Upper Deck has announced that they are cutting production levels for remaining 2007-08 basketball. The effort comes in an attempt to boost demand and collectibility of this year’s basketball products. The cuts actually began with SP Authentic Basketball and are described as “pretty significant” by Upper Deck’s Basketball Brand Manager Chris Kollmeyer.
Less
More
Archive for the 'Upper Deck' Category
From upperdeck.com
Rookie Running Back Adrian Peterson Takes His Game to New Heights in the NFL Pro Bowl and in 2007 SP Authentic Football
The NFL Rookie of the Year is the main target for collectors this season
Carlsbad, CA – (February 11, 2008) – Year in and Year out, the SP Authentic Football product delivers the most sought after, and traditionally some of the most expensive rookie cards in the market. This year is no different. After hitting store shelves last week, collectors are rushing to find the 2007 SP Authentic Rookie Autograph Patch cards of Adrian Peterson.
After such a strong rookie season, and now after collecting MVP honors at the Pro Bowl, these cards are in such high demand, they are selling for between $600-$750 already in the secondary market. Peterson has predicted he will rush for 2,000 yards in 2008 and having won just about every award imaginable in 2007, collectors really feel like Peterson is a great investment.
Peterson is not the only rookie that is creating excitement in 2007 SP Authentic Football. Collectors are after already proven performers like Marshawn Lynch, Patrick Willis, Steve Smith, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boss, Trent Edwards, Calvin Johnson and Dwayne Bowe coupled with future stars like Kevin Kolb, Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell and Ted Ginn Jr. Even though the product has been in the market for less than a week, it is clear that based on its performance already that SP Authentic Football is truly the home of the most collected NFL rookie cards.
Rookies are not the only key driver in 2007 SP Authentic Football. The popular “By The Letter” autograph insert allows collectors the opportunity to try to assemble the nameplate of the player’s last name for stars like Brett Favre, Bo Jackson, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith and many more. The popular Chirography and Sign of the Times autograph inserts return as well. Every autograph is signed on the actual cards and there are multi-signed versions available too, some featuring up to four different players signing on one collectible trading card.
“SP Authentic Football is THE set that every collector saves up for every year,” says Brandon Miller, Upper Deck NFL brand manager. “We receive more calls and e-mails regarding when it will be releasing than any of our other sets. It’s a testament not only to the strong history and collectibility of the set, but also to the fact that collectors know Upper Deck always adds more to it to make sure it’s a hit. With the “By The Letter” set and some of the awesome multi-signed cards available, this year is no different.”
Upper Deck has announced a unique experience for five lucky collectors. See the program’s press release below:
Find a golden ticket and win the opportunity to build your own pack of 2007-08 NBA Exquisite
Carlsbad, CA – (January 23, 2008) – When 2007-08 Exquisite Basketball arrives in stores this summer, collectors will be blown away by how far the product line has come over the last five years and how exciting the content has become. Five lucky collectors from the US or Canada will get an early preview of the set like no collector has ever experienced before through Upper Deck’s new program called “The Exquisite Experience.”
One golden ticket will be randomly inserted into 2007-08 NBA SP Authentic (releasing Feb. 13), 2007-08 NBA UD Black (releasing Feb. 27), 2007-08 NBA SP Rookie Edition (releasing mid-March), 2007-08 NBA UD Premier (releasing early April). A fifth golden ticket will be awarded through a no-purchase-necessary program. The five lucky winners will receive airfare and accommodations to attend the packout of 2007-08 Exquisite Basketball this summer.
Not only will they get a behind the scenes look at this year’s release that will include some of the most anticipated Kevin Durant rookie cards of the year, but they will also have an unprecedented opportunity to create their own pack of cards. Winners will be given five minutes to create their own pack according to the set ratios in place for the product. So while they will not be able to make their pack full of 1/1 cards, they will be able to select the players and inserts they want in their packs in line with those ratios.
“Our ultimate goal is to bring collectors closer to our products and the sports they love,” said Chris Kollmeyer, Upper Deck NBA brand manager. “’The Exquisite Experience’ is another innovative and exciting way to give collectors an opportunity to see the large undertaking we go through for packing out a product this important. The other thing winners will enjoy is just how awesome it is to see all of these cards in one place for that brief time before they all are packaged and sent out. It’s the type of behind-the-scenes type of experience that any hardcore collector would salivate over.”
