A Fistful Of Frank

Recently, I received an intriguing e-mail in my inbox. It was from a reader named Shawn W., who may be starting a blog soon. He was wondering if I had any spare Ultra cards, between 2000 and 2007, that I'd be willing to trade.

I sure do! I bought two boxes of Ultra SE, before the prices spiraled downward in 2007, due to a retail version released around the same time that was almost indistinguishable from the SE version. Needless to say, I bought boxes around $100 and a few hobby packs for $20 and within weeks, the boxes were under $50 and the packs were nonexistent.

To make matters worse, the two boxes were virtually identical. I received a few of the same "hits" and I was through with Ultra boxes. I couldn't justify the cost. Ultra SE was supposed to be the next big thing, but it was undermined by a cost efficient retail version. The "hits" weren't anything spectacular and the entire line was phased out because of the angry reception that the SE version got. And that is a shame because I loved Ultra!

The whole point being, I had a ton of Ultra lying around from 2007 and some cards from earlier. I was asked for a want list and I provided the link to what I have online. What I received in the mail blew my mind! This box took a big chunk out of my missing Frank Thomas cards and a healthy stab at the rest.

Let's see what Shawn sent over.

1992 Donruss Rookies
10 – Esteban Beltre

1992 Ultra
36 – Greg Hibbard

1993 Bowman
555 – Frank Thomas

1993 Leaf
20 – Dan Pasqua
107 – Steve Sax

1993 Score
541 – Frank Thomas DT

1993 Triple Play
77 Frank Thomas LH

1994 Flair
28 – Wilson Alvarez
29 – Jason Bere
30 – Alex Fernandez
32 – Joe Hall
33 – Darrin Jackson
36 – Frank Thomas
275 – Joey Cora
278 – Lance Johnson
281 – Robin Ventura

1994 Sportflics
161 – Norberto Martin

1994 Studio
204 – Alex Fernandez

1994 Triple Play
269 – Frank Thomas

1994 Upper Deck
284 – Frank Thomas

1995 Bazooka
120 – Frank Thomas

1995 Donruss
504 – Scott Ruffcorn
521 – Scott Sanderson
535 – Craig Grebeck

1995 Emotion
30 – Robin Ventura

1995 Flair
24 – Jason Bere
25 – Ozzie Guillen
27 – Frank Thomas

1995 Fleer
116 – Julio Franco
119 – Roberto Hernandez
122 – Ron Karkovice
128 – Frank Thomas

1995 Leaf
1 – Frank Thomas

1995 Select
22 – Frank Thomas

1995 Select Certified Edition
5 – Frank Thomas
85 – Jason Bere
97 – James Baldwin
110 – Ray Durham

1995 Studio
56 – Wilson Alvarez
91 – Jason Bere
97 – Lance Johnson

1996 Fleer
67 – Roberto Hernandez

1996 Leaf
39 – Alex Fernandez
103 – Lyle Mouton
172 – Robin Ventura
193 – Ozzie Guillen

1996 Metal Universe
35 – Ray Durham

1996 Pinnacle
241 – Harold Baines
356 – Danny Tartabull

1996 Score
21 – Frank Thomas

1996 Studio
60 – Lyle Mouton
87 – Ray Durham
93 – Frank Thomas (2)

1997 Fleer
59 – Ray Durham
73 – Robin Ventura

1997 Fleer Update
726 – Frank Thomas CL

1997 Ultra
35 – Harold Baines
44 – Frank Thomas
420 – Jaime Navarro
503 – Carlos Castillo

1997 Ultra Gold Medallion
41 – Darren Lewis
43 – Tony Phillips

1997 Upper Deck
36 – Wilson Alvarez
38 – Tony Phillips
42 – Chris Snopek
206 – Ozzie Guillen

1998 Bowman
147 – Jeff Abbott

1998 Donruss
66 – Robin Ventura
95 – Mike Cameron

1998 Flair Showcase Row 3
3 – Frank Thomas

1998 Omega
55 – Mike Caruso

1998 Score
111 – Robin Ventura

1999 EX Century
12 – Frank Thomas

1999 Pacific Invincible (Seismic Force)
7 – Frank Thomas

1999 Sports Illustrated
127 – Frank Thomas

1999 Topps Chrome
456 – Top DHs Frank Thomas (Salmon, Justice)

1999 Topps Stars
84 – Mike Caruso

1999 Topps Tek Pattern 1
39A – Frank Thomas

1999 Ultra Gold Medallion
54 – Robin Ventura
64 – Frank Thomas

1999 Upper Deck HoloGrFX
15 – Frank Thomas

1999 Upper Deck Victory
456 – Frank Thomas RF

2009 Topps Wal-Mart Black
30 – Ken Griffey Jr.
70 – Jermaine Dye
149 – Juan Uribe
154 – A.J. Pierzynski
306 – Javier Vazquez

2009 Upper Deck
78 – Nick Swisher
463 – Jim Thome
493 – Carlos Quentin CL

Thank you, Shawn! This box went beyond my wildest expectations! I saw cards of Frank Thomas that I never thought I'd see. There were so many awesome cards, that I stood flabbergasted for awhile wondering how I was going to tackle this post. I chose a Fleer checklist to scan because it features the biggest Frank Thomas smile I could find in there. Your box will be shipping shortly.