Gallery Cards Section IV, Page 21

Gallery - Cards, Section IV
Page 21, 2007 Upper Deck Black
Moved from the 'front' page to here since... well... I was going to toss this page into the desktop trash. But I'm trying to move on and let bygones be bygones. Besides, I didn't want to see the work I did wasted. So here it is on Page 21.

2007 UD Black 'August' Jersey Letter Cut #'d to 5
I won't rip into this particular insert since it does in fact celebrate his time with the ChiSox... three years after leaving the Windy City... but okay.

Nice cut that's actually of a full jersey letter. I think its the "A" from 'THOMAS' and better than most cuts of this type, although I really, really think they ought to leave it attached to the jersey. The freaky plastic backing material is just that - freaky.

Collector's Note: For those of you who didn't chase this issue, there's an interesting production note on these Black cards. You can't see it from the scanned fronts, but all of these guys are "sandwiched" cards. I know, I know - it sounds wacky - it is. In short: Inside the 'center' of these cards is a piece of very thick, pitch black cardstock - layered on top and behind are the actual printed halves that carry the images, foiling, printing, etc.

Think: "Inverted Oreo Cookie". <laughing> ;-D

And why do this?

I have NO idea. <laughing s'more> X-D

2007 UD Black 'August' Quad Cut #'d to 25
One of the better issues from Upper Deck's increasingly lackluster and bizarre lineup of card productions.

Personal note: Why is it called "August"?

One note of interest - none of the scans I've seen (including mine) show the very intricate and unusual Victorian/Gothic pattern slightly embossed into the black portions of these cards. When I get my new camera - I will attempt to capture it and replace these two 'August' images with ones showing the pattern.

2007 UD Black Upper Echelon #'d to 5
It was 2007 when this was in production - right? So how is it that all during that year Upper Deck couldn't find three images of Big Frank while with the bluebirds? Or how about three images of him when with the A's the previous season?

Nope. 3 YEARS after parting ways with the White Sox they produce a card with 3 pictures of him in his black & greys. But, and this is the part I hate, but making the die-cut window as "JAYS". As if "WSOX", "HITS", or "500" weren't going to work. Heck, what about "DH35"?

This fiasco after that fiasco. Lawsuits and fumbling gimmicks. What's going on at Sea Otter Place? Are we seeing the wheels starting to come off the cart for Upper Deck? I have a bad feeling that, in a short couple of turbulent years, it'll be back to a one company hobby: Topps. Not that I'm happy with that - I'm not. But whatever business model UD is striving for isn't working.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the opening that Donruss-Playoff needs to get back into the game. <crossing fingers>

2007 UD Black "Press Plate" Autograph #d to 1
Arguably the most interesting chase card from this issue are these "press plates" (they're not actually but that's another topic for another day) for cards that were never issued.

I'm not entirely sure, and over time I might be proven wrong, but I believe UD created these plates for design concepts that were never chosen to go to press. This one, and another I've seen, validates at least two such plates exist for cards that were never printed.

Idiotic gimmick or interesting 'alternate universe' type creation, your choice. <g>

Personally, except for the clumsy sticker auto, I happen to love this creation. Unlike so many of the 'framed' plates which look very awkward and ugly, this is one of the few that blends card frame and plate together into one seamless balanced image. Also the only reason I purchased it. There was another version, as I mention, that featured an very un-agreeable image of our guy.

I hate the sticker auto. It's just slapped on - not even trimmed to fit. But it doesn't take away the overall look-n-feel of the card. Powerful image of Big Frank at bat.