Masterpieces, I hardly knew you

When it comes to the latest and greatest, I've always been one to stand far from the action, waiting until the frenzy dies down. It's become a pattern, and it plays out in a variety of scenarios -- movies, technology, new restaurants. I like to figure out whether something is really worthwhile, at my own pace.

And so it is with baseball cards. I was about a year-and-half behind when it came to UD Masterpieces. But part of that time was spent evaluating whether I had any interest in the brand. And I decided -- and this is out of line with a lot of collectors' thinking (so what else is new?) -- that Masterpieces wasn't for me.

That didn't mean I thought Masterpieces was crap. The brand produced some great cards, including my favorite card of 2008, and possibly my favorite card of 2007. It's just that painted cards and I don't get along. And intensely short-printed sets and I don't get along. Combine both of those facts, and I couldn't see blowing much money on it.

But just to be sure I was being fair, I even bought a blaster in a further attempt to understand the product. What I ended up with was a big pile of meh.

So I was content to have my Russell Martin card, and my Sandy Koufax card, and collect the Masterpiece Dodgers here and there and be done with it.

Then two things happened. First came news that Upper Deck was going to kill off Masterpieces for 2009. Something about the economy and the expense of producing the set. I shrugged my shoulders. One less set that I didn't really care about to collect. Thank you for saving me from myself, UD.

The second thing that happened is I actually bought a couple packs of Masterpieces on Friday. Only because it was the lesser of four evils at Target (Topps Series 2, U&H and Documentary were doors Number 2, 3 and 4). In pack two, I pulled this:

Now, this is no great pull for a lot of you. There are a number of bloggers who have pulled countless framed Masterpieces cards. I don't know how many I have seen on I Am Joe Collector and Fielder's Choice combined. Dozens and dozens, I'm sure. But this was the first time I had held one in my hands. And touching is believing. The framed cards are very cool.

Yet, not long after pulling the Ripken card, I remembered that Masterpieces wouldn't be around anymore. And I felt a small twinge of disappointment. It was nothing like if I had heard that Allen & Ginter was history. But still I felt like someone who had discovered what the buzz was all about, only to realize that everyone had moved on. It was like tuning into "Seinfeld" for the first time in Season 8.

Oh well. That's just me, sticking to my late-to-the-party template.

It took quite awhile, but I'm not on the fence about Masterpieces anymore. I happen to think it's just a little bit cool.

Sorry it took so long. And sorry to see you go.

(But I'm not married to this Ripken card. I will be happy to trade it for a framed Masterpieces Dodger, or something comparable. If anyone wants to do that kind of one-for-one trade, leave a comment or send an email. We can make it a larger trade if you like. I'll respond to the first person who offers something reasonable).