Official 2008 Stadium Club Review!

[andrewcstein]

First off, I want to thank Topps for the great box.

Now, here's the video:


2008 Topps Stadium Club features one autograph per box. The two case hits are the original artist’s sketch card and triple autographed relic card! Each fall one per case.

-12 Autographed Cards Per Box
-At Least 6 Rookie Autographs Per Box
-1 Yankee Stadium Relic Card Per Box
-12 Rookies Numbered* to 1499 or Less Per Box
-12 Parallels Numbered* to 999 or Less Per Box

Base Cards
150 subjects; 200 cards on 20 pt. card stock.
Veterans
100 MLB pros and retired stars.
Rookies
50 rising stars with a variation version for each. Numbered* to 1499. 1 PER PACK!


Available in the following parallels:

--PLATINUM PHOTOGRAPHER’S PROOF: Hobby Exclusive! All one of one!
--GOLD PHOTOGRAPHER’S PROOF: Numbered to 50.
--PHOTOGRAPHER’S PROOF: Numbered to 99.
--FRAMED PRINTING PLATES: HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! The four plates used to make each of the 41 Rookie autographed cards are framed and numbered! ONE OF ONE!

Potential Bigger Hits:

-Triumvirate Autographed Triple Relics - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! 33 stars appear on cards with their autographs and three relics. Numbered. 1 PER CASE! Available in a ONE OF ONE Black Parallel version.
-Beam Team Stained Glass Autographs - 61 players on shimmering faux stained glass cards with their signature. Also available: ONE OF ONE Platinum, ONE OF ONE Printing Plate, Gold numbered to 50 and Black and White numbered to 99.
-Sketch Cards - 1 Per Case! HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! Original artwork featuring artwork of players, unforgettable baseball moments and Major League Baseball stadiums. Each sketch is an original one of one masterpiece and is signed by the artist!
-Yankee Stadium Relic Cards - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! • 1 PER BOX!

oStadium Slices 15 cards featuring Yankees and visiting players along with Yankee Stadium wall or dugout bench relics. Numbered to 299.
oCeremonial Cuts 10 cards showcasing the pieces of the famous bunting that has decorated the stadium over the years. Numbered to 299.

Parallel Cards (12 PER BOX!)

-Veteran First Day Issue - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! 100 Veteran and Retired players are featured with a foil- stamped First Day Issue logo. Numbered to 999.
-Platinum Photographer's Proof - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! ALL ONE OF ONE!
-Gold Photographer's Proof - Numbered to 50.
-Photographer's Proof - Numbered to 99.
-Framed Printing Plates - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! The 4 plates used to make each one of the 200 base cards are framed and numbered. ALL ONE OF ONE!

Now, for the scans:

Base:
The base cards feature very minimal text, which only serves to further highlight the gorgeous photography on the cards. I remember when Stadium Club first came out in the mid 1990s, and the first thing I noticed then was the clear, crisp photography on the cards. The 2008 version was no different.


I chose these three because I love that the Seaver was included as an action shot, I think the Smoltz photo is more than a standard off-field picture - it seems to get into his personality a bit more, and I love that the Griffey is pictured in White Sox uniform.


Parallels:

1st Day Issues #/599:
31 - Carl Crawford
37 - Hanley Ramirez
62 - Joba Chamberlain
64 - Victor Martinez
74 - Rich Harden
80 - Ryan Braun
86 - Justin Morneau
121 - Matt Tolbert
137 - Brandon Jones
145 - Clay Buchholz

I received 10 of these, including some nice ones like Ryan Braun and Joba Chamberlain. These are strictly parallels, with a shiny foil "1st Day Issue" logo in the corner. The logo is noticeable, but does not get in the way of the cards. (The sell sheet says they are #/999, but these were all #/599)



I chose these because they were all horizontal cards (not all of them were), and again, I liked the shots. The Joba is a great card as it shows him making a play at the plate, which I vividly remember watching live.

Parallel #/999.
I'm not sure what this one is, but I got the following:
63 - Kevin Youkilis
69 - Cole Hamels
78 - Justin Verlander
87 - Jimmy Rollins
101 - Luke Hochevar
102 - Daric Barton
103 - Nick Adenhart
104 - Gregor Blanco
110 - David Purcey
115 - Brandon Boggs
126 - Mitch Boggs
129 - Elliot Johnson
146 - German Duran

Again, some nice cards like World Series MVP Hamels, Verlander, and Youkilis. I didn't put up a scan of these since they are identical to the base cards except for the serial numbering on the back. These weren't listed on the sheet, so I'm not sure what they're called. Always nice to get parallels though.

