Imagine is a configuration of 1999 Just Baseball. It’s one of several releases from the minor league card maker that year. The names all have a common theme. Just the Start, Just the Preview, Justifiable — you get it.

Overall, there are 250 base cards spread throughout the different releases. And yes, there is just one checklist. The insert sets all share a common theme as well, with each starting with the word “Just”. There are some tough ones, too. In this release, the Just 9 insert is found just once in every 10 boxes. Just Black parallels share the same 1:240 pack odds and are numbered to just 50 copies each.

What about the autographs? Sure, autographs can be a highlight of these minor league releases. Overall, 1999 Just Minors products feature a 132-card autograph checklist. A total of 48 of those can be found in Just Imagine boxes. The best include Rick Ankiel, Sean Casey, Gabe Kapler, Julio Lugo, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano. No major stars, but still some notable names to be found. 

1999 Just Baseball Imagine Box Break

Cards per pack: 6
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $20

Shop for 1999 Just Baseball Imagine boxes on eBay.

Box Topper:

First up, the Just Debuts box topper of  Brad Wilkerson

Pack 1 highlights:

Adam Dunn, Octavio Dotel & Alfonso Soriano

Adam Dunn hit exactly 40 home runs four years straight between 2005 and 2008. 

Pack 2:

Carlos Lee, Austin Kearns & Shea Hillenbrand

Pack 3:

Sean “The Mayor” Casey

Pack 4:

Matt Holliday & Gabe Kapler

Holliday, drafted as a third baseman, played exactly zero games at third base in the majors. 

Pack 5:

Ryan Rupe

Rupe isn’t exactly a household name, but he did pitch in 89 major league games over parts of five seasons. 

Pack 6:

Adam Dunn, Ben Davis & Marcus Giles Just Longshots (1:8 packs)

Pack 7:

Adam Piatt Just Stars (1:24 packs)

Piatt was a top-100 prospect heading into the 2000 season. He ended up playing just 212 career major league games over four seasons. 

Pack 8:

Adam Everett

Pack 9:

Gary Matthews, Jr. & Jason Regan Just Longshots (1:8 packs)

Pack 10:

Pat Burrell & A.J. Burnett

Pack 11:

Josh Hamilton & Jason Marquis

Hamilton played 72 professional games after being drafted in 1999. He hit .312 with 10 HR and 55 RBI to go along with 18 SB. 

Pack 12:

Jack Cust & Octavio Dotal

Pack 13:

A couple different John Elway cards!

Elway was selected during the MLB draft twice, first in the 18th round of the 1979 draft out of high school. He was selected again, this time in the second round by the Yankees in 1981. 

Pack 14:

Alfonso Soriano & C.C. Sabathia

Pack 15:

Those same Elway cards & Jeff Austin Autograph

Elway did play minor league baseball in 1982. Over 42 games in Low-A ball, Elway hit .318 with 4 HR and 25 RBI. He posted an .896 OPS. 

Pack 16:

Pat Burrell, A.J. Burnett & Adam Dunn

Pack 17:

A spectacled Jon Garland

Pack 18:

Matt Holliday & Pat Burrell Just Stars (1:24 packs)

I beat the odds on the Just Stars inserts.

Pack 19:

Julio Lugo & Lugo Just Longshots (1:8 packs)

Pack 20:

A couple different Ricky Williams cards

Ricky played minor league baseball while in college. He played four seasons in the Phillies minor league system, hitting just .211. 

Pack 21:

Josh Hamilton & Kip Wells Autograph

Kip Wells isn’t a huge name, but the Winston-Salem Warthogs? Awesome.

Pack 22:

Josh Hamilton & Matt Holliday

Pack 23:

Gabe Kapler, Jacque Jones & Kapler Just Longshots (1:8 packs)

Pack 24:

Ricky Williams x2 & David Eckstein Just Longshots (1:8 packs)

Eckstein was the definition of a longshot. The 5’6” Eckstein was drafted in the 19th round of the 1997 draft. He would go on to make two all-star teams, win two World Series titles, and win a World Series MVP award in 2006.

Lastly, the Josh Hamilton card back. Hamilton was selected first overall in the 1999 MLB Draft. 

Unfortunately I didn’t pull an autograph of one of the notable names. At least Kip Wells pitched in almost 300 major league games. Jeff Austin made just 38 career relief appearances during his brief major league career. 

At just $20, this one more than makes up for the lacklustre hits with some fun cards. John Elway and Ricky Williams baseball cards? Sign me up.

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.