2008-09 UD Legends Masterpieces

So on the way home from a 10th anniversary getaway with my wife, I stopped in at a card store and picked up a few packs, including one pack of 2008-09 UD Legends Masterpieces. Later on, when running other errands, I stopped by Toys R Us and picked up a retail blaster 8 pack box (why must they say 7 packs with 1 bonus? IT'S 8 PACKS, WE'RE SMARTER THAN THAT!). Coincidence? Not at all. I've been collecting cards for a long time now, and I have not had the chance to say this often - these are absolutely stunning cards. Maybe the best base cards I've seen, in my opinion.

08-09 Masterpieces are cards based on original artwork made for UD. They are on a more or less regular card stock, but the feel of the front of the card is like canvas. Minimal gold foil borders that are done in gaelic writing.... they are just done right. The backs tell us who made the artwork, and a short bio of each player. The only possible complaint about the backs is that the print is very small, and with the light gold background, it should probably be black or something different. In any event, small grumblings from me but no deal breakers, and a much better offering than UD Artistic Impressions from 5 years ago. This also has only retired players by the looks of it, which is another nice touch.

The retail version of this product promises parallel cards 1:9 packs - done like Beehive with matting on top of the card, with 5 levels of parallel (including 1/1). Game used cards 1:24 packs, again with 5 different versions, autos 1:240, and masterpiece sketch cards 1/1, which I will assume is an original drawing of some sort. So with the aforementioned EIGHT packs in the blaster, I have a pretty good chance at one parallel, a 1:3 chance of a game used, and 1:30 chance of an autograph. I've certainly beaten higher odds than that, but I'll be honest, although this might jinx me...... an entire box of base cards wouldn't make me angry. Yes, they are that nice.

So here we go.

Pack 1 - Gretzky (Kings), Neely, Bourque (Divealanche), Clarke brown border parallel
The Gretzky is the same pic as the 88-89 Topps version. I went nuts for a second - I thought the Clarke was a Black border, which would have been a 1/1, but it's the unnumbered brown instead. Still a nice card.

Pack 2 - Messier, Shutt, Ciccarelli Canvas Clippings game used card - brown border, Lafleur, Apps
The Canvas Clippings card is sweet. It pictures Ciccarelli in a North Stars jersey with a Capitals jersey piece, but it's nice anyway. Not sure if the brown border is the norm or a parallel. UD did screw up a little - the memorabilia pack is supposed to have 3 base cards. I don't know if these are searchable or not, I thought it was a decoy in there, as it was significantly fatter than the other packs. The hobby pack had the quintissential UD propoganda card, so that makes it even more difficult. Anyway, something to watch out for.

Pack 3 - Lady Bing, Foster Hewitt, Eddie Shack, Bobby Orr
Sweet cards.

Pack 4 - Kurri (Divealanche), MacTavish (Blues), Hull/Howe, Lester Patrick
A few things of note here. Kurri is standing in front of a gold stick, which from the writing on the back seems to be in honour of his 600th goal. The weird thing? We can see the entire stick in the picture, Kurri is not holding it, and no one else is either. A gold stick is cool, but a levetating gold stick? Nice touch. Cheating Divealanche. Another thing - what's Craig MacTavish doing in this set? Not worthy in the slightest. The Hull/Howe is cool..... I got one in the hobby pack too.

Pack 5 - Esposito, The Sutters, Gretzky (Oilers), Langway
The Sutters card is very well done.

Pack 6 - Bower, Bathgate, McSorley (?!?!?!), Lemieux
Again..... Marty McSorley? What? Why? I'm going to assume there is an auto version of all base cards and that they needed to find 87 players who would sign, and they got to the bottom of the barrel..... at least I'm hoping that.

Pack 7 - Roy (Habs), Mr Hockey, Gretzky (Oilers), Fuhr
A double? Seriously? It's an 87 card set (gee.... what's 87 for? ), so I guess it's not horrible, and better to have a Gretzky double than...... MacTavish or McSorley.

Pack 8 - Perreault, Vaive, Richard Brodeur, Tony Esposito
Rick Vaive too. Huh.

Well, it seems I beat the odds, getting both the game used and a parallel when the odds say I should have got neither. Aside from some curious player selection, I have no issues at all with what I pulled. Still very impressed with the set, and I will probably go for the full one with such a small set. I would highly recommend buying some of this product, I know I will buy more. Based on my return, maybe I should reduce my expectations on every box. ;)