2009 Upper Deck Series 1

Greetings!

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.  I'm too lazy to scan new packs in (I'm also too lazy to do much anything else), so I continue to clear out the scanned folder on my computer.  Here's a pack of 2009 Upper Deck Series 1!

Our regular readers will quickly realize that this set has been featured on this site already.  Our not-so-regular readers will roll their eyes at this repack staple.  Anyway, Madding beat me to the punch with this set, but I spent the time to scan it and type up the player list, so I might as well post it.  Here's what I got:

#50 – Julio Lugo

#15 – Adam Dunn

#78 – Nick Swisher

#153 – Lance Berkman

#132 – Marcus Thames

#195 – Matt Kemp

 

I like the design of the set, with the above-average Upper Deck photography.  However, with the Berkman, Thames, and Kemp cards back-to-back-to-back, we're approaching 2014 Topps redundancy territory.

#403 – Jonathon Niese (RC)

#457 – Team Leaders:  Dodgers

#157 – President of South Africa (Upper Deck 20^th Anniversary)

Not Pictured – UpperDeckU.com

#481 – Brandon Phillips (Checklist)

#265 – Johnny Damon

#250 – Johan Santana

 

Johan signed with Baltimore back in March.  I had no idea this happened, and I'd like to think I follow the game pretty closely.  It's sad to see injuries take it's toll on (at the time) one of the premiere pitchers in the game.

#267 – Hideki Matsui

#233 – Jason Kubel

#353 – Todd Wellemeyer

#387 – Alex Rios

#370 – Eric Hinske

#380 – Vicente Padilla (back)

Not a bad pack if it was 2009.  Anyway, that's all for now.  Thanks for reading!

2009 Upper Deck Series 1

I know what you're thinking, but we really haven't covered 2009 Upper Deck Series 1 here before. This one is a staple of the repack boxes and bargain bins, and comes equipped with the familiar $1.59 sticker on the back. We're coming up on 5 years since these hit the shelves, so let's play the "where are they now?" game.

48 - Clay Buchholz - Buchholz pitched for the Series-winning Red Sox (grumble, grumble) this year, but suffered from some sort of fatigue/suck that announcers seemed to be worried about.

62 - Derrek Lee - Lee last played in 2011 and is presumed retired.

29 - Nick Markakis - Markakis has had an up-and-down career, but he still calls Baltimore home and has a regular job there.

90 - A.J. Pierzynski - Pierzynski spent 2013 as a Ranger after finishing up his lengthy White Sox career, and he'll likely find a new team in the offseason.

159 - Jose Valverde - Valverde is an internationally famous toothpaste designer.

103 - Jay Bruce - Bruce is one of the cornerstones of the Reds offense and drove in a career high 109 runs last year.

432 - Ryan Howard / Cole Hamels / Jimmy Rollins Team Leaders - Shockingly, this entire group is still in Philadelphia. Howard set the stage for the big contract buyer's remorse era, while Hamels has been solid but a little disappointing. Meanwhile, Rollins swapped his wood bat for a wiffle bat last year and somehow couldn't hit the ball past anyone.

470 - J.D. Drew Season Highlights - Drew retired after the 2011 season. Last year, his younger brother arrived in Boston just to confuse everyone.

41 - Dallas Cowboys 20th Anniversary - The Cowboys are currently in 2nd place in the NFC West, where they will hopefully stay.

417 - George Kottaras - Kottaras was traded by the Royals to the Cubs today.

449 - Brian Roberts / Aubrey Huff / Jeremy Guthrie - Roberts hasn't played a full season since the year this card was issued, but he has never played for anyone but the Orioles. He's nearing the end of his career and is currently a free agent. Huff didn't play at all last year but doesn't technically appear to be retired, while Guthrie signed a lucrative late career deal with the Royals.

284 - Frank Thomas - Thomas had seen his last action by 2009 and was just included on the most recent Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

237 - Pat Neshek - Neshek is a free agent, having last pitched with Oakland just this past summer.

254 - Brian Schneider - Schneider was a part time catcher for much of his career and retired after the 2012 season.

303 - Nate McLouth - McLouth resurrected his once promising career (2008 All-Star!) in Baltimore and is currently a free agent.

388 - Vernon Wells - Wells is swimming around in a room full of money, Scrooge McDuck style, while possibly wearing a Yankees uniform.

331 - Erik Bedard - Bedard is currently a free agent after spending the season with the Lil' Astros as wise old man who can't pitch very well anymore.

365 - Jonny Gomes - Gomes was Boston's so-called good luck charm in the playoffs and had a really dirty looking beard.

Also, Jose Valverde isn't actually a toothpaste designer.