DATA: 2009 Upper Deck Icons ()

ACQUIRED: checkoutmycards.com

PING: Don’t have a clue what this set is about. It does have a Joey Votto card, so it’s got that going for it. I read over on Capewood’s Collections that packs of this stuff run for $1.97, so it’s got to be a bargain set.

The design really isn’t that bad, but it would probably get old after just a few packs. Nice photo of Joey on this one. Much better than featuring him with that dang camouflage jersey ;)

DATA: 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions (145)

ACQUIRED: checkoutmycards.com

PING: I’m a little torn on these Goodwin Champions cards from Upper Deck. Being a fan of heritage-type reproductions, it’s right in my sweet spot. But, there are little weird things about this set that bug me. The price of a pack #3 with the amount of cards included (4, I believe) is a little off-putting. The mini-cards are sized differently than other tobacco-style cards, which is kinda odd. Also there, are times when they use odd team logos on cards, for example the Reds logo on this Johnny Bench card. It doesn’t make sense to me. One other thing that I found interesting: There is no Upper Deck hologram on the back of the card. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen an UD card without one.

For Joey’s card in this set, I would have loved to have seen a different photo. Nothing like giving a fist bump to someone not in the photo. Plus, those camouflage jerseys just shouldn’t be on cards. I don’t mind them for a game every now and again, but I would rather see a regular uniform on anyone’s baseball card. It’s the little things.

DATA: 2009 Upper Deck Goudey Mini Green (56)

ACQUIRED: checkoutmycards.com

PING: We’re still lovin’ the Goudey. The minis are sweet. While Goudey switched to the modern card sized for their 2008 & 2009 sets, It’s nice they kept the mini in as an insert. Of course, that helps sell more cards… but we still dig them. There are Blue and Green variations in this year’s Goudey set… maybe black as well? Just more cards to track down, right?

DATA: 2009 Upper Deck Series 1 (102)

ACQUIRED: checkoutmycards.com, probably

PING: Joey’s obviously a great bowler. Look at that form! It’s interesting that he still wears his first baseman’s mitt and Reds uni when out bowling with the guys. Maybe they set up some lanes at GABP before a Sunday game or something? Family day possibly? Bowling is always good with the fam… if they start annoying you, you can always bail and play Street Fighter over at the arcade section of the bowling alley.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Documentary Gold Parallel (80, 380, 680, 980, 1280, 2480)

ACQUIRED: Cincy Reds Cards

PING: Just when I thought that SIX Documentary cards of Mr. Votto were plenty, Joe from Cincy Reds Cards hooks me up phat with SIX more. Now, this isn’t just SIX more Documentary cards, it’s SIX parallels. And what a sweet paralell it is! Upper Deck stamped “2008″ on this bad-boy and also made a box at the bottom of the card gold instead of silver.

Mind. Blown.

DATA: 2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History Timeless Moments (TM-JV 042/149)

ACQUIRED: Cincy Reds Cards

PING: Joe from Cincy Reds Cards recently sent me a nice package of cards including my two favorite players – Joey Votto and Barry Larkin. This Timeless Moments card was included and one of my favorites. I like this card a lot more than I expected to. It’s got a nice finish to it, good thickness and the design is better than average. The Upper Deck logo in the top left corner kills it a little bit… something the UP logo does a lot with their designs. This design is a huge step up from last year’s A Piece of History design as well. This particular card is number out of 149 – kinda odd. I have been unable to locate a checklist for this set, so I’m not sure what other parallels, if any, are available of this card.

Thanks again to Joe for the card. More cards from that package coming soon.

By the way, this article on Joey and the family in Dayton that hosted him while he played with the Dragons is a must-read.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Rookie Debut (6)

ACQUIRED: ebizzle

PING: So, from what I can gather, this is an insert card in the 2008 Upper Deck series 1 set. The card centers around Joey’s debut with the Reds on September 4, 2007. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that Joey really broke down the door, going 3-3 with a dinger and two runs scored. A few friends and I went to the game specifically to see his first start. Oh my, he did not disappoint. That was a fun afternoon.

