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 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 Card #75, originally intended for Rod Carew, with withdrawn and replaced by Matsui, whose card was serial-numbered to 1999 copies.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
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
75b Rod Carew ERR

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)

Autographs & Game-Used

Patch Cards

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

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

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

Red Ink

Each Autographs Yankee Greats Red Ink is serial-numbered to 25 copies.

CC Chris Chambliss 25
DC David Cone 25
DE Dock Ellis 25
DG Dwight Gooden 25
DK Dave Kingman 25
DM Don Mattingly 25
DR Dave Righetti 25
DT Dick Tidrow 25
DW Dave Winfield 25
FS Fred Stanley 25
GU Ron Guidry 25
HB Hank Bauer 25
HM Hideki Matsui EXCH 25
JB Jim Bouton 25
JC Jose Canseco 25
JK Jim Kaat 25
JL Jim Leyritz 25
JM John Montefusco 25
JT Joe Torre 25
LM Lee Mazzilli 25
LP Lou Piniella 25
MP Mike Pagliarulo 25
MR Mickey Rivers 25
MS Mel Stottlemyre 25
PO Paul O'Neill 25
PR Phil Rizzuto 25
RA Ruben Amaro, Sr. 25
RB Ralph Branca 25
RH Ralph Houk 25
SL Sparky Lyle 25
TH Tommy Henrich 25
TJ Tommy John 25
TK Tony Kubek 25
YB Yogi Berra 25
JK Jimmy Key 25

Matsui Exchange

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.