Description

2004 Upper Deck Play Ball is a 233-card set. The first 183 cards were issued in the Play Ball product in April, 2004. The set consists of two serial-numbered subsets: Rookie Portfolio (Cards #133-#162) and Classic Combos (#163-#183). Each 24-pack Hobby box will yield four serial-numbered cards, one die-cut card, eight parallels, two game-used memorabilia cards, and one autograph.

The last 50 cards in the set (cards #184-#233) are known as the Update Series and were distributed exclusively as a factory set inside Hobby boxes of 2004 Upper Deck Series Two. Each Series Two Hobby box came with an unmarked and shrink-wrapped Update Set box from one of four possible 2004 Upper Deck early-season products: Vintage, Play Ball, Reflections and SP Game Used Patch. Collectors had to break the shrink wrap to figure out which set they received. The odds of finding the Play Ball Update set were 1:4/sets.

The 1:6 Blue inserts utilize alternate player images than the base cards and numbered parallels. The "Red" die-cut parallel, numbered to /175, actually features Gray/Silver frames.

Distribution

Hobby: 24 packs per box, five cards per pack (MSRP: $4). 14 boxes per case.

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds
Base	183	-	?
short set	132	-	4:1
Rookie Portfolio	30	2004	1:16
Classic Combos	21	1999	1:24
Blue	132	-	1:6
Red/Die Cut	132	175	?
Green	132	15	?
Purple	132	one-of-one	?
Home Run Heroics	40	-	1:24
Apparel Collection	42	-	1:24
Artist's Touch Jersey	34	250	?
Artist's Touch Jersey 50	35	50	?
Tools of the Stars Bat Card	14	-	1:48
Tools of the Stars Bat Card Level 1	14	250	?
Tools of the Stars Bat Card Level 2	11	25	?
Rookie Portfolio Signature	30	-	1:30
Signature Portfolio Black Ink	6	100	?
Signature Portfolio Blue Ink	6	25	?
Signature Portfolio Red Ink	6	10	?
Signature Portfolio Gold w/Black Ink	6	10	?
Signature Portfolio Gold w/Blue Ink	6	5	?
Signature Portfolio Gold w/Red Ink	6	one-of-one	?

Checklist

Promos

Roberto-Alomar.jpg?id=6b581746-c0dc-4362-aae2-244657723957&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Base Set

Derek-Jeter.jpg?id=899b5f28-fc24-437e-8bbe-d990caae1088&size=original&side=front&.jpg

