I’m not sure what a box of Upper Deck Artifacts was running
back in 2005 but I can reasonably assume it would have been out of my price
range as a collector. There were only 40 cards in the box (10 packs with 4
cards) but the odds suggested one autograph and three serial numbered
memorabilia cards among them. I would have been (and still am) left to cherry
pick the stuff I wanted so it was a good thing today’s card showed up in the
Mark Prior lot.
The first 100 cards in the set were an unnumbered base card
set. The next fifty cards were Future Stars serial numbered to 1350. Wrapping
up the 200 card set were 50 Legends numbered to 1999.
The Cubs had seven cards in the first 100, more than double
of what should have been had every team been represented equally. Mark Prior’s
card today comes in at #65 on the checklist and after double checking, is the
only one from that year’s team set I had in my collection.
For some reason, when I looked at the card the first few
half dozen times, I thought the letters behind him were spelling out MVP. It
wasn’t until I saw the other cards from the set that I realized it was just his
initials, MP. Too bad his parents didn’t give him Victor or Vladimir as a
middle nameor his initials could have
been MVP.
A full 100 unnumbered base card set would have taken at
least three boxes to complete when you figure in hits (and perfect collation)
but can be had on eBay for under $15 shipped. Or $45 with free shipping. Or if
you want to get super fancy and have the same cards but with a “UD Promo” stamp
on it, $200 OBO.
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