Early-2000 Pack Breaks

I stopped collecting in 1998 after the birth of my first son, and did not pick the hobby back up until after the lockout...so needless to say I missed out on a LOT of cards during that time.  I have slowly been trying to fill in the gaps, but I have found that acquiring cards from this period of time has been a bit of challenge...


So I happened upon a seller who had two auctions ending within a few days of each other loaded with unopened hockey packs from the early-2000's.  I thought that it was worth the money since I don't have a ton of cards from those years.  The price tag on both auctions was $25 for 50+ packs with $10 shipping.  I decided to give both of the them a shot and ended up winning both auctions.  Here is a breakdown on the packs I won:


7 01/02 Upper Deck Series 2
7 01/02 UD MVP
13 01/02 UD Vintage
19 00/01 SP Authentic
1 01/02 Stanley Cup
1 01/02 UD Challenge for the Cup
13 2002 Between the Pipes
3 2002 Topps Archives
1 01/02 SP Authentic
6 01/02 Topps
3 01/02 Stadium Club
3 01/02 Top Shelf
6 01/02 Spx
11 01/02 Challenge for the Cup
8 00-01 Topps Chrome
2 01/02 UD Ice


They arrived today and I anxiously began the ripping...I started with the packs I was less interested in and moved my way up...what did I find???


From a Topps Chrome Pack:




2000-01 Topps Chrome OPC Refractors #245 Rostislav Klesla SN 09/35

Not bad right?  Well I moved onto the Topps Archive packs next...and looky what we pulled out of the last pack...




2001-02 Topps Archives Autographs #10 Stan Mikita

WHOA BABY!!! We hit pay dirt, and in the set of packs I never expected any real hits!!!  No sticker autos here people...that's all card baby!!! 


Unfortunately, the next sets failed to live up to their predecessor's accomplishments: 01/02 UD MVP, 01/02 UD Vintage, 01/02 Stadium Club, 01/02 Topps. A few RCs and inserts, but nothing really special.  In fact, there were a few of the Topps packs that had cards fused together so bad I ended up tossing them all...oh well...you win some you lose some right?


So having gone through the packs I was semi-interested in, it left a nice stack of packs left to rip...on we go...


The UD Ice packs were a HUGE let down since some of the cards were stuck together and ended up getting damaged when I was separating them.  I did get a numbered redemption for the Devils which expired nearly a decade ago...too bad.


The Series 2 packs yielded three YGs (no one really worth mentioning), one insert, and a JP Dumont Exclusives numbered 080/100.  I lost a few of these cards as well since they were stuck together...how friggin annoying...

Next was the Challenge for the Cup...which ended up being not much of a challenge since it yielded NOTHING!  Not one card other than base!  BOOOOOOOO!!!

I moved onto the BTP cards.  The second pack in revealed yet another hit which made me squeal like a little girl (ok, maybe not that bad, but I was pretty excited)...

2001-02 Between the Pipes Masks #13 Patrick Roy!!

WOW, I had seen these in auctions in the past, but never in person...VERY NICE!!!  I was pleased...but a few packs later what did find???

2001-02 Between the Pipes Masks #1 Jacques Plante

VERY NICE!  I also got the Lalime card from the set...color me pleased!!!

Next I ripped the Top Shelf packs and pulled a no-name rookie and base cards...

The SPX packs were next and yielded plenty of base and SPs, but no rookies...

Next to last I opened the Stanley Cup pack...and pulled two base cards and...

2001-02 UD Stanley Cup Champs Sticks #SJJ Jaromir Jagr

Well now...this is has to be the cat's meow huh???  SA-WEET!!!!!

Lastly, I ripped the 20 SP packs...they yielded a number of nice inserts including a Gretzky Power Skaters insert, one rookie (Michael Riesen), plenty of base cards, and Sakic All-Time Greats card...oh yeah, did I mention that I also pulled a Sign of the Times auto??  I didn't???  Well...

2000-01 SP Authentic Sign of the Times #NL Nicklas Lidstrom

Another on-card auto and for one of the best defensemen in the NHL over the past two decades!!!

I still have to sort through the cards, but I am pretty sure I hit on all of the biggies...

I am thrilled with my pulls and had a great time opening all of the packs...happy days!!!  Well worth my time and money!!