Let's do a 2006 UD EPIC Baseball Case Break!!!

Mikefromchester

With only 2 players, Topps and Upper Deck in baseball this year, let's compare their Inaugural products of 2006.
I think Topps clearly has Upper Deck beat with what you are promised or guanteed per box or case. Epic you not really guanteed anything special not even auto in a box or really even a case, "1 Epic Endors-ments signature #'d to 30 per case on average!". But lets see how this plays out.

We had so much fun with the 2006 Topps Triple Threads case break, back when it came out, Let's bust a case of Upper Deck new product, Epic. I picked up a case of this for $1440 at the show. Packs was going for $50, boxes at $195. Let's see how this case stacks up with the case we did of Topps new stuff for 2006 Triple Threads. I been told this Epic is loaded, too so lets find out, I plan on opening a box a day, like we did with the Triple, only 8 boxes in a case.

Reply of the Topps Triple Case break is here:
http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=11&threadid=493698

2006 UD EPIC Baseball 8 Box Case

5 Packs per Box...3 Cards per Pack...Look for multiple memorabilia cards #'d to
199 or less per box and 1 Epic Endors-ments signature #'d to 30 per case on
average! Key Selling Points: Each pack contains 1 Memorabilia card or autod card #d to 199 or less. Look for quad bat barrel cards, 8 swatch memorabilia cards and a great checklist of old timers and current players!!! 300 card regular set #d to 450. Look for "Epic Events" 100 cards featuring the 100 greatest moments in MLB History --- approx 3 per box #d to 675. "Epic Materials Memorabilia" varied numbering up to 199 with parallels #d to 99 and 25. "Epic Pairings Memorabilia" #d to 99. "Epic Triple Memorabilia" # dot 99. "Epic Foursome Memorabilia" #d to 50. "Epic Awesome Eight Memorabilia" #d to 10. "Epic Swatch" #d to 50. "Epic Endorsements" #d to 45. "Epic Materials Signatures" #d to 5. "Epic Four Barrel" varied #ing up to 5.

Box one:
Nothing loaded about this one, maybe tomorrow. Nothing for personal collection, so all is for trade. These are some very nice looking cards, but no autos or special game piece in box one.

Regular set cards /450:
A J Burnett
Jon Garland
Austin Kearns
Jason Kendall
Alfonso Sorian
Bernie Williams
Jose Vidro

Epic Event insert /675:
Miguel Cabrera
Jeter
Alex Rodriguez

Game Used:
Sandberg jersey 33/50
Yastrzemski jersey 35/50
Banks jersey 126/145
Griffey jersey 059/145
Murray jersey 014/145

Thanks, Mike

ctsoxfan

I always like these threads Mike - good luck on the rest!

But, almost $200 a box, and no autos? I wouldn't be too happy if that was the one box I bought.

envoy98

OUCH!

$200 and you got 7 base cards, 3 inserts and a handful of $8 jersey cards? This is why I stopped busting wax. Hopefully you get a couple monster hits to help out your cause! I'll live vicariously through you on this one!

Good Luck.

ctsoxfan

$8 jersey cards? If you are lucky, they'll bring $8 a piece, but most likely less. I couldn't give away Ultimate Collection GU cards for that, and they were similar to the players shown here.

Stone193

Hi Mike
Good luck on you break.

I must have been MIA when you posted the other thread.

Wow, 50$ a pack?

I hope you find a "hot box" with a mess of autos!

Looking forward to the scans.
mike

joestalin

This has to be the early front runner for worst product of the year. Nothing will prove this more than this case break. Upper Deck
is smoking some serious weed to think that they can put only 2 autos in a case, charge a butt load for it, and expect to sell it.

Thanks for the rip Mike, I hope you prove me wrong!

Kevin

Ahmanfan

Well, for the last few years, Upper Deck has basically been giving us $20 or $30 in every $100 box. Looks like they are now seeing if they can get away with $10 or $15 per $100 we spend. How far can they go??

JOhn

mcholke

This thread got me interested enough to look at the checklist on the Upper Deck website. I thought this might be an offering player collectors might get behind. I don't think so after looking and noticing Mike Schmidt for instance appears nearly 50 times in the set.

storm888

"How far can they go??"

//////////////////////////////

Oh, they can go REALLY far.

They will go as far as "enthusiasts" allow them to go.

Actually, they may well be nearing their "last-period pricing"
mode. That always happens when the golden goose is seen
to be near death.

storm

Boopotts

There's a thread on the Beckett boards that was started by a guy who broke a case of this product. He wasn't happy with the results.

