Cheap Wax Wednesday Box Breaks: 2002 Fleer Ultra Baseball
2002 Fleer Ultra Baseball consists of a 285 card base set. Included in are a few subsets: 20 All Stars, 30 Team Players, and 35 Prospects subset cards. There is just one full-set parallel in the 2002 set, Gold Medallions. These fall once per pack, with the subset parallels being short printed. This was the first year since their 1997 debut that Fleer did not include a collector-favorite Platinum Medallion parallels.
This was also the first Ultra release in quite some time that did not feature an insert in every pack. There are just a few inserts in this one, including Rising Stars, Glove Works, and Fall Classic cards.
There are also game-used memorabilia and autograph cards to chase. You should find one of these in every box. The autographs, though, are tough pulls and fall just once in every 10 boxes. The list of signers is absolutely loaded with Hall of Fame players and managers. The bad news? Only Sparky Anderson and Earl Weaver autographs are live in packs. The rest are now long expired redemptions.
2002 Fleer Ultra Baseball Box Break
Cards per pack: 10
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $50
Shop for 2002 Fleer Ultra Baseball boxes on eBay.
Pack 1 highlights:
Greg Vaughn, Alfonso Soriano, Tom Glavine Gold Medallion (1 per pack), Mike Piazza, Nomar Garciaparra & Barry Bonds/Carlos Valderrama TP
As you can see right away, some of the cards did stick together in this box.
Pack 2:
Jeff Kent, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada & Barry Larkin
Pack 3:
Lance Berkman, Mo Vaughn, Magglio Ordonez, Sammy Sosa & Kevin Brown/Luke Prokopec TP
Pack 4:
Troy Glaus, Raul Mondesi, Trot Nixon & Jeff Kent ASG
Pack 5:
Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon Gold Medallion & Lou Gehrig Fall Classic (1:20 packs)
Some of the Gold Medallion cards, like this Damon, are somewhat subtle.
Pack 6:
Jimmy Rollins, Albert Pujols & C.C. Sabathia
Pack 7:
Hideo Nomo, Tony Gwynn, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire & Mike Piazza/Alex Escobar TP
Pack 8:
Chipper Jones, Jeff Bagwell & Alex Rodriguez ASG
Pack 9:
Edgar Martinez, Tom Glavine, Derek Jeter, Orlando Hernandez, Roberto Alomar & Mike Piazza ASG Gold Medallion
The subset Gold Medallion cards were actually short printed, and fall just once in every 24 packs!
Pack 10:
Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jonez & Manny Ramirez
Pack 11:
Mariano Rivera Gold Medallion & Cliff Floyd/Abraham Nunez TP
Pack 12:
Barry Bonds, Kerry Wood, Rich Aurilia ASG & Javy Lopez Gold Medallion
2001 was Aurilia’s only All Star Game appearance. He also finished 12th in NL MVP voting following the season.
Pack 13:
Cal Ripken, Jr., Kenny Lofton, Todd Helton, George Perez Prospects Gold Medallion (033/100) & Kazuhiro Sasaki Rising Stars (1:12 packs)
Pack 14:
Adrian Beltre, Craig Biggio, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa ASG & Gabe Kapler Gold Medallion
Pack 15:
Mariano Rivera, Vladimir Guerrero, Paul Konerko & Richie Sexson/Ben Sheets TP Gold Medallion
Pack 16:
Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado, Fred McGriff, Billy Wagner, Andres Galarraga Gold Medallion & Juna Gonzalez Hitting Machines Game Used Bat Relic (1:81 packs)
Unfortunately the Juan-Gone relic sustained some damage as well.
Pack 17:
A.J. Burnett, Larry Walker, Pat Burrell/Eric Valent TP & Travis Lee Gold Medallion
Pack 18:
Juan Gonzalez, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Tim Hudson, Wade Miller, Miller Gold Medallion & Ivan Rodriguez ASG
Pack 19:
Jim Thome, Moises Alou, Mike Lowell, Matt Williams Gold Medallion & Pat Burrell Rising Stars (1:12 packs)
Pack 20:
David Ortiz, Greg Maddux, Omar Vizquel, Bernie Williams & Pat Burrell Gold Medallion
Pack 21:
Curt Schilling, Frank Thomas, Nomar Garciaparra/Shea Hillenbrand TP & A.J. Pierzynski Gold Medallion
Pack 22:
Manny Ramirez ASG & Chuck Knoblauch Gold Medallion
Pack 23:
Jorge Posada, Pedro Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki, David Ortiz Gold Medallion & Cal Ripken Jr. Glove Works (1:20 packs)
Now that was a pack. I love the Glove Works inserts.
Pack 24:
Eric Chavez & Jeffrey Hammonds Gold Medallion
It’s tough and makes for a frustrating break when you realize the cards are bricked opening that first pack. It is always a risk but it won’t stop me from ripping, though.
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Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.
