The Mirl - 2005 Playoff Prestige Box Break

2005 Playoff Prestige

What I pulled--

Inserts and Parallels:
Xtra Bases Red - Bucky Jacobsen (#2/150), Dioner Navarro (#40/150), Mike Sweeney (#56/150)
Changing Stripes - Phil Niekro
Connections - Matsui/Reyes, Prior/Garciaparra, Beltre/Green, Seaver/Bench, Henderson/Gwynn
Diamond Heritage - Pedro Martinez
Fans of the Game - Tony Hawk
League Leaders - George Brett, Scott Rolen, Sosa/Glaus
League Leaders Parallel - Cal Ripken Jr. (#64/100)
Stars of MLB - Adrian Beltre, Johan Santana
Prestigious Pros.......
Blue - Jeff Bagwell (#247/900), Pedro Martinez (#329/900), Edgar Renteria (#103/900)
Red - Sammy Sosa (#663/700)
Orange - George Brett (#173/500), Tim Hudson (#114/500), Mark Teixeira (#280/500)
Green - Dennis Eckersley (#194/350), Jim Thome (#188/350)
Purple - Carlos Delgado (#117/200)
Bronze - Ben Sheets (#12/100)
Silver - Edgar Renteria (#48/75)

Autograph:
Xtra Bases Purple - Doug Devore (#23/50)

Review:
For the first time since I started reviewing boxes, I'm conflicted about my approach for a box. Do I judge a box on the set or the
contents of that box? Why? I might have had one of the worst box breaks I've ever had with this box, but the cards are great.

Let's start with the cards. I loved last year's design for this set. It is nice this year, but is a definite step down. They are far from ugly,
though - I'm just comparing it to one of my favorite recent designs. The inserts are where this product has its bread buttered. 30
inserts in 24 packs. Enough said as far as how much is in the box. There are a whole bunch of different levels of parallels for them,
too. I pulled seven different levels for the Prestigious Pros inserts alone. All the inserts are very attractive, most are numbered and
the player selection is outstanding (although that Beltre/Green Dodgers Connections card is a bit out of date already).

Now for the negative side. No relics. One auto - and a low end one at that. Buying cards will always be risky - you never know what
you are going to get in the box. This box typifies that. I've always had bad luck with Prestige. I've always bought it by the pack and still,
even with this box, have never pulled a relic. And they are apparently plentiful. I missed on the odds of two autos and or/GU in this
one, which will always leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

I think the best way to go is to split the grade in two for Prestige. It is the only way to be fair........................

Set: B
Box: F