1 Hideo Nomo
2 Curt Schilling
3 Barry Zito
4 Nomar Garciaparra
5 Yogi Berra
6 Randy Johnson
7 Jason Giambi
8 Sammy Sosa
9 David Ortiz
10 Derek Jeter
11 Warren Spahn
12 Mark Prior
13 Roger Clemens
14 Mike Piazza
15 Nolan Ryan
16 Joe DiMaggio
17 Alfonso Soriano
18 Brandon Webb
19 Shawn Green
20 Bob Feller
21 Mike Schmidt
22 Mark Teixeira
23 Pedro Martinez
24 Vladimir Guerrero
25 Rafael Furcal
26 Derrek Lee
27 Carlos Delgado
28 Mickey Mantle
29 Dontrelle Willis
30 Ted Williams
31 Vernon Wells
32 Alex Rodriguez
33 Brooks Robinson
34 Tom Seaver
35 Ernie Banks
36 Bob Gibson
37 Jim Thome
38 Mike Mussina
39 Eric Chavez
40 Roy Halladay
41 Eric Gagne
42 Jose Reyes
43 Jeff Bagwell
44 Rich Harden
45 Jeff Kent
46 Lance Berkman
47 Adam Dunn
48 Richie Sexson
49 Andruw Jones
50 Ichiro Suzuki
51 Edgar Renteria
52 Rocco Baldelli
53 Jim Edmonds
54 Magglio Ordonez
55 Austin Kearns
56 Garret Anderson
57 Manny Ramirez
58 Roy Oswalt
59 Gary Sheffield
60 Mark Mulder
61 Ben Sheets
62 Scott Rolen
63 Greg Maddux
64 Jose Contreras
65 Miguel Cabrera
66 Hank Blalock
67 Miguel Tejada
68 Albert Pujols
69 Hideki Matsui
70 Mike Lowell
71 Tim Hudson
72 Bret Boone
73 Ivan Rodriguez
74 Josh Beckett
75 Todd Helton
76 Brian Giles
77 Orlando Cabrera
78 Carlos Beltran
79 Jason Schmidt
80 Kerry Wood
81 Preston Wilson
82 Troy Glaus
83 Kevin Brown
84 Rafael Palmeiro
85 Chipper Jones
86 Reggie Sanders
87 Cliff Floyd
88 Corey Patterson
89 Kevin Millwood
90 Aaron Boone
91 Darin Erstad
92 Richard Hidalgo
93 Dmitri Young
94 Jeremy Bonderman
95 Larry Walker
96 Edgar Martinez
97 Jerome Williams
98 Luis Gonzalez
99 Roberto Alomar
100 Jerry Hairston, Jr.
101 Luis Matos
102 Andy Pettitte
103 Frank Thomas
104 Rondell White
105 Jody Gerut
106 Bartolo Colon
107 Johnny Damon
108 Ryan Klesko
109 Geoff Jenkins
110 Jorge Posada
111 Melvin Mora
112 Bernie Williams
113 Shannon Stewart
114 Bobby Abreu
115 Jose Guillen
116 Brandon Phillips
117 Jose Vidro
118 Mike Sweeney
119 Jacque Jones
120 Josh Phelps
121 Milton Bradley
122 Torii Hunter
123 Carl Crawford
124 Javier Vazquez
125 Juan Gonzalez
126 Travis Hafner
127 Ken Griffey, Jr.
128 Phil Nevin
129 Trot Nixon
130 Carlos Lee
131 Javy Lopez
132 Jay Gibbons

Rookie Portfolios

Rookie-Portfolio---Frank-Brooks.jpg?id=77c60abf-5a4f-4ea4-a429-8b51b626a426&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Rookie Portfolio cards are serial-numbered to 2004.

133 Brandon Medders RC
134 Colby Miller RC
135 Dave Crouthers RC
136 Dennis Sarfate RC
137 Donald Kelly RC
138 Frank Brooks RC
139 Chris Aguila RC
140 Greg Dobbs RC
141 Ian Snell RC
142 Jake Woods RC
143 Jamie Brown RC
144 Jason Frasor RC
145 Jerome Gamble RC
146 Jesse Harper RC
147 Josh Labandeira RC
148 Justin Hampson RC
149 Justin Huisman RC
150 Justin Leone RC
151 Lincoln Holdzkom RC
152 Mike Bumatay RC
153 Mike Gosling RC
154 Mike Johnston RC
155 Mike Rouse RC
156 Nick Regilio RC
157 Ryan Meaux RC
158 Scott Dohmann RC
159 Sean Henn RC
160 Tim Bausher RC
161 Tim Bittner RC
162 Alec Zumwalt RC

Classic Combos

Classic-Combos---Joe-DiMaggio-Mickey-Mantle.jpg?id=4dc90874-f095-4519-af0d-a4fe48094c09&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Classic Combos are serial-numbered to 1999.

163 Barry Zito / Geoff Jenkins / Mark Prior / Bret Boone / Aaron Boone CC
164 Albert Pujols / Edgar Renteria / Alex Rodriguez CC
165 Alfonso Soriano / Sammy Sosa CC
166 Bobby Abreu / Jim Thome CC
167 Bret Boone / John Olerud / Ichiro CC
168 Derek Jeter / Alfonso Soriano CC
169 Eric Chavez / Miguel Tejada CC
170 Garret Anderson / Jim Edmonds / Troy Glaus CC
171 Hank Blalock / Alex Rodriguez CC
172 Alex Rodriguez / Mark Teixeira / Rafael Palmeiro / Michael Young CC
173 Ivan Rodriguez / Dontrelle Willis CC
174 Jason Giambi / Derek Jeter CC
175 Joe DiMaggio / Mickey Mantle CC
176 Joe DiMaggio / Mickey Mantle / Ted Williams CC
177 Joe DiMaggio / Ted Williams CC
178 Nomar Garciaparra / Alfonso Soriano CC
179 Nomar Garciaparra / Jason Giambi CC
180 Paul LoDuca / Hideo Nomo
181 Rafael Palmeiro / Alex Rodriguez / Michael Young
182 Ralph Kiner / Ted Williams
183 Aaron Boone / Derek Jeter / Kaz Matsui RC