DATA: 2009 Upper Deck Goudey

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: I love Upper Deck’s Goudey and couldn’t wait for Votto to get his own card in this year’s set. Though there are a lot of not-so-flattering “illustrations” in this set, Joey ended up doing alright. I especially love the tight crop, showing Joey briefly admiring a shot to the left-center gap before hustling around to second for a double.

In regards to ’09 Goudey – I would have like to have seen the illustrations take on a few liberties, taking out logos (like the Majestic logo on Joey’s sleeve), simplifying wrinkles in the jerseys, taking the vent holes out of the new-style helmets, and other stuff like that. I think it would have amounted to a more timeless release with those types of artistic choices. All-in-all though, the simplicity of the card design and lack of glossy finish really do it for me.

UPDATE: I just realized how close the photo on this Goudey card is to the Reds 2008 SGA Joey Votto card. Crazy.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Timelines: ’95 SP Premier Prospects Bronze (364)

ACQUIRED: From www.checkoutmycards.com

PING: With this card, I wrap up the entire set of Joey Votto cards in Upper Deck’s Timelines release from last year. Compared to the ’95 in Silver, this is a bit of an upgrade. The photo is working well with whatever shiny technology Upper Deck is using on this. The blurred background (aka bokeh) really helps Joey pop off the card, letting the design settle into a secondary position. So, for Joey, a successful card. I’m not a fan of the bronze, but that’s okay, for the sake of nostalgia, it works.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Documentary (80, 380, 680, 980, 1280, 2480)

ACQUIRED: bayTRON

PING: This set from Upper Deck is kinda dumb, I think. I bet someone out there is collecting all 4,980 cards from the set. What kills it for me is the fact that photos are repeated. I have six cards from this set featuring Joey Votto, and they are all the same photo. I totally understand the cost associated with licensing a photo for each and every card… but if you’re not going to do that, what’s the point? Anyways, this photo has Joey hustling after a bunted ball, sporting a nice goofy look while doing it too. Joey can’t look like a movie star in every photo, right? I have no clue how many Votto cards are in the Documentary set. I think six is enough for me.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum (123)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: What in the heck is Upper Deck Spectrum? I tell you what, there are way too many card brands/types to choose from. Funny thing – this scan looks nothing like the card. Instead of gold color, it’s really silver. Though the autograph looks to be on the card, it’s actually a sticker.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures – Silver (241)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: The silver embossed version of the 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures card. Nice lookin’ card numbered out of 299. The autograph is on a sticker instead of the card, but I’ll take it.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures Gold

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Finally found one of these at a decent price. These are nice looking cards in person, honestly. What I don’t get on these are the parallels. I do love some variation on the same card, but these are just too similar to justify picking up more than one or two. This card is numbered out of 99. I picked up another one at a great price that is numbered out of /299. The difference between the cards is minimal – slight background color variation and silver foil embossing instead of gold (above). I believe there’s another variation to this set out there – grey/charcoal maybe? Not sure what those are numbered out of. Unless one falls in my lap, I think I’m done with these. That said, the other one is coming soon.

Oh, and it’s always nice to have an autograph – even if it is on a sticker.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ’94 All-Time Heroes 20th Anniversary

ACQUIRED: ‘bayTRON

PING: Same card as the other ’94 All-Time Heros care, but this one has the Gold 20th Anniversary embossing on it. Rad. Should have embossed that floating head instead.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ’93 SP (314)

ACQUIRED: ‘bayTOWN

PING: The scan is not doing this card much justice. It’s a decent looking card. Minimal design, but the shiney is what gives it some punch. This card design was first issued before chrome was big, I believe, so these must have been pretty fly back in the day. The background is black and white with a knock-out of Joey jumping off of it. Good looking photo… it must have been taken right BEFORE the photo they used in Joey’s 2008 SP Authentic card. Just sayin’.