Favorite boxes from the 2000's

[CowboyDan]

Recently I've found myself being drawn back to cards from my youth, particularly early 2000's cards of my favorite player, Albert Pujols. I collected up until around 2004 but I don't really think I had any idea of what I was doing back then so I don't remember much about what was being released at that time. If I wanted to have some fun opening something from the 2002-2006ish era with the potential for some nice/fun hits, without breaking the bank, what would be some of your suggestions? If nothing else it would be cool to hear what some of your all favorite sets are to look for cool singles.

Btw I'm fully aware that singles is the best way to go for this, but sometimes it's just entertaining to opt for the unknown.

[Americards]

2007 & 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones Baseball

[90sIcons]

The longest running design/insert in card history finally got its own set in 2002. 2002 Donruss Diamond Kings is a great set! Don't waste your time with the DK sets after 2002 - that is when they went off a cliff. A 2002 framed gold of Albert Pujols would look really nice and this card is also excellent: Timeline-5 Ichiro / Albert Pujols

[kingchromium24]

2001 Upper Deck Decades
2001-2004 SP Legendary Cuts
2002 Topps Super Teams
2001-2002 Topps Archives Reserve
2005 Topps Pristine Legends
2001, 2003 SP Authentic
2005 Upper Deck Classics
2001, 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game
2004, 2005 Donruss Studio
2004 Donruss World Series
2001 SP Game Used Edition
2002 and 2003 Diamond Kings/Diamond Kings Update


I am sure I can think of some more

[YummiestBeef]

2005 Absolute
2005 Diamond Kings update
2005 UD Reflections (this stuff was like $50 a box around 2009 and was absolutely loaded)
2005 Sweet Spot Classics
2003 topps tribute

Anything 2005 Donruss is awesome, they lost their license starting in 2006 so all the Ruth/Gehrig/Jackie/HOF game used stuff was crammed into 2004 and 2005 products

[kingchromium24]

2005 Absolute
2005 Diamond Kings update
2005 UD Reflections (this stuff was like $50 a box around 2009 and was absolutely loaded)
2005 Sweet Spot Classics
2003 topps tribute

Anything 2005 Donruss is awesome, they lost their license starting in 2006 so all the Ruth/Gehrig/Jackie/HOF game used stuff was crammed into 2004 and 2005 products


Forgot about the Topps Tribute....I actually like 2001 the best but the 2002-2004 were good too

[CowboyDan]

Loving all of these suggestions! It's awesome to get some new perspective on the hobby from this time period.

[nephinfan]

2000 Fleer Greats of the Game
2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2004 SP Legendary Cuts
2001 SP Authentic
2001 Topps Archives

[mfw13]

99-00-01 Topps Gold Label
2004 Fleer Platinum (modeled after the 1984 Fleer design)
2001 & 2002 Donruss Classics
2001 Fleer Tradition (modelled after 1956 Topps)

[cruiserdaddy7]

2001 UD Legendary Cuts was/is such a great one.

OP, I too am going back and collecting boxes/cases from the 80s and 90s as I've grown sick and tired of the shiny cards of today and the greed and price gouging. I'm having more fun than I have in a few years chasing stuff and just holding things that bring back fond memories of childhood and obtaining things now I wanted so badly back then.

I think we will see alot of people start doing the same as Fanatics continues to control and ruin the hobby/business we know.

[JayEvans813]

Those 2005 Donruss/Playoff sets were absolutely insane.
2005 Diamond Kings probably my favorite.

[UtleyIsTheMan]

2001 UD Legendary Cuts was/is such a great one.

OP, I too am going back and collecting boxes/cases from the 80s and 90s as I've grown sick and tired of the shiny cards of today and the greed and price gouging. I'm having more fun than I have in a few years chasing stuff and just holding things that bring back fond memories of childhood and obtaining things now I wanted so badly back then.

I think we will see alot of people start doing the same as Fanatics continues to control and ruin the hobby/business we know.

Wow the cut checklist is absolutely insane on that. 113 Walter Johnson autos??? 147 Jackie Robinsons??? There must be more of their autos in that one product alone than in the totality of all releases in the last 20 years.

