2003 Sweet Spot Classics
Description
2003 Sweet Spot Classics is a 150-card set released by Upper Deck in March, 2003. As the name suggests, the product focuses (almost) exclusively on retired players. The base set includes a 30-card (cards #91-#120) Teddy Ballgame subset and a 30-card (#121-#150) Yankee Heritage subset. The Teddy Ballgame and Yankee Heritage subsets are serial-numbered to 1941 and 1500 copies, respectively.
Each 12-pack Hobby box will yield one serial-numbered Teddy Ballgame and one Yankee Heritage subset card, one Game Jersey or Pinstripes card and two manufactured Patch Cards. Every other box will contain a Sweet Spot Autograph card on a simulated leather ball.
Inclusion of Hideki Matsui
As a last-minute addition to the Sweet Spot Classics product, Upper Deck included a card of then-recent New York Yankees signing Hideki Matsui into the base set. Card #75, originally intended for Rod Carew, with withdrawn and replaced by Matsui, whose card was serial-numbered to 1999 copies. Despite this late "rookie" addition, Matsui's card does not fit the definition of a "true" Rookie Card as Sweet Spot Classics was not licensed by the MLBPA and does not feature any other active players.
It should be noted that several Rod Carew base cards did emerge from packs, but a set is considered complete without one.
Distribution
12 packs per box, five cards per pack (MSRP: $10). 16 boxes per case. Hobby only.
Reviews
Insertion Ratios
| Cards | Total Cards | Numbered To | Hobby Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 150 | - | 5:1 |
| short set | 89 | - | 5:1 |
| Hideki Matsui "rookie" | 1 | 1999 | ? |
| Teddy Ballgame | 30 | 1941 | 1:12 |
| Yankee Heritage | 30 | 1500 | 1:12 |
| Hideki Matsui Red | 1 | 500 | ? |
| Hideki Matsui Blue | 1 | 250 | ? |
| Hideki Matsui Silver | 1 | 25 | ? |
| Patch Cards | 83 | - | 1:6 |
| Game Jersey | 30 | - | 1:16 |
| Pinstripes | 12 | - | 1:40 |
| Autographs Blue Ink | 16 | - | A |
| Autographs Black Ink | 35 | varies | A |
| Autographs Red Ink | 35 | 25 | A |
| Autographs Yankee Greats Blue Ink | 23 | - | A |
| Autographs Yankee Greats Black Ink | 36 | varies | A |
| Autographs Yankee Greats Red Ink | 35 | 25 | A |
| Autographs Yankee Greats Matsui Exchange | 1 | 50 | A |
A: Odds of finding an autograph: 1:24/packs.
Checklist
Base Set
- 1 Al Hrabosky
- 2 Al Lopez
- 3 Andre Dawson
- 4 Bill Buckner
- 5 Billy Williams
- 6 Bob Feller
- 7 Bob Lemon
- 8 Bobby Doerr
- 9 Cecil Cooper
- 10 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- 11 Carlton Fisk
- 12 Catfish Hunter
- 13 Chris Chambliss
- 14 Dale Murphy
- 15 Gaylord Perry
- 16 Dave Kingman
- 17 Dave Parker
- 18 Dave Stewart
- 19 David Cone
- 20 Dennis Eckersley
- 21 Don Baylor
- 22 Don Sutton
- 23 Duke Snider
- 24 Dwight Evans
- 25 Dwight Gooden
- 26 Earl Weaver
- 27 Early Wynn
- 28 Eddie Mathews
- 29 Enos Slaughter
- 30 Ernie Banks
- 31 Fred Lynn
- 32 Fred Stanley
- 33 Gary Carter
- 34 George Foster
- 35 Hal Newhouser
- 36 George Kell
- 37 Harmon Killebrew
- 38 Hoyt Wilhelm
- 39 Jack Morris
- 40 Jim Bunning
- 41 Jim Gilliam
- 42 Jim Leyritz
- 43 Jimmy Key
- 44 Joe Carter
- 45 Joe Morgan
- 46 John Montefusco
- 47 Johnny Bench
- 48 Johnny Podres
- 49 Jose Canseco
- 50 Juan Marichal
- 51 Keith Hernandez
- 52 Ken Griffey, Sr.