Update Series

Hector-Gimenez.jpg?id=0b890b12-10ee-4d9e-af80-15ae1c717f15&size=original&side=front&.jpg

184 Jerry Gil RC
185 Jose Capellan RC
186 Tim Hamulack RC
187 Renyel Pinto RC
188 Carlos Vasquez RC*
189 Enemencio Pacheco RC*
190 Ronny Cedeno RC
191 Mariano Gomez RC*
192 Carlos Hines RC*
193 Mike Vento RC
194 David Aardsma RC
195 Hector Gimenez RC
196 Fernando Nieve RC
197 Chris Saenz RC
198 Shawn Hill RC
199 Angel Chavez RC
200 Scott Proctor RC
201 William Bergolla RC
202 Justin Germano RC
203 Onil Joseph RC*
204 Rusty Tucker RC*
205 Justin Knoedler RC
206 Casey Daigle RC
207 Edwin Moreno RC
208 Chad Bentz RC
209 Ryan Wing RC*
210 Shawn Camp
211 Eddy Rodriguez RC
212 Roman Colon RC
213 Jason Bartlett RC
214 Jorge Vasquez RC
215 Ivan Ochoa RC
216 Akinori Otsuka RC
217 Merkin Valdez RC
218 Shingo Takatsu RC
219 Chris Oxspring RC
220 Kevin Cave RC*
221 Ramon Ramirez RC
222 Orlando Rodriguez RC*
223 Lino Urdaneta RC
224 Franklyn Gracesqui RC
225 Mike Wuertz RC
226 Jorge Sequea RC*
227 Luis A. Gonzalez RC
228 Jason Szuminski RC
229 John Gall RC
230 Freddy Guzman RC
231 Jeff Bennett RC
232 Roberto Novoa RC
233 Kaz Matsui RC, UER (numbered #183)

Parallels

Chipper-Jones.jpg?id=2db35d7b-d0d9-4602-a9b2-10e71daecb6f&size=original&side=front&.jpg Cliff-Floyd.jpg?id=a5246d74-62ec-491a-9f64-a2042a2c2fac&size=original&side=front&.jpg Nomar-Garciaparra.jpg?id=fe29b7e5-7bc4-445d-927b-2a6c688528c6&size=original&side=front&.jpg

The first 132 cards in the base set are available in the following parallels.

Blue
Green (serial-numbered to 15 copies)
Purple (one-of-one)

Red/Die-Cut

Red---David-Ortiz.jpg?id=155be032-395f-4319-8a2b-5794b079b779&size=original&side=front&.jpg Die-Cut---Andy-Pettitte.jpg?id=8109ff13-6ba7-493f-ad34-ce908bb07a9f&size=original&side=front&.jpg

The first 132 cards in the base set are available in a parallel that is serial-numbered to 175 copies. Cards #1-#42 have a Red border; while cards #43-#132 are Die-Cut. It is believed that the 42 Red cards (which are indistinguishable from the base set) were intended to also be die-cut.

Inserts

Home Run Heroics

Rafael-Palmeiro.jpg?id=5faab5e0-f4d3-4bf5-be84-f9ce1cdeffbc&size=original&side=front&.jpg