Mikefromchester

ctsoxfan, Thanks, I hope they get better, but all the Epic breaks I saw this weekend and the first 2 out of this case, I have not been impressed.

envoy98, Thanks, you have a baindaid to help stop the bleeding?

ctsoxfan, I was fortunate to move most ot the pulls, and did give them away.

Stone193, Thanks, I'm sure theirs a hot box of this stuff somewhere, but I have not seen it yet, we have 6 more to go.

joestalin, Thanks, I agree with all you said.

Ahmanfan, I agree with all you said.

mcholke, I agree with all you said, and good luck on your Tony Perez collection.

storm888, They will be alot of this taking up space, if they don't drop the price.

Boopotts,
Thanks for the promising news, one bad case out of the way that gives me hope. You can be disappointed, but we all know theirs no sure thing when opening boxes or cases.

Box two:
Nothing loaded about this one, maybe tomorrow. But did get a Yankee for the personal collection, all the other is for trade. I bust cases to show how a case plays out. Box breaks serves a purpose and I feel a case break can be just as beneficial to the interested readers. But remember there can be good breaks and disappointing breaks.

Regular set cards /450:
Conor Jackson Rookie
Adam Wainwright Rookie
Jeff Conine
Joey Gathright
Jake Peavy
Kyle Lohse
Doug Miektkiewtcz

Epic Event insert /675:
Biggio
Ryan Howard
Griffey

Game Used:
Clemens pants16/40 (keeper)
Morgan jersey 054/145
Murray jersey 144/145
Puckett jersey 103/155
Proir jersey 069/185

Thanks, Mike

Alfiewt

$50 a pack and only 3 cards in a pack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

envoy98

Well if you manage any Twins cut autos, Twins regular, David Wright or Pujols autos...I'd be interested.
Good Luck!

70chip

Mike, thanks for doing a case break and the scans, I really enjoy your threads. Like the other posters, I have to agree, Epic seems like a very disappointing product (too say the least) . I hope you defy the odds and wish you the best of luck. Also, since I am staying away from this product, I would be interested in whatever Ripken or Brooks you pull, thanks.

Mikefromchester

Alfiewt,
Yes sir.

envoy98,
Thanks, the twins base cards are spoken for, but not the cut auto twins, if i get one I'm sure we'll be able to work out something.

70chip
Thanks, I enjoy doing these breaks. Even when I get a disappointing break. There are many case breakers, but most of them will only showoff the big pulls and never tell about the garbage pulls. I'll add you to my long list of ripken fans. I think he's one of rhe most loved player ever.

Box three:
Nothing loaded about this one, maybe tomorrow. This case is loaded with Murray, will we get 8 of him? But did get another Yankee for the personal collection and a Pujols fora givaway, all the other is for trade.

Regular set cards /450:
Cris Carpenter ( bad corner )
Aaron Roward
Andrew Jones
Derek Lowe
Paul Lo Duca
Derrek Lee

Epic Event insert /675:
Beckett
Schilling
Ichiro
Konerko

Game Used:
Murray jersey 09/25
Mccovey jersey 68/75
Boggs jersey 32/99 (Hoffy)
Jeter jersey 005/185 (keeper)
Pujols jersey 166/185 (CV prize, to be giving away this Sat. night during the chat )

Thanks, Mike

ToppsCo1lector

I know this may sound like a shot in the dark, but I'd like to get those 2 Murray Gu'ed cards if I could somehow.

BigRedMachine

PM me a price on the Morgan and Griffey game used, I'd consider if the price was right.

Keep on bustin', there's gotta be a beauty in there somewhere.

Good luck!!!

shawn

AkbarClone

IF you are interested, please PM me a price on the Yaz jersey card from box 1.
James

joestalin

so 750 dollars into it, you have 15 jersey cards, no ink, and the best card a high numbered jersey of Pujols that you might get 30 for. Am I right
here?

JS

Stone193

Mike

Sorry you haven't hit any auto cards yet.

What does the regular set cards look like?

The gu cards aren't bad and there's some nice HOF'ers but there's just too much of that around right now.

What are they going for on ebay?

Good luck on the next phase - and what would be a top pull for autos?

mike

ctsoxfan

<< <i>so 750 dollars into it, you have 15 jersey cards, no ink, and the best card a high numbered jersey of Pujols that you might get 30 for. Am I right
here?

JS >>



Ouch. This makes my 04-05 Exquisite case break look good by comparison. And, I lost my shirt on that one.

Mike - good luck, keep the breaks coming!