- 53 Kirby Puckett
- 54 Kirk Gibson
- 55 Larry Doby
- 56 Lee May
- 57 Lee Mazzilli
- 58 Lou Boudreau
- 59 Mark McGwire
- 60 Maury Wills
- 61 Mike Pagliarulo
- 62 Monte Irvin
- 63 Nolan Ryan
- 64 Orlando Cepeda
- 65 Ozzie Smith
- 66 Paul O'Neill
- 67 Pee Wee Reese
- 68 Phil Niekro
- 69 Ralph Kiner
- 70 Red Schoendienst
- 71 Richie Ashburn
- 72 Rick Ferrell
- 73 Robin Roberts
- 74 Robin Yount
- 75a Hideki Matsui XRC 1999
- 75b Rod Carew ERR
- 76 Rollie Fingers
- 77 Ron Cey
- 78 Tom Seaver
- 79 Sparky Anderson
- 80 Stan Musial
- 81 Steve Garvey
- 82 Ted Williams
- 83 Tom Lasorda
- 84 Tony Gwynn
- 85 Tony Perez
- 86 Vida Blue
- 87 Warren Spahn
- 88 Bob Gibson
- 89 Willie McCovey
- 90 Willie Stargell
Teddy Ballgame
Each Teddy Ballgame card is serial-numbered to 1941 copies.
- 91 Ted Williams
- 92 Ted Williams
- 93 Ted Williams
- 94 Ted Williams
- 95 Ted Williams
- 96 Ted Williams
- 97 Ted Williams
- 98 Ted Williams
- 99 Ted Williams
- 100 Ted Williams
- 101 Ted Williams
- 102 Ted Williams
- 103 Ted Williams
- 104 Ted Williams
- 105 Ted Williams
- 106a Ted Williams
- 106b Ted Williams
- 107 Ted Williams
- 108 Ted Williams
- 109 Ted Williams
- 110 Ted Williams
- 111 Ted Williams
- 112 Ted Williams
- 113 Ted Williams
- 114 Ted Williams
- 115 Ted Williams
- 117 Ted Williams
- 118 Ted Williams
- 119 Ted Williams
- 120 Ted Williams
Yankee Heritage
Each Yankee Heritage card is serial-numbered to 1500 copies.
- 121 Babe Ruth
- 122 Bucky Dent
- 123 Casey Stengel
- 124 Dave Righetti
- 125 Dave Winfield
- 126 Dick Tidrow
- 127 Dock Ellis
- 128 Don Mattingly
- 129 Hank Bauer
- 130 Jim Bouton
- 131 Jim Kaat
- 132 Joe DiMaggio
- 133 Joe Torre
- 134 Lou Piniella
- 135 Mel Stottlemyre
- 136 Mickey Mantle
- 137 Mickey Rivers
- 138 Phil Rizzuto
- 139 Ralph Branca
- 140 Ralph Houk
- 141 Roger Maris
- 142 Ron Guidry
- 143 Ruben Amaro
- 144 Sparky Lyle
- 145 Thurman Munson
- 146 Tommy Henrich
- 147 Tommy John
- 148 Tony Kubek
- 149 Whitey Ford
- 150 Yogi Berra
Parallels
Upper Deck printed three parallels of the Hideki Matsui base card (#75). These are the only parallels in this product.
- Red (serial-numbered to 500 copies)
- Blue (serial-numbered to 250 copies)
- Silver (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
Manufactured Patches
Patch Cards
NOTE: Scattered among the set are some cards that have an actual piece of game used memorabilia (GU).
- BR1 Babe Ruth 350
- BR2 Babe Ruth
- BR3 Babe Ruth 150
- BW1 Billy Williams
- CF1 Carlton Fisk
- CF2 Carlton Fisk 150
- CH1 Catfish Hunter 350
- CH2 Catfish Hunter
- CH3 Catfish Hunter 39
- CH4 Catfish Hunter 50
- CR1 Cal Ripken, Jr.