AB Aaron Boone
AR Alex Rodriguez (Rangers 57th home run)
AR Alex Rodriguez (Mariners 40th home run)
AS Alfonso Soriano
BM Bill Mueller
CD Carlos Delgado
CR Cal Ripken (9/5/1995)
CR Cal Ripken (9/6/1995)
EB Ernie Banks
EM Eddie Mathews
FR Frank Robinson
HB Hank Blalock
HK Harmon Killebrew
HM Hideki Matsui (World Series)
HM Hideki Matsui (Slam)
JD Joe DiMaggio (1st)
JD Joe DiMaggio (361st)
JG Jason Giambi
KG Ken Griffey, Jr.
KG Ken Griffey, Jr.
MC Miguel Cabrera
MM Mickey Mantle (World Series)
MM Mickey Mantle (500th)
MM Mickey Mantle (1st)
MS Mike Schmidt
RH Rickey Henderson
RJ Randy Johnson
RP Rafael Palmeiro
RS Red Schoendienst
SG Shawn Green
SM Stan Musial
SS Sammy Sosa (Cubs 500th)
SS Sammy Sosa (Cubs 66th)
SS Sammy Sosa (Cubs June)
SS Sammy Sosa (Rangers 1st)
TW Ted Williams (1st Ever)
TW Ted Williams (Final AB)
TW Ted Williams (500th)
TW Ted Williams (All Star)
WM Willie McCovey

Autographs & Game-Used

Apparel Collection

Mike-Mussina.jpg?id=070435c6-e1a7-480a-862f-0f8f8cabee78&size=original&side=front&.jpg

AD Adam Dunn
AP Albert Pujols
AR Alex Rodriguez
AS Alfonso Soriano
BE Josh Beckett
BH Bo Hart
BW Bernie Williams
BZ Barry Zito
CD Carlos Delgado
CJ Chipper Jones
CS Curt Schilling
DJ Derek Jeter
DW Dontrelle Willis
HA Roy Halladay
HM Hideki Matsui
HN Hideo Nomo
IS Ichiro Suzuki
JB Jeff Bagwell
JD Joe DiMaggio
JG Jason Giambi
JP Jorge Posada
JT Jim Thome
KG Ken Griffey, Jr.
KW Kerry Wood
LB Lance Berkman
ML Mike Lowell
MM Mickey Mantle
MP Mark Prior
MR Manny Ramirez
MU Mike Mussina
PI Mike Piazza
PM Pedro Martinez
RB Rocco Baldelli
RF Rafael Furcal
RH Rich Harden
RJ Randy Johnson
RO Roy Oswalt
RP Rafael Palmeiro
SS Sammy Sosa
TG Troy Glaus
TH Torii Hunter
TW Ted Williams

Artist's Touch Jersey Card

Ichiro-Suzuki.jpg?id=58bd7476-8e87-4238-926f-fc798c1d9e4d&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Each Artist's Touch Jersey is serial-numbered to 250 copies, with a parallel numbered to 50 also available.

NOTE: Card #AT-ML is only available in the "50" set.

AP Albert Pujols
AR Alex Rodriguez
AS Alfonso Soriano
BH Bo Hart
BW Bernie Williams
BZ Barry Zito
CD Carlos Delgado
CJ Chipper Jones
DJ Derek Jeter
DW Dontrelle Willis
HA Roy Halladay
HM Hideki Matsui
HN Hideo Nomo
IS Ichiro Suzuki
JB Josh Beckett
JG Jason Giambi
JP Jorge Posada
JT Jim Thome
KG Ken Griffey, Jr.
KW Kerry Wood
LB Lance Berkman
ML Mike Lowell
MM Mike Mussina
MP Mark Prior
MR Manny Ramirez
PI Mike Piazza
PM Pedro Martinez
RB Rocco Baldelli
RF Rafael Furcal
RJ Randy Johnson
RO Roy Oswalt
RP Rafael Palmeiro
SS Sammy Sosa
TG Troy Glaus
TH Torii Hunter

Tools of the Stars Bat Card

Ken-Griffey-Jr.jpg?id=ac01ed2b-0f3b-438d-affe-a7f476ec3dd3&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Each Tools of the Stars Bat Card is also available in the following parallels.

Level 1 (serial-numbered to 250 copies)
Level 2 (serial-numbered to 25 copies)

NOTES

Level 1 parallels are sequentially-numbered "TS-XX1" while Level 2 parallels are numbered "TS-XX2".
Cards #TS-CD2, #TS-KW2, and #TS-PI2 do not exist in the Level 2 set.