70chip

<< <i>

70chip
Thanks, I enjoy doing these breaks. Even when I get a disappointing break. There are many case breakers, but most of them will only showoff the big pulls and never tell about the garbage pulls. I'll add you to my long list of ripken fans. I think he's one of rhe most loved player ever. >>



Mike, you mean to tell me that I am not the only Ripken collector? Com'on I try to pick the unknown sleeper in the bunch and I find there are "others" that follow him as well. Oh well, I guess I deserve it growing up a lifelong Oreo's fan....I knew I should have picked John "tonight let it be" Lowenstein instead when I was a kid. But hopefully you'll give me 1st crack



Good Luck the rest of the way

fsjeter

I think the draw with this product is supposed to be the base cards. They're numbered to 450 and if you can manage to complete a base set, you can exchange it for a shot at one of the four 1/1 printing plate complete sets. With only 450 of each card that is going to be a very difficult base set to complete.

Scott

Boopotts

<< <i>I think the draw with this product is supposed to be the base cards. They're numbered to 450 and if you can manage to complete a base set, you can exchange it for a shot at one of the four 1/1 printing plate complete sets. With only 450 of each card that is going to be a very difficult base set to complete.

Scott >>




That's ridiculous. Why should you have to exchange it? UD should require you to send in the base set in order to be eligible, but they should send it back to you after they've verified it.

fsjeter

<< <i>

<< <i>I think the draw with this product is supposed to be the base cards. They're numbered to 450 and if you can manage to complete a base set, you can exchange it for a shot at one of the four 1/1 printing plate complete sets. With only 450 of each card that is going to be a very difficult base set to complete.

Scott >>




That's ridiculous. Why should you have to exchange it? UD should require you to send in the base set in order to be eligible, but they should send it back to you after they've verified it. >>



They might send it back this time. I'm not sure. I don't believe they sent the sets back in 2002 when they did it with the 100 card Upper Deck Bonus Set that was numbered to 1,125 and inserted two per bonus pack in second series boxes. That exchange was for the Mickey Mantle or Joe DiMaggio Jersey card numbered to 25, 45, or 90. So, 320 sets out of the 1,125 possible are possibly gone (assumng all the cards were claimed).

Scott

Mikefromchester

GOOD NEWS: We did get a nice pickup that came in. Epic is disappointing, but the UPS Driver made my day, he delivered this beauty:
2005 Upper Deck Signature Cuts Hawaii SCP6 Honus Wagner 1/1





Now back to the case:

Box four:
Nothing loaded about this one, maybe tomorrow. No Murray, THANK YOU Card Gods, But did get another Yankee for the personal collection and was really excited about getting a low number Thurman Munson. Then I did my homework and found out there's many more of the same Munson to be had.

Regular set cards /450:
Price Fielder (RC)
Edgar Renteria
Mariano Rivera (Gone)
Vinny Castilla
Johan Santana
Matt Holliday

Epic Event insert /675:
Ruth (Keeper)
Cobb
Teixeria
Andrew Jones

Game Used:
Thurman Munson Pants 24/35
Juan Marichal jersey 58/75 (keeper)
Boggs jersey 58/75
Nolan Ryan jersey 116/145
Piazza jersey 023/145
Ozzie smith jersey 016/145

Thanks, Mike

How many colors are in a rainbow? I think less then all the colors in Epic! How many tricks of the trade can one company put into a product?

2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Blue TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Blue TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Green TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/10
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Green TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/10
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Orange TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/35
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Orange TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/35
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Purple TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Dark Purple TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Gold TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Gold TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Green TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Green TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Grey TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Grey TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Light Purple TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Light Purple TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Orange TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/35
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Orange TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/35
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Red TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Red TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/34
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Teal TH1 Thurman Munson Pants/19
2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials Teal TH2 Thurman Munson Pants/19

joestalin

lets review what we were doing last year at this time....2005 Leaf Certified....here is what you got in one box:

1 Auto.....I opened 2 cases and got at least one per box
3 GU..one was a FOTG which was usually a decent HOF'er...every few boxes you got a nice hit like a Ryan numebred to 25 or Williams bat.

does this sound familiar?? 4 hits per box plus numbered cards of different colors?

This was leaf certifeid
This was 70 bucks a BOX, not 250 a box
This was what was good in the hobby
This was crazy with player collectors
This was taken away from us to make the hobby better

JS

KyleBicking

This Epic stuff sounds like a complete load of crap! I haven't seen one card that makes me think - wow thats awesome - except for that Wagner auto! I hope something else comes out soon for you to buy!