- CR2 Cal Ripken, Jr. GU 75
- CR3 Cal Ripken, Jr. 150
- DS1 Duke Snider
- DS2 Duke Snider 150
- DS3 Duke Snider 350
- DS4 Duke Snider GU 25
- DS5 Duke Snider 150
- DS6 Duke Snider 150
- EB1 Ernie Banks
- FL1 Fred Lynn
- FL2 Fred Lynn 350
- FL3 Fred Lynn 150
- FL4 Fred Lynn 50
- GF1 George Foster 350
- GF2 George Foster
- HM1 Hideki Matsui
- JB1 Johnny Bench
- JB2 Johnny Bench GU 150
- JB3 Johnny Bench 150
- JD1 Joe DiMaggio
- JD2 Joe DiMaggio 50
- JD3 Joe DiMaggio 350
- JD4 Joe DiMaggio 150
- JM1 Joe Morgan
- JM2 Joe Morgan 350
- JM3 Joe Morgan 150
- JM4 Joe Morgan GU 150
- JM5 Joe Morgan 100
- KG1 Kirk Gibson
- KG2 Kirk Gibson 350
- KP1 Kirby Puckett
- KP2 Kirby Puckett GU 40
- MC1 Mark McGwire
- MC2 Mark McGwire 350
- MC3 Mark McGwire GU 9
- MM1 Mickey Mantle
- MM2 Mickey Mantle 150
- MM3 Mickey Mantle 150
- MM4 Mickey Mantle 150
- MM5 Mickey Mantle 7
- NR1 Nolan Ryan
- NR2 Nolan Ryan 350
- NR3 Nolan Ryan 150
- NR4 Nolan Ryan GU 105
- OS1 Ozzie Smith
- OS2 Ozzie Smith 350
- OS3 Ozzie Smith GU 150
- OS4 Ozzie Smith 100
- OS5 Ozzie Smith 100
- RM1 Roger Maris
- RM2 Roger Maris 350
- RM3 Roger Maris 150
- RM4 Roger Maris 50
- RY1 Robin Yount
- RY2 Robin Yount GU 150
- RY3 Robin Yount 350
- SG1 Steve Garvey
- SG2 Steve Garvey 350
- SG3 Steve Garvey GU 150
- SG4 Steve Garvey 50
- SG5 Steve Garvey 50
- TG1 Tony Gwynn
- TG2 Tony Gwynn GU 150
- TG3 Tony Gwynn 350
- TW1 Ted Williams
- TW2 Ted Williams 350
- WS1 Willie Stargell
- WS2 Willie Stargell GU 137
- WS3 Willie Stargell 150
- WS4 Willie Stargell 50
- YB1 Yogi Berra
- YB2 Yogi Berra 350
- YB3 Yogi Berra 150
Autographs & Game-Used
Game Jersey
- AD Andre Dawson SP
- CC Cecil Cooper
- CF Carlton Fisk
- CR Cal Ripken, Jr.
- DM Dale Murphy
- DP Dave Parker PANTS
- DS Duke Snider SP
- EB Ernie Banks SP
- FL Fred Lynn
- GC Gary Carter SP
- GF George Foster
- HK Harmon Killebrew
- JB Johnny Bench
- JC Jose Canseco
- JG Jim Gilliam
- JM Joe Morgan PANTS
- JP Johnny Podres
- KP Kirby Puckett
- LM Lee May
- MM Mark McGwire
- NR Nolan Ryan
- OS Ozzie Smith
- RC Ron Cey
- RF Rollie Fingers
- RY Robin Yount
- SG Steve Garvey
- SM Stan Musial SP
- TG Tony Gwynn
- TW Ted Williams SP
- WS Willie Stargell SP
Pinstripes
- BR Babe Ruth SP PANTS
- CS Casey Stengel
- DE Bucky Dent
- DG Dwight Gooden PANTS
- DM Don Mattingly PANTS
- DR Dave Righetti
- JB Jim Bouton
- JD Joe DiMaggio SP
- MM Mickey Mantle SP
- PR Phil Rizzuto
- TM Thurman Munson SP
- YB Yogi Berra
Autographs
NOTE: All autographs are signed on a leather-like substrate with a ball-point pen. Collectors should be advised that such signatures have been known to fade over time.
Blue Ink
NOTES:
- As opposed to the Black and Red Ink cards, none of the Blue Ink cards (with the exception of Ted Williams) are serial-numbered.
- All cards with an asterisk are believed to be in greater supply; SP are in lesser supply.
- The Ted Williams card is a cut autograph which is serial-numbered to nine copies.
- AD Andre Dawson
- AH Al Hrabosky SP
- BB Bill Buckner SP
- CF Carlton Fisk
- CR Cal Ripken, Jr.
- DB Don Baylor SP
- DM Dale Murphy
- DS Dave Stewart
- KG Ken Griffey, Sr.
