card is clean and does not leave too much white blank area as seen on some past autograph cards.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/dsturmjr/eclipse3.jpg
My overall opiniion of 2009 Eclipse is that it is a fabulous product. If you don't want a product chocked full of Truck, Nationwide, and other lower series drivers, this product is for you as it is centered around the top stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. If you're a base set collector, you can almost be certain that 95% or more of the time you will complete a base set with just one box. If you were ready for something different from eclipse, you got it this year. The white background and plain white bordered base cards were bypassed this year for the awesome looking astronomy theme black star-filled look. If you don't like too many different parallel cards, this product is for you as the only parallel set in the product is the black and white holofoil cards. We pulled all the advertised ratio of insert cards and memorabilia cards we were supposed to so overall, the product coalation gets a big A+ from me. I think maybe one more basic insert may have improved the product, but the two inserts offered are spectacular and should be easy to find if you like building insert sets. Although we didn't pull any super rare memorabilia cards or any Black Hole Instant Win cards, we did pull our prescribed amount of memorabilia cards. It's always fun to open a box knowing you are going to pull a minimum of three memorabila cards and one autograph. The quality of the cards in this box was flawless with the exception of the Edwards Solar Swatches card due to the foil lettering defects. I have heard of other 2009 Eclipse boxes having defective insert cards, but we did not have that problem with this box. The only disadvantage of Eclipse I can find is the typical higher cost of a box. With the current economic times, it may be tough for some people to justify buying a second box if they don't get one of the "big hits". However, for the cost, I think most of the buyers will be happy with what they get for the money.
Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set: 4.5/5
Fun: 5/5
Overall design: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Re-buy: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5.0
Please check out the Racing Forum for future contests for your chance to obtain the great memorabilia cards pulled in this box break.
To obtain 3 free base cards or 1 free insert or parallel card from this box break, go here:
http://www.sportscardforum.com/showthread.php?t=730142