Box Break: 2008 Sweet Spot
I got my hand on a hobby box of 2008 Sweet Spot and one of those Sweet Spot retail tins from Target. It’s been a while since I opened a box so I’ve been getting the itch to bust something.
I’ll start off with the retail tin. These sell for about $30 at target and offer 3 packs of 8 cards with the promise of at least one memorabilia or autographed card.
Pack 1
-85 Rich Harden
-58 Johan Santana
- 61 Jose Reyes
- 31Dan Uggla
- 94 Torii Hunter
-34 Derek Jeter
-97 Troy Tulowitzki
-7 Alex Rodriguez
-YSL Game 5546 Wade Boggs – Is it me or does it seem weird that Wade Boggs has a ring with the Yankees but Don Mattingly doesn’t?
Pack 2
-42 Grady Sizemore
-23 Carlos Zambrano
-50 Jason Bay
-Ivan Rodriguez Sweet Swatch Memorabilia (Gray)
-74 Michael Young
-38 Felix Hernandez
-47 Ichiro – That’s an awkward batting stance. He looks like he needs to head to the restroom.
-B.J. Upton
-YSL Game 2425 Allie Reynolds
Pack 3
-67 Lance Berkman
- 4 Albert Pujols
-40 Freddy Sanchez
- 78 Nick Markakis
-51 Jeff Francoeur
-13 Billy Butler – I think I like the old school KC look.
-15 Brandon Webb
-70 Manny Ramirez
-YSL Game 5571 Don Mattingly – Donnie Baseball, still one of the cooler nicknames of the 80’s.
Thoughts on the retail tin: Not too bad. I didn’t think I would pull an autograph from a retail tin, so that’s OK. Pudge Rodriguez is a great pull, the man’s a future HOF.
Now for the hobby box. Spotted this at the comic shop, it kept tempting me, so I figured I’d take a shot. I’m hoping to get a decent Sweet Spot autograph.
Hobby Pack 1
-63 Josh Hamilton
-90 Ryan Howard
-27 Chris Carpenter
-86 Robinson Cano
-66 Ken Griffey Jr. – Junior seems out of place in a White Sox uni.
-48 Ivan Rodriguez
-YSL Game 585 Lou Gehrig
and…
Sweet Swatch Triple Memorabilia #’d 10/25
-Vlad Guerrero (red, white, & blue patch)
-David Ortiz (red & blue patch)
-Magglio Ordonez (blue & white patch)
Hobby Pack 2:
-35 Dontrelle Willis
-62 Josh Beckett
-89 Ryan Braun
-Hanley Ramirez Sweet Swatch (Gray)
-41 Gary Sheffield
-68 Lastings Milledge
-5 Alex Gordon
-YSL Game 635 Bill Dickey
Hobby Pack 3:
-26 Chris Young (D-back OF, not Padre pitcher)
-80 Paul Konerko
-17 Brian Roberts
-Sweet Swatch Triple Memorabilia – Vlad Guerrero (gray swatch), David Ortiz (gray swatch), and Magglio Ordonez (white swatch)
-23 Carlos Zambrano
-50 Jason Bay
-42 Grady Sizemore
-YSL Game 560 Babe Ruth
Time for a rant. Come on Upper Deck! Two Triple Memorabilia cards featuring the same exact players? I realize that one is a numbered, multi-colored patch card, thus making it a premium. But at least go for some variety in these boxes.
Hobby Pack 4:
-44 Hanley Ramirez
-71 Mariano Rivera
-8 Alfonso Soriano
-Sweet Swatch Pedro Martinez (gray swatch)
-69 Magglio Ordonez
-6 Alex Rios
-96 Trevor Hoffman – His last Upper Deck card as a Padre. Definitely a keeper.
-YSL Game 485 Babe Ruth
HobbyPack 5:
-64 Justin Morneau
-1 Aaron Harang
-98 Vernon Wells
-Sweet Swatch Johan Santana (white) – looks like there’s a crease in the upper-right corner
-3 Adam Dunn
-93 Tom Glavine
-30 Dan Haren
-YSL Game 685 Red Ruffing
Hobby Pack 6:
-13 Billy Butler
-40 Freddy Sanchez
-67 Lance Berkman
-Sweet Beginnings Auto Greg Smith #’d 252/399
-95 Travis Hafner
-32 David Ortiz
-59 John Smoltz
-YSL Game 610 Tony Lazzeri
Thoughts on the hobby box: Definitely disappointed. The only autograph was a pitcher I’ve never heard of. I would have loved to pull a Sweet Spot auto. The fact that Upper Deck collated two similar triple memorabilia cards also made the break a disaster. Only picked up one card for my personal collection (Trevor Hoffman).
As far as the base set design goes, it’s ok. I like the faux stitching used on the cards. The photography is also good, but not on par with the photos used in Upper Deck’s flagship set.
Tags: baseball cards, Box Break, sweet spot, upper deck





















Love the Vlad patch, but even I’d be a little annoyed getting such a similar hit. The lack of a Sweet Spot auto is just a huge letdown. It’s the main reason to buy the product, why have boxes without them. Rough.
I would call Upper Deck and let them know they forgot to seed you A Sweet Spot Auto. This has been going on alot with them lately. I have A number of 07-09 Padre autographed prospects ( Antonelli etc), and A Tony Gwynn 08 threads /500 G.U I can trade you for the patch card if that would make things better.
LMK
Mojo