Box Break: 2003 Donruss Elite

Yeah, yeah. I know, I know.  It's been a while since I've done one of these things.  Sue me.

Anyway, I picked up a box of 2003 Donruss Elite at the NSCC for $55.  Here's what I got.

SPOILER ALERT: This would have been an awesome box, had I ripped it in 2003.  In 2013, not so much.



Well, yeah.  That box sucked.  But for $55, this was exponentially better that the two Hobby boxes of 2012 Topps Series One I could have bought for the same money.

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20 packs per box, five cards per pack.

Base Set: 96 of 200 short set: 95 of 180 Gimmicked Rookies (serial-numbered to 1750): 1 of 20 (J. Gobble) 1 Gold Status (serial-numbered to 24): V. Guerrero. 2 All-Time Career Best (1:9): D. Murphy, R. Clemens 1 Career Bests (varies): V. Guerrero (/417) 1 Career Bests Materials (serial-numbered to 500): A-Fraud 1 Throwback Threads (serial-numbered to 250): A-Fraud

NSCC Box Break: 2003 Flair

Video Box Break and Review: 2003 Leaf

One Hobby Box of 2003 Leaf (paid $40)
24 packs per box, ten cards per pack

The Video



The Pulls

Base Set: 208 of 320 (65.00%)
18 Doubles

Parallels

2 Red Press Proof (1:12) T. Glaus, T. Hunter
1 Blue Press Proof (numbered to 50) S. Hatteberg

Inserts

2 Leaf Certified Samples (15 cards, 1:23) M. Piazza, R. Johnson
1 Leaf Certified Samples Certified Red (numbered to 150) R. Johnson
3 Leaf 60 (50 cards, 1:8) Ja. Giambi, G. Maddux, V. Guerrero
1 Home (10 cards, 1:34) C. Jones
2 Slick Leather (15 cards, 1:21) G. Maddux, J. Edmonds
2 Hard Hats (12 cards, 1:13) B. Williams, R. Palmeiro

Autogamers

1 Away Jersey (10 cards, numbered to 250) C. Jones
1 Shirt off my Back (20 cards, numbered to 500) V. Wells

Product Rating: 2 1/2 Gumsticks

Always Be Collecting: 2003 Fleer Tradition

2003 Fleer Tradition

Base Set: 485 cards

• Short Prints: 100 cards (one-per Hobby pack, 1:12 retail)
• short set: 385 cards

Inserts:

• '36 Goudey: 25 cards (numbered to 1936, Hobby exclusive; Gold: numbered to 36, Hobby Exclusive; Red: numbered to 500, retail exclusive)
• Checklist: 15 cards (1:4)
• Hardball Preview: 10 discs (1:400 Hobby, 1:480 retail)
• Lumber Company: 30 cards (1:10 Hobby, 1:12 retail)
• Milestones: 25 cards (1:5 Hobby, 1:4 retail)
• Standouts: 15 cards (1:40 Hobby, 1:72 retail)

Autogamers:

• Tradition Game Used: 44 cards (1:35 Hobby, 1:90 retail; Gold: numbered to 100)
• Lumber Company Game Used: 24 cards (1:108 Hobby, 1:195 retail; Gold: production varies)
• Milestones Game Used: 14 cards (1:143 Hobby, 1:270 retail; Gold: numbered to 100)

Packaging: 40 pack, 10-card Hobby boxes; 24 pack, 10-card retail boxes; 10 pack, 10-card Blasters.

Notable "Cards": Blaster exclusive Barry Bonds pin.
Other Notes:

• Based on the design of various 1970s-era MSA disc sets, the Fleer Hardball inserts were a promo for the upcoming set of the same name. Never heard of 2003 Fleer Hardball? Don't worry, you didn't miss much.
• Speaking of forgettable... Five years after including an insert based on the 1963 set, Fleer went to the well again by designing the whole 2003 Fleer Tradition around the '63s.
• Among the 100 Short Prints are 34 players active in 1963 who did not appear in the original '63 Fleer set.
  
• Backs of unnumbered Checklists form puzzles of Derek Jeter and Barry Bonds.
  

Full Set: $150 (NmMT)


2003 Fleer Tradition Update

Base Set: 398 cards

• short set: 285 cards
• "Pack" Rookies: 14 cards (1:4)
• "Box" Rookies: 99 cards (25-per"Rookie" Box.)

Parallels:

• Glossy: 885 cards (1:24 retail, randomly inserted into Hobby, numbered to 100) Includes cards from both Fleer Tradition and Fleer Tradition Update.
  

Inserts:

• Diamond Debuts: 25 cards (1:8 retail, 1:10 Hobby)
• Long Gone!: 20 cards (1:72 retail, randomly inserted into Hobby, production varies from 410-536 copies)
• Milestones: 20 cards (1:6 retail, 1:8 Hobby)
• Turn Back the Clock: 10 cards (1:160 Hobby, 1:288 retail)

Autogamers:

• Milestones Game Jersey: 16 cards (1:20 Hobby, 1:96 retail; Gold: numbered to 100)
• Throwback Threads: 5 cards (1:64 Hobby, 1:288 retail; Patch: numbered to 100)
• Throwback Threads Dual: 2 cards (numbered to 100)

Packaging: 32 pack, 10-card Hobby waxboxes w/25-card "Rookie" box as a chiptopper; 24 pack, 10-card retail boxes; 10 pack, 10-card Blasters.
Notable Cards: Hideki Matsui, Delmon Young, Chien-Ming Wang RCs
Other Notes:

• In a rather confusing (and in retrospective downright stupid) packaging gimmick, each Hobby waxbox contained a 25-card "Rookie" box. The final 99 cards in the base set were only available in this box and not in packs.
• More of a second series than a true "Update" set. Includes base cards such players as Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling and Alfonso Soriano -- all of whom were not included in Fleer Tradition.
• Last year for Fleer Tradition Update.
  

Full Set: $150 (NmMT)