Cheap Wax Wednesday Box Breaks: 2006 Upper Deck Series 1 Baseball

2006 Upper Deck Baseball was split into three separate releases. Series 1 and Series 2 each featured base checklists with 500 cards, while the Update Series checklist was only half of that, with 250 cards. The base cards are borderless, and many of the cards featured really fun photography. It reminds me of Stadium Club. The base set is available in two different parallels, Gold (numbered to 699) and Silver Spectrum (numbered to just 25). 

In addition to the base set there are a handful insert sets with Gold and Silver Spectrum parallels as well. And, of course, with this being a 2000s set, there are relics and autographs to be found. Each box should hold one relic card and one autograph. If you really need a chase, this set includes cut autographs of four of the five players in the first Baseball Hall of Fame class, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner. Can you imagine?

2006 Upper Deck Series 1 Baseball Box Break:

Cards per pack: 8
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $50

Shop for 2006 Upper Deck Series 1 Baseball boxes on eBay.

Pack 1 highlights:

Jorge Posada, Travis Hafner, Bernie Williams & Ivan Rodriguez Diamond Collection (1 in every 8 packs)

Williams played his entire 16-year career in New York, something that has become increasingly uncommon in today’s game. 

Pack 2:

Josh Johnson RC, Moises Alou & Honus Wagner First Class Legends (1:4 packs)

Pack 3:

Mike Cameron, Jermaine Dye, Luis Castillo, Trevor Hoffman Team Pride (1:6 packs) & Jason Giambi Star Attractions Gold (356/699)

Pack 4:

Joe Mauer & Mark Mulder Star Attractions (1:6 packs)

Pack 5:

Kevin Youkilis, Roger Clemens, Jim Edmonds, Mike Sweeney & Curt Schilling

Great shot of Sweeney during a pregame ceremony on the field! In a throwback uniform to boot!

Pack 6:

Paul Konerko, Michael Cuddyer, C.C. Sabathia & Eric Chavez Team Pride (1:6 packs)

Pack 7:

Mike Hampton, Darin Erstad, Mark Kotsay, Rafael Furcal & Moises Alou Diamond Collection (1:8 packs)

Pack 8:

Justin Morneau, Trevor Hoffman Gold (020/299) & Ty Cobb First Class Legends (1:4 packs)

Pack 9:

Julio Franco, Todd Jones & Jason Giambi Amazing Greats (1:6 packs)

How could I not show off the Todd Jones card? Also, Jones ranks 23rd all-time with 319 career saves.

Pack 10:

Ichiro Suzuki & David Wright Star Attractions (1:6 packs)

Pack 11:

Yadier Molina, Kevin Millwood, Tino Martinez, Chipper Jones & Travis Hafner Signature Sensations Autograph 

Pack 12:

David Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez RC, Scott Kazmir, Troy Glaus & Randy Johnson Amazing Greats (1:6 packs)

Pack 13:

Frank Thomas, David Wright & Aubrey Huff Diamond Collection (1:8 packs)

I am no umpire, but Wright looks safe to me on this play!

Pack 14:

Brad Ausmus, Kerry Wood & Babe Ruth First Class Legends (1:4 packs)

Pack 15:

Ryan Zimmerman RC, Lance Berkman, Alex Gonzelez, Jeff Kent, Chipper Jones & Khalil Greene Team Pride (1:6 packs)

Check out that glove!

Pack 16:

Gary Sheffield, Pedro Martinez, Sean Casey, Doug Mientkiewicz, Orlando Cabrera & Gary Sheffield Star Attractions (1:6 packs)

Pack 17:

Jeff Bagwell, Scott Rolen, Tom Glavine & Javy Lopez Amazing Greats Gold (336/699)

I like Javy Lopez too from his time with the Braves, but an Amazing Great? Maybe a bit of a stretch.

Pack 18:

Jimmy Rollins, Keith Foulke & Jamie Moyer Team Pride (1:6 packs)

Pack 19:

Torii Hunter, Freddy Garcia & Jim Edmonds Amazing Greats (1:6 packs)

Pack 20:

Craig Biggio, Babe Ruth First Class Legends Gold (138/699) & Freddy Garcia Diamond Collection (1:8 packs)

Pack 21:

J.D. Drew, Josh Beckett, Zack Greinke, Christy Mathewson First Class Legends (1:4 packs) & Ryan Garko RC Gold (101/299)

Greinke in that same KC throwback uniform. Can we get an entire set with players in throwback threads, please?

Pack 22:

Albert Pujols Amazing Greats (1:6 packs)

Pack 23:

Jeff Conine, Jason Isringhausen & Ken Griffey, Jr. Star Attractions (1:6 packs)

Pack 24:

Dave Roberts, Derrek Lee, Chien-Ming Wang & Rocco Baldelli Team Pride Materials (1:48 packs)

Lastly, the Dave Roberts card back. I can think of at least one stolen base in 2004 that was a big deal for Roberts.

I can’t complain about this break. Gold parallel of a Babe Ruth insert. Love that. Plus a Travis Hafner autograph. Sure, not the best name on the checklist, but I liked Hafner. Speaking of the autograph checklist, it does include a few bigger names, like Hoffman, Griffey and Molina. 

Hits aside, the base set looks great, and that was what made this rip a fun one. As you could see, plenty of great photographs to go around.

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.