First and foremost, I'd like to thank the gracious people at Upper Deck for providing us with this box.

http://www.blowoutcards.com/images/basketball/0809udspauthenticBKB.jpg

Product Description

24 packs per box
5 cards per pack
SRP: $109.99 - $119.99


CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Two autographs per box, on average!
- One Autographed Patch Rookie Card or One Autographed Letterman Card per box, on average!
- One multi-signed autographed card per case, on average!


PRODUCT BREAKDOWN
Autographed Cards
- Rookie Autographed Logoman Parallel (#’d to 1)
- Recruiting Class (# to 75 or less)
- Varsity Letters (# to 65 or less)
- Chirography
- SP Vital Signs
- Sign of the Times Dual (# to 50)
- Sign of the Times Trio (# to 10)
- Sign of the Times Quad (# to 5)

Insert Cards
- Authentic Profiles
- Destination Stardom

Base Set
- Base Set - 100 Cards
- Rookie Autographed Patch Card (#’d to 499 or less)
- Rookie Autograph (#’d to 199 or less)
- Rookie (#’d to 199 or less)

VIDEO BREAK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8RO__0ulyw

WHAT WE PULLED

Base - 88/100 (88%)
Dupes - 7

The base cards feature a full body photo of the player. The background is basically a huge basketball shaded in with one of the team colors the player plays for. There are two insert set in this release. Destination Stardom is a 30-card set devoted to the rookie class. Authentic Profiles is a 30-card set devoted to a mix of stars and rookies.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/018.jpg

There are various autograph sets in this release. Each box should yield either an autographed patch rookie or an autographed letterman. Here is what we pulled.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/enigmas_cards/Reviews/019.jpg


Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set: 4/5
Fun: 3/5
Overall design: 3/5
Value: 3.5/5
Re-buy: 4/5

Overall: 17.5/25 (70%)

SP Authentic has a 100-card base set. Because of the two insert sets, it is not possible to complete a base set with one box. With a lackluster design, this release would be better served to ditch the inserts. This would allow the ability to complete a base set and put more focus on why consumers buy this product, the rookies.

The rookie patch auto has been the key driving factor in the interest in SP Authentic for years. For the price, there's should be more than two autos per box. Consumers would gladly give up the two insert sets to add an additional auto per box.

On the bright side, there is an insert or hit in every pack. For those looking for a bonus surprise each time they rip a pack open, you will find it here.

With the majority of the interest encompassed around the patch auto, there's not much value otherwise in a box on average. However, as previously mentioned, the interest is in the patch auto, therefore most consumers will buy this box more than once.

Once again, thank you goes out to our sponsor, Upper Deck, for providing us with this box and the opportunity to review it.

Nice case hit on that box for the dual auto.

DON

lacklustre design? ouch...good review Tony.

Tony that wrapper and box kicked your butt... I love SPA and yes everyone wants the auto/patches

Nice break.

Looks like a nice set and the auto/jersey card looks sweet as usual.

Love the patch auto!

It's nice to hear there is an insert/hit in every pack... you won't get stuck with those all-base packs. Nice rookie auto patch

SPA patch autos are always sweet. I've always like the simplicity but stylish base design. Two solid rookie autos pulled but the set is generally hit or miss with its SRP.

Nice break and nice review! I really like the design of the base cards...and the patch auto is a great pull...too bad it wasn't a better player.

Thanks Upper Deck!

You got a couple of great rookie cards

Solid Break. Patch is nice but could've been of a better player

Nice case hit on that box for the dual auto.

DON


cool so the dual is a case hit? man id kinda be upset if I bought a case and that was the big "hit" but still a nice break.

nice box, really like sp this year

Great dual! Thanks UD!

Thanks UD! That is a sweet dual auto

Nice review Tony thanks for the product upperdeck

Nice dual Auto.

Nice break and review.

Thanks Upper Deck!

Darin

the design is kinda plain for this set each year, but i think it still looks nice. very clean looking. i think this is a product you buy more for the hits than the base.

Wow....Sweet patch auto ! I would have been head over heels if I cracked that box ! Thanx to Upper Deck for the Product too !!

Yeah, that has to be one of the least desired duals in there, would have rather had another patch auto myself. ;)

cool so the dual is a case hit? man id kinda be upset if I bought a case and that was the big "hit" but still a nice break.

Cards look a little....plain this year, but can't complain with pulling a Josh Boone autograph! (GO UCONN!)

Another on-target review. I have always loved the basic simplicity of the SPA cards, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, with an average costing factor of a dollar a card, I would hope for a LOT better return than what you can pull with these inserts. At those odds, I'd rather buy 120 lottery tickets and have a chance at retiring, especially since there are just a small number of rookies who are actually worth "investing in" each year.

great looking stuff and nice patch and dual auto
might have to pick up half a case

keep it up UD

nice stuff, i like that the design is a little different then football and UD doesn't just run out the same look for everything.

Thanks UD, and nice break Tony

Sweet patch and auto, I like the set.

Nice dual auto Tony! I wish there was a parallel cards to the base as they always have in the past.

SP this year is not too bad but at the same time not great imo.

I love the clean simple design. One of the nicest looking cards every year. Plus the rookie autos always look great! UD actually does a good job on this one!

Scobes

I like the design of the base cards, but it seems a little steep just for two autos. Thanks for the break and the great review!!

Nice break! I like this set, even though I just got one auto from my box. It was a sweet one though: a letterman patch /5 of Robin Lopez!

Great breaks-sweet autos

Nice patch auto.