2012-13 Upper Deck Artifacts Box Break #2

Here's a look at the second box of 12-13 Artifacts that I opened. I won't bore you with all the details about product background, hit guarantees and insertion rates. I said enough about it in my first post. I will say, though, that I was JUST as happy with the contents of this box as I was the first.

The main hits for me was a Doug Wilson jersey/patch autograph numbered 6/8. I was very happy to find this card of I guy I remembered pulling cards of back when I first started collecting hockey with 90-91 Pro Set. It contains a sticker auto, but I'm not too hard on that. My one complaint, though, is with the patch. One-color solid black. Come on, Upper Deck. There are only EIGHT copies of this card, and you couldn't get me something with a secondary color?

I also pulled Zach Parise dual jersey card from the Treasured Swatches insert set. One of the many bad things with the lockout is that it just makes me wait longer until I start pulling cards of Parise in his Wild uniform. By the way, in the year that I've lived up here in North Dakota, I've already met someone who went to his wedding last summer, and I am working with a guy who went to high school with his wife.

This Tomas Vokoun dual jersey card, numbered 91/125, will be a great addition to my Penguins collection, at least until they get rid of him for a different backup. There seems to be quite a rotation in Pittsburgh of number 2 goaltenders. Still, I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

I know that every collector out there has a player who no matter what product they buy, they always seem to find him in the packs. For me, it seems to be the Sedin twins. Artifacts only went to prove this theory, as I found a card of BOTH Daniel and Henrik from the Tundra Tandems insert set.

My two Team Canada serial numbered cards were of Cody Eakin 33/999 and Louis LeBlanc 763/999. I also got a Mike Modano Sapphire 61/85 as my low-numbered parallel.

My rookies were nothing special, but then again, this early in the year, not many of them are. I pulled a Jakob Silfverberg 232/999 and Matt Watkins 530/999, as well as a New York Islanders Rookie Redemption.

I had scanned some base cards in this one as well. Although you've already seen what the cards look lokie, I'll show some more, just because there were so many cards of Penguins players and other guys I collect.

I left this box thinking, "Man. I've had two really good boxes. What are the odds of that happening?" Then it hit me as to why.

NO ROOKIE HITS!!!

I may be in the minority here, but nothing frustrates me more than dropping good money on a box of cards, only to pull hits of three rookies and a plain jersey swatch of one of the Sedin twins. EVERY single one of my hits is of an established NHLer, and both patch cards were of retired players, which is cool. I know some people like to play the prospecting game, but for me, I want to know that the guy I havea  relic card of is actually going to see some action and make some kind of name for himself.

As if it needs to be said, I LOVE me some Artifacts. I'm normally a Panini guy, but I have the feeling that Upper Deck will be getting a lot of my collecting money for this set. I'm definitely going for the set, but I am going to get another couple of boxes together before I post a want list.