90's Box Breaks

Topps started to create parallel versions of their cards, starting in 1992 with Topps Gold, and 1993 was no different. 1993 saw Finest Refractors, Topps Gold (again), and Stadium Club 1st Day Production.

As with 1992 Topps Gold and 1993 Finest Refractors, the 1st Day Production cards were inserted at a rate of 1 per box. I can remember mowing lawns all summer and buying wax packs at the local Family Dollar (is that still around?) and not getting a damn thing out of them, but glossy base cards. Not that the cards weren’t worth it. They did have some of the best photography around at the time, but it’s just something about that elusive insert that kept me going. Sure, now that I’m older I realize that someone probably searched the packs and found the ones with the 1st Day Production, but I was 12 that summer and had no clue.

2,000 of each 1993 Stadium Club baseball card were produced on the first day and then randomly inserted in packs at a rate of 1:24. These standard-size cards are identical to the regular-issue 1993 Stadium Club cards, except for the embossed prismatic-foil “1st Day Production” logo stamped in an upper corner. Some of the logos have been transferred from “common” 1st day cards to the fronts of better players.

I paid $1 shipped on eBay for this a few weeks ago. Sad to see them going for so little, but I finally have one in my collection.

1993 Stadium Club First Day Production

It’s December already. I can’t believe it. The last 2 weeks have gone by…slow and fast, in a sense. Had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, which is always fun. The not-so-fun stuff was having to deal with issues that came up out of nowhere, but that’s life for you.

Here’s hoping that I can do more posting this month than the last month. I look back and realize how pitiful I have been at keeping up with everything.

On a side note, I sent in my red Crusade and it arrived today, with a 9.5 overall grade. Not bad, I’m happy with that. That’s one card that won’t be leaving my hands.