One Hobby Box of 2003 Leaf (paid $40)
24 packs per box, ten cards per pack

The Video



The Pulls

Base Set: 208 of 320 (65.00%)
18 Doubles

Parallels

2 Red Press Proof (1:12) T. Glaus, T. Hunter
1 Blue Press Proof (numbered to 50) S. Hatteberg

Inserts

2 Leaf Certified Samples (15 cards, 1:23) M. Piazza, R. Johnson
1 Leaf Certified Samples Certified Red (numbered to 150) R. Johnson
3 Leaf 60 (50 cards, 1:8) Ja. Giambi, G. Maddux, V. Guerrero
1 Home (10 cards, 1:34) C. Jones
2 Slick Leather (15 cards, 1:21) G. Maddux, J. Edmonds
2 Hard Hats (12 cards, 1:13) B. Williams, R. Palmeiro

Autogamers

1 Away Jersey (10 cards, numbered to 250) C. Jones
1 Shirt off my Back (20 cards, numbered to 500) V. Wells

Product Rating: 2 1/2 Gumsticks

One box of 1996 Leaf Preferred (Paid $15)
24 packs per box, five cards plus one Steel "card" per pack

The Details

Base Set: 150 cards

Parallels
Press Proof: 150 cards (limited to 500 copies*)

Inserts
Steel: 77 Steel cards (one-per-pack)
Gold Steel: 77 Steel Cards*
Steel Power: Eight Cards (numbered to 5000*)
Staremasters: 12 cards (numbered to 2500*)

* Stated odds of finding either a Press Proof, Gold Steel, Steel Power, or Staremaster: 1:10/packs

Autogamers: NONE

The Pulls

Base Set: 75 of 150 (50.00%)
29 Doubles
10 Triples
4 Quads
2 Quints

Parallels: NONE

Inserts
20 Steel
3 Steel Doubles
1 Steel Triple

The Review

So I was at the Philly Show and had $15 burning a hole in my pocket and bought a box of this garbage. Don't get me wrong, I like 1996 Leaf Preferred. It's just that this was possibly the worst collated box I've ever pulled. I pulled quadruples of Andy Pettitte, Juan Gonzalez, and Paul O'Neill and quintuples of Rafael Palmeiro and Kirby Puckett.

This was the premiere edition of Leaf Preferred and the gimmick behind it was that each pack had a card "printed" on a rounded 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" slab of solid steel. Unfortunately, the product didn't sell all that well and was re-tooled as "Donruss Preferred" the following year. Out were the Steel slabs, and in were tin packs. But that's for another review.

In addition to the horrible collation, I also failed to receive any of the promised inserts. There are four of them, and come at the rate of 1:10/packs. Steel Power and Staremasters are typical serial-numbered insert that was common in most mid-90s Donruss products. Gold Steel is a parallel of the Steel plates. Press Proofs are a parallel; however, you'd have to look closely to see if you had one. Other than changing the color of the foil stamp on the front from silver to gold, there is nothing else on the card that designates it as a "Press Proof."

The Bottom Line

The base set looks very nice. Bold colors. Vivid photography. And the one-per-pack Steel "cards" were unique.

I guess I just got unlucky with a lousy box.

Product Rating: 2 1/2 Gumsticks (out of Five)