#UDRAK from That Sports Card Show and Upper Deck

Recently David Anton of Upper Deck was on the "That Sports Card Show" podcast talking about social media and a bit of ePack.  They gave away a few (ten, I believe) #UDRAK maildays and I was fortunate enough to be selected.  I saw tweets over the weekend that people had received them and I figured today was my day. 

Sure enough, when I returned to my desk from my Monday meeting, two envelopes (I will post the other tomorrow) were on it.  It doesn't matter if I'm at work, I always open bubble envelopes immediately. 

The winners were contacted on ePack (you had to have an ID to win) and asked what we collect.  I'm a Blackhawks guy and Upper Deck didn't disappoint.  I don't know all the details of the distribution, but a signed Tyler Motte oversized Young Guns is a very cool piece to add to my collection.  With the NHL Draft logo on it, I believe it was likely signed at the draft in Chicago this year. 

I'm not sure exactly what the Marvel piece is.  I will definitely give it to a friend for his son that's into the comic thing.  A highly underappreciated item that companies send sometimes are pens.  I work an office job and use them all the time.  I also keep track of mine and there's no doubt that I will use this one until it's out of ink. 

Finally, two packs of Series 1 were included.  So far I've only purchased two blasters but I do want to complete the set.  Hopefully inside is a handful of cards that I can use for my set. 

YOUNG GUNS!  They are 1:6 packs and I beat the odds here.  While I really wanted to pull an Alex DeBrincat, I need this one for my set, making it a win.  I also needed the Jakob Chychrun for my set.  I can't complain at 25% cards I needed in a pack that I paid nothing for!

Not only did I beat the odds in pack one with the Young Guns, there was a Paul Martin Clear Cut Parallel in my second pack.  Those are 1:72 packs and it's only the second one I've pulled from a pack.  I opened three boxes last season and got one, falling right at the odds.  In other good news, I needed the other seven cards for my set. 

Thank you for the contest and the cards, The Sports Card Show, David and Upper Deck.  While I may have some gripes time to time, I truly believe that none of the other card manufacturers comes anywhere close to taking care of their customers.  Upper Deck's social media presence has a lot to do with it.  You can disagree, it's just what I see.  The others could, and should, learn from Upper Deck.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back from purchases there.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

BOX BREAK: 2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts Hockey

I don't open much product anymore, so this is certainly a change of piece for my blog.  Enjoy the look at please comment with any thoughts!

PACK ONE

I posted pack one over on A Pack to be Named Later.  Click on over and check it out!

PACK TWO

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #25 Derek Stepan

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #142 Nicklas Lidstrom

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts Emerald #RED194 Los Angeles Kings Rookie

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #75 John Gibson

PACK THREE

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #97 Nikolaj Ehlers

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #121 David Krejci

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #62 Milan Lucic

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #9 Sebastian Aho

PACK FOUR

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #64 Joe Thornton

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts Orange #30 Oliver Ekman-Larsson

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #87 Nicklas Backstrom

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #93 Matthew Tkachuk

PACK FIVE

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #22 Zach Werenski

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts Material Emerald #69

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #65 T.J. Oshie

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #63 Mike Smith

PACK SIX

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #80 Cam Atkinson 

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #12 Nino Niederreiter 

2017-18 Artifacts Aurum #A40 Craig Anderson 

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #81 Artemi Panarin

PACK SEVEN

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #61 Jack Eichel 

2017-18 Artifacts Rookie Redemptions #RED183 Boston Bruins 

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #31 Mark Stone 

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #34 Brad Marchand

PACK EIGHT

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #32 Max Pacioretty 

2017-18 Artifacts Material Silver #165 Evgeny Svechnikov 

2017-18 Upper Deck Artifacts #58 Bo Horvat

For whatever reason, the final pack only included three cards.  It makes no sense, as the jersey card in it was a thinner card stock than the Ryan Spooner Materials, and it contained four cards.  Many may find it nitpicking, but when you're paying THIS much for THIS few cards, I feel they all need to be there.  

SUMMARY:

Packs - 8

Total Cards - 31

Set Cards - 24 (of 180; 13.3% set completion); 2 numbered (cards 101-180)

Rookie Redemption - 1 (Boston Bruins)

Rookie Redemption Emerald - 1 (Los Angeles Kings) 

Ruby - 1 (Colin White)

Orange - 1 (Oliver Ekman-Larsson)

Material Silver - 1 (Evgeny Svechnikov

Material Emerald - 1 (Ryan Spooner)

Aurum - 1 (Craig Anderson)

I'd love comments with reader thoughts. This product is about $90 a box.  So, fire away!  

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back from purchases there.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in less than a year.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

So Close

Yesterday the Auston Matthews Canvas Young Guns that I submitted to BGS came back.  While I'm thrilled it came back a 10, I can't help feeling just a little disappointed.

It came back three 10 subgrades and the fourth is a 9.5.  Just one small, minor point away from the black label.  Ah well.  Now I just need to find a buyer.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back from purchases there.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about seven months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!