Card of the Day: Rafael Nadal 2006 Ace Authentic Grand Slam #17

Card of the Day: Hulk Hogan 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #307

Card of the Day: Mike Tyson 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #301

Card of the Day: Mickey Mantle 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #275

Card of the Day: Brad Ausmus 2006 Upper Deck #204

Card of the Day: Jerry Porter 2006 Upper Deck #142

Card of the Day: Jerry Snyder 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Auto

Card of the Day: Frank Thomas 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #93

Card of the Day: Frostee Rucker 2006 Fleer Hot Prospects #132

Product Highlight: 2006 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Baseball

A lot has changed for Upper Deck since 2006.  The company that revolutionized the industry with it’s first set in 1989 no longer makes licensed baseball cards.  Today they stick with their NHL, various entertainment properties, and memorabilia products.  They still make some of the best looking cards in the hobby. Later this year they plan to release some new golf products. Something we haven’t seen much of since 2014 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Golf.

Upper Deck didn’t issue 2006 Exquisite Collection Baseball as a standalone product.  Instead they inserted mystery redemption cards within five of their other sets.  The products you could pull one of these redemption cards out of includes UD2, Ovation, Legendary Cuts, SPx, and Fleer Tradition. Your best chance at pulling one was in a box of SPx (1:2 boxes).  The redemption cards have long since expired, but the cards which were redeemed still live on.

What did one of these mystery redemption cards guarantee you?  Collectors that redeemed them would most likely receive an autograph, relic, or autograph/relic numbered to no more than (65) copies.  Some lucky people received full-sized pieces of autographed memorabilia.  Upper Deck even threw in a meet and greet, custom Exquisite Baseball box, and a chance to win a free box of every Upper Deck/Fleer baseball product released in 2007.

It was a blast to pull one of these.  I got mine from a pack of SPx.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to sell the redemption or redeem it.  In the end, I couldn’t sell it thinking that someone might get a Babe Ruth Cut Signature.  After punching in the code, I got a really neat looking Manny Ramirez Exquisite Memorabilia/Maximum Patch #’ed/25.

When it comes to rookies, Justin Verlander and Cole Hamels are the most notable names that stick out today.