-Kyle-

70chip

<< <i>lets review what we were doing last year at this time....2005 Leaf Certified....here is what you got in one box:

1 Auto.....I opened 2 cases and got at least one per box
3 GU..one was a FOTG which was usually a decent HOF'er...every few boxes you got a nice hit like a Ryan numebred to 25 or Williams bat.

does this sound familiar?? 4 hits per box plus numbered cards of different colors?

This was leaf certifeid
This was 70 bucks a BOX, not 250 a box
This was what was good in the hobby
This was crazy with player collectors
This was taken away from us to make the hobby better

JS >>



Well, thats keeping it real. Very, Very good point IMO!! I am also going to miss Absolute With DLP being gone the hobby is sure "better". I am not Topps or UD bashing per say, but IMO DLP produced the majority of the products I enjoyed and some of the more attractive designs. Back to your regulary scheduled thread..........Good Luck Mike, the rest of the way!!

ctsoxfan

JS is right on the money. I opened a case of 2004 Leaf Certified when it came out, and actually made a little money on the contents of it. A few low numbered autos (Nolan Ryan was the best one) some nice mid-level autos and rookies, and GU cards with parallels that player collectors actually wanted.

I'm going to miss that product this year.

fsjeter

<< <i>This Epic stuff sounds like a complete load of crap! I haven't seen one card that makes me think - wow thats awesome - except for that Wagner auto! I hope something else comes out soon for you to buy!

-Kyle- >>



Only problem is, that Wagner didn't come out of the Epic.

I thought about going after the base set to see if I could get one of the printing plate sets but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Scott

joestalin

but who is going to reach out and put a stop to this? Beckett doesn't have the balls. Look like it will have to be
you and I and a few closed wallets!

JS

ctsoxfan

Personally, they've already lost me. I used to buy several cases of product a year to rip (I am not a store owner, just a collector) but now I limit myself to a few select products, and that's it. I have gotten burned so many times on $5 jersey cards, and useless auto rookies that never make the big leagues - I have learned my lesson on new products.

KyleBicking

I knew the Wagner wasn't from the Epic product, but its the best card in this thread.

I hope something else comes out of the case for you! So much money!
-Kyle-

Mikefromchester

Sorry my computer was acting up yesterday.

Box five:
Nice triple jersey card. Glad to get somthing other then a single jersey. Back to compairing this with triple tread, every box carried a 3 piece card numbered to 18 or less.

Regular set cards /450:
A J Pierzynaski
David Ortiz
Francisco Cordero
Mike Cameron
Brad Ausmus
Ray Durham
Carlos Beltran

Epic Event insert /675:
Pujols
Zito
Damon

Game Used:
Musial/Brock/Pujols 03/24 (Keeping)
Sandberg jersey 24/125
Reggie Jackson A's jersey 64/119
Griffey jersey 089/175
Vladdy jersey 048/175 (Trey)

Thanks, Mike



Box six:
Still alots of nice Jerseys. Nice to pull cards of your team, a couple more Yankees and another Pujols for a givaway.

Regular set cards /450:
Joe Mays
Adam Dunn (Big Ratchet)
Billy Wagner
Juan Uribe
Armando Benitez
Kevin Millwood

Epic Event insert /675:
Arod
Randy Johnson
Schmidt

Game Used:
Jeter/Griffey 18/99 (Keeping)
Jeter jersey 084/185 (Keeping)
Pujols jersey 93/99 (CV giveaway)
Mccvey jersey 113/155/175
Killebrew jersey 006/115

Thanks, Mike

ctsoxfan

Okay - I admit to being not too familiar with this product. But, what is going on here? Is UD trying to sell us on the premise that GU jersey cards are all of a sudden hot again? And, are they? (I seriously doubt it.) I didn't see a single auto pull yet from this case - is UD trying to tell us that GU cards are as desirable as autos now? I really don't understand this product's place in the market, especially at it's price point.

MLB should have pulled UD's license this year, and let Donruss/Playoff keep making cards. At least there was value in their products most of the time.

Boopotts

<< <i>Okay - I admit to being not too familiar with this product. But, what is going on here? Is UD trying to sell us on the premise that GU jersey cards are all of a sudden hot again? And, are they? (I seriously doubt it.) I didn't see a single auto pull yet from this case - is UD trying to tell us that GU cards are as desirable as autos now? I really don't understand this product's place in the market, especially at it's price point.

MLB should have pulled UD's license this year, and let Donruss/Playoff keep making cards. At least there was value in their products most of the time. >>



God, is that ever true. UD is just terrible-- all of their stuff IMO totally sucks, and it's a big part of the reason why the hobby's base continues to deteriorate.