Photographer's Proofs
I got four of these:
Vernon Wells #/99
Justin Masterson #/99
Alex Gordon #/50 (Gold)
Masahide Kobayashi #/50 (Gold)


Again, more parallels. And again, I like them.


The scan doesn't do them justice. The Wells and Masterson have the Photographer's Proof in Blue, while the Gordon and Kobayashi have the words in Gold. I like the way the words are written in a way that they resemble the sides of film. It's a nice aspect of the cards.

Now, for some hits:

GU:
The lone GU was a Yankee Stadium Stadium Slice Relic of Ichiro. This card features Ichiro with a piece of the Stadium Wall.



It is #/428, and is a very nice looking card. I would have loved one with a piece of the dugout wall, but you can't complain with that shiny blue swatch.


AUTOS:
First, the seemingly-standard redemptions. I'd complain about these more, but since there were only two, and since they have the codes on the back to make online redemption a possibility, I can't complain too much.



Rookie Autographs:
Woo! On-card autographs!


Again, I like the design, and I like how the autographs don't interfere with the photograph.

Beam Team Autographs:
Now we're talking. Once again, the scans might not do these cards justice, but they feature a stained-glass background.


Really nice cards, and they even feature a little blurb about the player on the back, unlike most autographs nowadays.

HOF Autograph!

Great card. I'm a little torn here since, as a Mets fan, I would have loved to see Carter in Mets uniform, but I do love that Expos uniform. In any case, it was a nice departure from some of the rookies.

Triumvirate Autographed Triple Relic!!


Yup, a case hit. #/99, and a great looking card. Very similar to the Triple Threads design that Topps has used the past couple of years. I was pleasantly surprised to pull one of these, and it's definitely a great card.

Printing Plate Auto!

That's right, not just a printing plate, a printing plate autograph!



A Ronny Paulino Autographed Beam Team printing plate. First 1/1 Auto or Printing Plate Auto I've ever pulled, and it's a beaut.



RATINGS (OUT OF 5)

Base Set - 5/5
Fun - 5/5
Design – 5/5
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Total: 23/25 = 92/100.

I love the simple design of the base. Although it's definitely not a box for set builders, the base set looks great, and would probably look even better when completed. The Beam Team autographs are really nice cards and I love that the rookie autographs are on card autographs. Really, the only complaint I have is that there were a lot of no-name autographs available. But, I can't complain when pulling a printing plate auto, case hit, and Hall of Fame auto. The cards are even nicer in person, as I don't think the scanner can pick up all of the colors or brightness of the individual cards. All in all, it was a very fun box to break, and the number of parallel cards make it very trade-worthy.

Thanks Topps!!

[molly1984]

Nice review, wow there are a lot of autos in this product! I think the Yankee relic cards are a pretty cool idea, but it's weird that they would put visiting teams on the cards. And that's awesome that you got a 1/1 auto from this box!

[gladdyontherise]

Nice review Andrew! i believe the /999 are the base cards!

[andrewcstein]

Nice review Andrew! i believe the /999 are the base cards!

But then what are the ones that aren't numbered to 999? Are just some base numbered?

[gladdyontherise]

But then what are the ones that aren't numbered to 999? Are just some base numbered?

the photographers proof is a usual set from stadium club, it's wierd but i've been told base are /999 for some reason this year?

[andrewcstein]

the photographers proof is a usual set from stadium club, it's wierd but i've been told base are /999 for some reason this year?

I've got 19 un-numbered base that says you're wrong :)

And I traded for the David Wright that's definitely not numbered. Have it in hand too.

I didn't get any #/999 cards in my un-numbered stack, so it's possible some are numbered and some aren't.

[gladdyontherise]

I've got 19 un-numbered base that says you're wrong :)

And I traded for the David Wright that's definitely not numbered. Have it in hand too.

I didn't get any #/999 cards in my un-numbered stack, so it's possible some are numbered and some aren't.

well then i'm stumped as well :) maybe short printed are some? is there anything special written on the card or the back of it to suggest its a parallel variation? if not, topps is just making it hard on set collectors..lol

[andrewcstein]

well then i'm stumped as well :) maybe short printed are some? is there anything special written on the card or the back of it to suggest its a parallel variation? if not, topps is just making it hard on set collectors..lol

I'll look again later, but I saw nothing different.

Hey, if they're short printed, at least we know they are, rather than being forced to hunt down a list.

[johan29lhp]

those are such great looking cards, very cool product to break! pull any johans out of it andrew?

[andrewcstein]

those are such great looking cards, very cool product to break! pull any johans out of it andrew?

Nope. None of your guys. I'll be posting up a list of what's available soon.