[hermanotarjeta]

I opened a ton of everything in 2001 - you can’t beat hunting pujols and Ichiro rookies everywhere. Also attacked 2001 sp legendary cuts with a passion. Unfortunately everything from that year is going to be expensive.

2002 was a horrible rookie class and may be a more affordable way to try to pull some second year pujols cards.

2003 was matsui mania - I mainly stuck with upper deck but would nibble at some donruss signature tins.

2004 sp game used patch edition was my absolute favorite that year, though all the donruss products gave you a chance to pull a Ruth jersey as well - one of the last awesome game used years to pursue. Also started to transition into bowman products in 2004.

It was primarily bowman from 2005 on. Some decent final year donruss stuff as well.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Wow the cut checklist is absolutely insane on that. 113 Walter Johnson autos??? 147 Jackie Robinsons??? There must be more of their autos in that one product alone than in the totality of all releases in the last 20 years.

It was crazy. DiMaggio was another easy hit although not on the same value levels. Was such a great value product with huge Cut names and a great relic checklist also

[mcgoo2]

2005 Origins
2005 Diamond Kings
2005 UD Heroes
2007 Sweet Spot Classic (although nowadays fading is an issue)
Greats of the Game
Tribute
UD Epic
Topps Sterling
Pretty much every 2003-2005 donruss product

So many great products of that era it’s hard to choose! Early/mid 2000s was the best modern card era imo.

[DonnieBaseball2]

2008 UD Masterpieces, loved those cards

[ScooterD]

2001-03 Fleer Showcase had some quality inserts and autos

[smapdi]

I chased these obsessively, just so much fun to break.
2001 Heritage
2004 Heritage
2006 Allen & Ginter

I also dabbled briefly with 2005-06 Topps Chrome basketball because I loved the design but I didn't really follow the NBA very closely and all those unknown names made it a pretty dry experience. Pretty cards, but I never hit anything significant, either.

[CowboyDan]

Regarding Upper Deck Sweet Spot, I know there are some serious fading issues prevalent. Does anyone know if that was an issue only for certain years, or is that pretty much the case across the lifespan of the product?

[DaBears1985]

2006 finest

2009 exquisite

2008 UD masterpieces

[mcgoo2]

Regarding Upper Deck Sweet Spot, I know there are some serious fading issues prevalent. Does anyone know if that was an issue only for certain years, or is that pretty much the case across the lifespan of the product?

There’s inevitably going to be some fading across all years but 2007 was when they used some cheap pleather balls that completely absorbed the ink.

[YouTheManNick]

2006 Allen & Ginter



As AMAZING as 2006 A&G is I wouldn't bother outside of base and other common stuff.

The A&G super collectors have all the best stuff locked down.

I think box prices - if and when they actually surface - can touch $1,000 or close to it.

[Tom Oates]

2005 upper deck reflections. The product was LOADED and used to sell for under $40 per box.

[jdbuzz44]

2000 was the year I got back into collecting....so 2000-2001 holds a special place in my collecting heart lol. With Pujols and Ichiro.....2001 box prices were always on the expensive side....even for older standards. You could pick most boxes up for between $100-$300 up until the Boom.

My favorites:

2001 Absolute (with the autograph ball)
2001 UD Hall of fame
2000/01 Fleer legacy basketball (love the autograph jersey)
1999-00 Showcase basketball (first Game used jersey i hit...It was Vince Carter...$300 card lol)
2001 Donruss Classic football and baseball Love both these sets

[smapdi]

Wow the cut checklist is absolutely insane on that. 113 Walter Johnson autos??? 147 Jackie Robinsons??? There must be more of their autos in that one product alone than in the totality of all releases in the last 20 years.

That was when they realized checks had autographs on them. Lots of the cuts in that set were from checks, which I've heard they bought in bulk from the players' estates. And yeah, it was incredible considering that autos like Johnson, Grove, and Lajoie were included as 1/1s in 1999 SP Signature and everyone was in absolute awe. I'd check ebay several times a day to see what new names were posted because, IIRC, no official checklist was released. Even the errors were amazing. At least a couple Henrietta Robinson autos were found inserted into Jackie Robinson cards, showing that card companies cared just about as much then as they do now.