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#10: 2002-03 SP Game Used 1st Round Patches (19/30)
One of Williams' early patch cards, it is a one color patch, which is a bit sad, but the design is just so cool it almost doesn't matter. And the limitedness (only 30 around) is pretty nice too. Multiple color patch would have been preferred, but I'll definately take this one and its beautiful design. |
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#9: 2002-03 UD Top Shelf Reflaections Dual Jersey w/ Jarome Iginla
Very cool card. Again, the design is very strong and I certainly don't mind the comparisions to Iginla. The design is just so simple and striking at the same time it really makes this card worthwhile ... sure the jersey and the serial numbering helps, but major kudos to UD again for their strong design. |
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#8: 2000-01 Premier Plus Premier Rookies
This is a beautifully composed insert. The general design of the inserts is just sweet, with the blue arc leading into the yellow, drawing the eye into the player. Adding to the coloring is the excellent choice of using a pic of Williams in the away jersey, as the black works extremely well color-wise with the rest of the card. Just a nifty, beautiful looking insert. |
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#7: 2001-02 Bowman Young Stars Autograph (26/50)
Again, very awesome design. While this is a cut autograph, and those aren't my favorite as far as current players are concerned, the cut portion has a neat design on it behind the autograph. The overall design of the rest of the card is just as solid, giving the card a very sleek look. Of course, the actual autograph and limited number (only 50) don't hurt either! |
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#6: 2001-02 Topps Heritage Autograph
Another autograph, this one beats out the Young Stars autos on a couple of counts. First, it's not a cut autograph (hooray!). Secondly, the retro factor Topps is able to put into this card is amazing. It looks and feels in everyway just like an old-time card. Nostalgic retro design combined with a nice sweet sig, no wonder all the Heritage autos have been rising in value of late. They are gems! |
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#5: 2001-02 Bowman YoungStars Double Stuff Jersey/Stick (17/25)
This card has a lot going for it. First of all, it's Williams' first dual stick/jersey card and one of his first stick cards. The design itself is pretty sweet and the stick has a nifty little pattern on it. It's also got the limitedness, only 25 of these cards running around. When you put all that together, I was a little more than happy when I was finally able to track down and acquire one of these beauties. |
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#4: 2001-02 Upper Deck Next Generation Jersey
So what is a rather common jersey like this one doing so high up the list? Sure it may have been Williams' first ever jersey card, but it can't be that great can it? Well, I acquired this card right before Thanksgiving back in 2001 and at the time it was quite thrilling to finally net a jersey card of his. Subsequently, seeing this card now brings back the memories of a "brisk" Seattle night way back during that Thanksgving weekend. And really that's what this is all about, so this otherwise common jersey will always have a bit higher standing with me. |
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#3: 2000-01 SP Authentic #118 RC (14/900)
This was the one card I thought I could never have. I remember seeing the SP Authentic flyer, on it was a Justin Williams RC, numbered (14/2000). I knew that was the one card I really wanted. Not just the RC, but numbered to his jersey number, 14. I knew it was silly and would probably never happen, and of course I would have made due with any regular #'d RC.
So SP Authentic comes out about a week or so later. A couple of packs in (no I don't pull it! :) I realize the (14/2000) can never happen, since RCs are numbered to 900. No matter, there is still a 14/900. A few days after that, hanging out on eBay is ... yep what you see to the right, with a very reasonable Buy it Now. Apparently the seller hadn't realized the numbering, there was no premium or nothing. Two clicks later, all mine.
And this isn't the best Williams card I have?! |
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#2 2000-01 Crown Royale #136 RC (145/400)
I loved the entire Crown Royale set form this year, so is it any surprise this one is here? Well maybe. But I have always thought that the portrait shots the base set of Crown Royale used was a sweet idea and this card is no exception. Crown Royale RCs may not be as desirable as SP Authentic RCs, but this one is numbered a lot lower, and the photo is much sweeter. |
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#1 2003-04 Topps Pristine Pristine Patches Refractor (5/10)
Easily the best Williams card I have ever pulled, it's also pretty easily the best Williams card I have. Oh sure, there are the two RCs above here which are nice, but do any of them have a GU patch? And are either of them numbered out of 10? And most importantly did I pull either? The fact that I was able to pull such a rare Williams card alone has me in awe. I love this card! |
