Mike Eisner: Upper Deck’s Sweet Spot Update

For those of us who consider ourselves "autograph collectors", the term "Sweet Spot" is synonymous with success. In other words, obtaining a player’s signature on the "Sweet Spot" on a baseball is like getting to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop or finding that last piece of cookie dough hiding in the drop of ice cream that remains in your freezer.

Thanks to Upper Deck’s Sweet Spot Update baseball product, you are guaranteed at least two similar thrills per hobby box.

On average, one of the two autographs, which by the way are on a piece of material cut from the Sweet Spot of an actual baseball (stitches and all), is that of a "Rookie Card" eligible player such as Cole Hamels or Stephen Drew. These signatures are serial-numbered to 299 or less and add a tremendous amount of value to your pack-busting experience.

In addition, you will find, on average, a second autograph, which may depict an established major leaguer from Upper Deck’s impressive roster of superstar exclusives including Ken Griffey Jr,, Ichiro and Derek Jeter.

There is also an autograph subset highlighting Upper Deck’s Spokesmen, which covers all sports including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Sidney Crosby and Reggie Bush, just to name a few. These are extremely limited to one per hobby case and come in all shapes and sizes including multiple-signature cards.

Imagine pulling a Sweet Spot signature card of Michael Jordan depicted in his Chicago White Sox uniform circa-1992? Well, this product has it!

Upper Deck also pulled out all the stops by creating quad-memorabilia cards of players from the World Baseball Classic, including generous patch versions, which incidentally are not serial-numbered, but have commanded serious premiums on the secondary market nonetheless.

But to me, the most fun and excitement surrounds the inclusion of Upper Deck’s retro-Heroes subset. This subset was one of Upper Deck’s staples back in the early 1990s, and to bring it back 15 years later is pure genius.

Upper Deck Sweet Spot Update also depicts players who have recently switched teams in their new uniforms. It also features rookie cards that were not featured in the first installment of Sweet Spot baseball, released in mid-2006.

Sweet Spot Update carries an SRP of $9.99 per pack. Each 12-pack hobby box contains an average of two autographs and one game-used memorabilia piece per box.

This product provides some serious bang for your buck and we suggest you go out and get a box.