Following on the heels of the wildly popular 2002 box set, the 2003 USA Baseball Box Set was released to collectors in September 2003. Officials announced that the set was limited to a production run of 10,000 sets, same as the 2002 set. However, the retail price was increased from $19.99 to $24.99, but this issue included 3 hits per set (2 autographed cards and 1 auto/jersey card). Another difference, this set premiered autographs from the current year’s national team players, while the 2002 USA set featured autographs from alumni already in the professional ranks.
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BECKETT.com Announces the Release of the 2003 USA Baseball Box Set
2003 USA Baseball: Three Autographs Per Set
8/29/2003 4:33:23 PM
On the heels of last year’s hugely successful 2002 USA Baseball National Team set, USA Baseball and Upper Deck return with a 2003 set – and three autographs per each boxed set.
The 30-card boxed set features 27 regular player or coach cards (including one card for every player on the 2003 National Team), one 2003 USA Baseball National Team photo card, one United States 1988 Olympic Gold Medal commemorative card and a set checklist. The USA Baseball National Team recently captured the silver medal in the Pan Am Games. The set is scheduled to release on or around September 18 and will carry a $24.95 SRP.
Red Auto /750
Like the 2002 USA Baseball National Team set that sold out of its 10,000 print run rather quickly last year, the 2003 set will also be limited to a print run of 10,000 sets. The big difference between the sets – outside of almost an entirely different player roster – is that three autographs will be included in each 2003 set. However, just the players on the 2003 National Team roster signed for the set.
“We wanted something different this time around, so we didn’t do alumni autographs,” says David Perkins, USA Baseball Director of Marketing and Licensing. “After the success of last year’s box set, our organization and Upper Deck wanted to insure the 2003 release would create the same interest and excitement within the collecting community. By limiting the production run to 10,000 sets – the same as last year – and making this set the exclusive home of authentic autographs of the National Team, we believe we will accomplish that goal.”
Each boxed set will include two of 20 different National Team Authentic Signature Cards. Of those, Red Autographs are #’d to 750 and Blue Autographs are #’d to 250. Also, each box will include on of 20 different National Team Authentic Signature Jersey Cards, with Red Autographs being #’d to 350 and Blue Autographs #’d to 150.
Blue Auto/Jsy /150
The players in the set include: Matt Campbell (LHP, South Carolina), Jeff Clement (C, USC), Tyler Greene (IF, Georgia Tech), Michael Griffin (OF, Baylor), Stephen Head (LHP/IF, Mississippi), Paul Janish (IF, Rice), Jeff Larish (IF, Arizona State), Brent Lillibridge (OF, Washington), Mike Nickeas (C, Georgia Tech), Justin Orenduff (RHP, Virginia Commonwealth), Micah Owings (rhp/IF, Georgia Tech), Eric Patterson (IF, Georgia Tech), Dustin Pedroia (IF, Arizona State), Danny Putnam (OF, Stanford), Steve Register (RHP, Auburn), Mark Romanzczuk (LHP, Stanford), Seth Smith (OF, Mississippi), Huston Street (RHP, Texas), Justin Varlander (RHP, Old Dominion) and Jered Weaver (RHP, Long Beach State),