Edit to clarify: I'm not in any way trying to demean the original poster. I'm glad you're sharing your break with the rest of us, and I hope you enjoy it when all is said and done.

Stone193

Mike

You've gotten some really nice GU cards.

I really like the epic triple material card but no autos yet? That's disappointing.

For that kind of money, I think UD has to guarantee each specific case and not just the entire print run.

I thought that the card industry was trying to go in the right direction by decreasing the number of products and even the number of companies - perhaps.

But the way things are going - maybe UD should have gone instead of Donruss?

I'm working real hard to keep an open mind.

But...

Good luck - sure hope you hit a really nice auto.
mike

SoFLPhillyFan

Agreed that DLP did a much better job with the higher end stuff. More hits for less money.

For baseball product this only strengthens my feelings about Topps / Bowman. Then again I'm more of a set collector.

For the money I'd get a hooker. At least you don't get screwed with your pants on.

ctsoxfan

Exactly! And, I wasn't looking to say anything negative about the original poster either...I hope Mike pulls whatever it would be from this case that is a "case card" and doesn't get burned. I am also happy that he is sharing the results of a case break here, so everyone can see the reality of this product (and maybe save a few bucks themselves).

Mikefromchester

ctsoxfan,
I agree pulling Donruss out of the game was a mistake at least for the consumer.

Boopotts,
I hear you and did not take anything negative from you or anyone else. I think this is why many that does take chances on cases will not share the intire case. But I have opened enough stuff, to know there will be good and bad breaks, That's why I think Toopps Triple Threads was a big hit, it is very limited and was assured of hitting a special card in every unopened case. Even if a monster card jumps out the last boxs, this Epic has been very disappointing. I'm looking forward to the case break we doing of Topps Allen & Ginter on another site.

Info on this upcoming product from Topps:
http://www.topps.com/Sellsheet/ProductSellSheet.aspx?sportsid=1&Product_Id=1157&ReleaseNo=94


2006 TOPPS ALLEN & GINTER BASEBALL
12 bx Case for $900
(07/24 Release)
24 Packs per Box...Key Selling Points: 2 Framed relics, autographs, printing plates or buyback cards per box. Each case will contain a Hobby Exclusive Rip Card which gives you the option of leaving sealed these packs can contain an Original Allen & Ginter card, a 1 of 1 Dick Perez Sketch card, an Allen & Ginter Extra mini (available in these packs only) or an Allen & Ginter Autographed Mini. 350 card set with 300 active and retired players, 10 Allen & Ginter reprints, 15 Athletes including Danika Patrick, Mike Tyson, Brandi Chastain, Hulk Hogan and more, and 25 Historic Figures. "Framed Autographed Cards" 51 total subjects including Baseball and other Athletes all hand numbered. "Relic Cards" 50 cards. "Allen & Ginter Originals" randomly inserted. "Dick Perez Sketch Cards" 30 players. Parallels as follows: "Regular", "Black", "Black Bordered", "Bazooka Black" numbered to 50, and "Wood" 1 of 1 which all cards in original 1 15/32x 2 11/16th size. Box Loader: "N43's" 15 players with 2 relics, and 2 autographs, "Postcards" 15 players with autographed personalized 1 of 1's available.

Stone193,
Thanks, not very impressive for the price.

Box seven:
Still a bunch of nice Jerseys, one more box.

Regular set cards /450:
Jamie Moyer
B J Ryan
Ben Broussard
Brain Moehler
Lance Berkman
Brad Penny
Jeramy Accardo

Epic Event insert /675:
Ichiro
David Wright
Alfonso Soriano

Game Used:
Pujols/Musial 06/99 (keeper)
Mattling jersey 60/99 (Keeper)
Bench jersey 077/145
Yaz jersey 126/155
Schmidt jersey 112/185

Thanks, Mike.

Mikefromchester

Box eight:
Still a bunch of nice Jersey, Did get a bigger piece of Jersey of Pujols in the box, so I guess the best out of this case was the triple game piece/24. Very disappointing after dropping so much into a new product. No autos, bats or patches in a sealed case, After opening a case of Topps Triple Treads and now Epic, The Topps brand came way out on top in all areas.

Regular set cards /450:
Bobby Crosby
Shawn Green
Jason Schmidt
Yadier Molina
Pat Burrell
Josh Beckett
Bartolo Colon

Epic Event insert /675:
Clemens
Chipper
Javy Lopez

Game Used:
Pujols 09/50 (keeper)
Ripken jersey 16/75
Ripken jersey 098/155
Reggie Jackson Yankee jersey 41/99 (keeper)
Griffey jersey 094/145

Thanks, Mike.