1997 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Series 1

Welcome back to the '90s, the greatest decade there ever was. Way back in the year 2012, I posted a pack of 1997 Collector's Choice Series 2 and have been constantly harassed about a possible follow-up project. At long last, here is the prequel to that legendary pack.

14 - Sammy Sosa The Big Show - We kick things off with a truly Big card. Sosa would become even bigger the following year.

41 - Alex Rodriguez The Big Show - These packs really deliver on the inserts, with a second Sportscenter-related insert found here. If the super-hyped A-Rod had hit a million home runs in 1998 (he hit a paltry 42... what the hell?), no one would have batted an eye. The formerly slight Sosa going toe to toe with the massive McGwire was weird, though, wasn't it?

154 - Marty Cordova - Finally, a base card. I can breathe again.

110 - Travis Fryman - Whenever Ignignokt (and maybe Err?) called Frylock "Fryman", it made me think of this guy. That's probably not totally fair, because he was a pretty solid player for a lot of years.

233 - Joey Cora - I think this is going to go in my girlfriend's "flying guys" collection.

144 - Scott Karl - He's stretching and just trying to catch a break, man.

16 - Brady Anderson Stick-Um's - Stickers, for the kids!

5 - Darin Erstad Rookie Class - I think this set has one of the better Collector's Choice base designs, but I am not a big fan of these Rookie Class cards.

200 - Ozzie Smith - Upper Deck was paying a proper final tribute respect to a legendary player here, something Topps could probably never will learn from.

156 - Rick Aguilera - Here's a look at a card back. Stats and a factoid!