- KP Kirby Puckett
- OC Orlando Cepeda *
- SN Duke Snider
- TG Tony Gwynn
- TW Ted Williams CUT 9
- DE Dennis Eckersley
- DE Dwight Evans *
Black Ink
Each Autographs Black Ink is hand-numbered to the production figures listed below and also available in a Red Ink parallel which is serial-numbered to 25 copies.
- AD Andre Dawson 75
- AH Al Hrabosky 100
- AT Alan Trammell 173
- BB Bill Buckner 85
- BW Billy Williams 173
- CR Cal Ripken, Jr. 38
- DB Don Baylor 50
- DE Dwight Evans 100
- DP Dave Parker 113
- DS Don Sutton 123
- EB Ernie Banks 73
- GC Gary Carter 173
- GF George Foster 173
- GI Kirk Gibson 173
- HK Harmon Killebrew 73
- JB Johnny Bench 73
- JC Joe Carter 123
- JM Joe Morgan 169
- JP Johnny Podres 173
- KG Ken Griffey, Sr. 100
- KH Keith Hernandez 173
- KP Kirby Puckett 174
- MM Mark McGwire "Maris '61" 73
- MW Maury Wills 173
- OC Orlando Cepeda 34
- PN Phil Niekro 173
- RF Rollie Fingers 73
- RR Robin Roberts 173
- RY Robin Yount 73
- SG Steve Garvey 173
- SN Duke Snider 100
- TG Tony Gwynn 101
- TP Tony Perez 51
- TS Tom Seaver 74
- JM Jack Morris 123
Autographs Yankee Greats
Blue Ink
NOTES:
- As opposed to the Black and Red Ink cards, none of the Blue Ink cards (with the exception of Mickey Mantle) are serial-numbered.
- All cards with an asterisk are believed to be in greater supply; SP are in lesser supply.
- The Mickey Mantle card is a cut autograph which is serial-numbered to seven copies.
- BD Bucky Dent *
- CC Chris Chambliss SP
- DK Dave Kingman
- DT Dick Tidrow
- FS Fred Stanley
- GU Ron Guidry
- HB Hank Bauer SP
- JB Jim Bouton
- JK Jim Kaat
- JL Jim Leyritz
- JM John Montefusco
- LM Lee Mazzilli
- LP Lou Piniella SP
- MM Mickey Mantle CUT 7
- MP Mike Pagliarulo
- PO Paul O'Neill
- RA Ruben Amaro, Sr.
- RB Ralph Branca
- RH Ralph Houk
- SL Sparky Lyle SP
- TH Tommy Henrich SP
- TJ Tommy John
- JK Jimmy Key
Black Ink
Each Autographs Black Ink is hand-numbered to the production figures listed below and also available in a Red Ink parallel which is serial-numbered to 25 copies.
NOTE: Randomly inserted into packs were 50 exchange cards good for a Hideki Matsui Autographs Yankee Greats card. 25 of the cards would be signed in black ink, the other 25 in red ink -- although the exchange card did not state which card the collector would receive. Collectors had until March 13, 2006 to redeem their card.
- CC Chris Chambliss 101
- DC David Cone 74
- DE Dock Ellis 174
- DG Dwight Gooden 74
- DK Dave Kingman 100
- DM Don Mattingly 74
- DR Dave Righetti 173
- DT Dick Tidrow 101
- DW Dave Winfield 25
- FS Fred Stanley 101
- GU Ron Guidry 100
- HB Hank Bauer 75
- HM Hideki Matsui EXCH 25
- JB Jim Bouton 100
- JC Jose Canseco 73
- JD Joe DiMaggio 5
- JK Jim Kaat 100
- JL Jim Leyritz 100
- JM John Montefusco 100
- JT Joe Torre 73
- LM Lee Mazzilli 100
- LP Lou Piniella 100
- MP Mike Pagliarulo 99
- MR Mickey Rivers 73
- MS Mel Stottlemyre 73
- PO Paul O'Neill 100
- PR Phil Rizzuto 173
- RA Ruben Amaro, Sr. 100
- RB Ralph Branca 100
- RH Ralph Houk 100
- SL Sparky Lyle 100
- TH Tommy Henrich 100
- TJ Tommy John 100
- TK Tony Kubek 123
- YB Yogi Berra 73
- JK Jimmy Key 100
| Sweet Spot |
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| Sweet Spot |
| Sweet Spot Classics: |