From Upperdeck.com:
This season’s launch includes autographed ‘Flashback Fabric’ cards of Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux
Carlsbad, CA (January 15, 2008) – The Upper Deck Company proudly announces the release of its latest-and-greatest edition of SPx Hockey trading cards. Always striving to provide the most sought-after NHL content per pack (autographs, rookie cards and rookie jersey cards), Upper Deck’s 2007-08 SPx Hockey launch delivers like a Sidney Crosby slap shot!
With the current NHL season in full force, top rookies are rising to the surface and showing their true mettle. Freshmen like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews (Chicago); Carey Price (Montreal); Sam Gagner (Edmonton); Jiri Tlusty (Toronto); and Nicklas Backstrom (Washington) are making terrific first impressions in their inaugural NHL campaigns. And Upper Deck’s 2007-08 SPx Hockey presents the NHL’s up-and-coming talent like nobody else.
In addition, SPx Hockey brings collectors the full breadth of superstar content loyal hobbyists have come to expect from the industry leader. With current superstars like Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby, Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek and New York Rangers right winger Jaromir Jagr headlining the always popular “Winning Materials” jerseys inserts (1:18 packs), and “Flashback Fabrics” memorabilia cards (1:126 packs) sporting the likes of retired greats Bobby Clarke (Flyers), Dino Ciccarelli (North Stars), Bobby Nystrom (Islanders) and Guy Lafleur (Canadiens), collectors will surely be clamoring for packs of SPx Hockey. Another special element to this year’s SPx Hockey launch is the reemergence of a late ’90 SPx insert favorite: “Force Quad Holograms.” Two of the Force Quad combinations include Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, as well as Bobby Orr, Scott Neidermayer, Nicklas Lidstrom and Dion Phaneuf.
“Our goal with SPx Hockey has always been to spotlight the league’s rookie crop as well as provide great chase cards for NHL fans serious about their card collecting,” said Upper Deck Hockey Brand Manager Josh Zusman. “Autographs and jersey cards certainly drive the hockey card market, but innovative add-ons like our ‘Spectrum Parallel’ inserts of the entire regular set provide even more value for hockey card collectors.”
Upper Deck’s 2007-08 SPx Hockey includes 18 packs per box and four cards per pack, yielding – on average – two “Rookie Jersey” cards (one will be autographed) in every box. The product is scheduled to hit store shelves on Wednesday, January 16.
Continue reading ‘Upper Deck’s 2007-08 SPx Hockey remains the ‘Home of the Rookie Jersey Card’’
From Upperdeck.com
Surprise hot boxes help to keep NBA fans warm this winter
Carlsbad, CA – (January 11, 2008) – Collectors love to get a little extra or be surprised with additional content when opening packs. Upper Deck has enjoyed sharing this unexpected pleasure with collectors recently with 2007/2008 SPx Basketball. NBA Fans opening up the product are finding that some boxes are delivering significantly more than they bargained for.
The latest SPx Basketball release arrived over the holidays with each 3-card pack yielding either a signature or memorabilia card in every pack. Upper Deck has added a previously unannounced hot box in every case. These special boxes will have twice the normal content with every pack including two signature or memorabilia cards.
“The product is extremely strong on its own merit, but we felt it would be great to deliver some additional value for collectors around the holidays,” explained Bill Beaman, Upper Deck product manager for Basketball. “We couldn’t be happier with the play of Upper Deck spokesmen this year. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and our strong stable of rookies lead by Kevin Durant have made this a special year. SPx rookies are consistently some of the highest valued cards in the industry so we are excited to see that trend continue with this release.”
Durant SPx Autograph rookie cards have been regularly selling for between $250-$400+ on-line. As he continues to develop and improve, the values will likely continue to soar. With the All-Star break nearing, it’s amazing how similar Durant’s numbers are to rookie seasons of other NBA superstars liked LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
The opportunity to invest in players like this before they become superstars does not come along every day. Kevin Durant is establishing himself as the future of the Sonics organization and a franchise player. Accordingly, savvy NBA collectors are making the most of this opportunity by collecting Durant now.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Continue reading ‘Upper Deck Turns up the Heat with 2007/2008 SPx Basketball’
Upper Deck has announced the Mystery Dual Exchange Program - where collectors will have the opportunity to own some of the best dual cut autographs ever produced. Collectors can pull winning exchange cards from 2007 UD Ultimate Baseball, 2007 UD Black Baseball, and 2007 UD Exquisite Rookie Signatures Baseball. Those lucky collectors who pull a mystery dual exchange card have the ability to choose which card they receive on a first come first serve basis. The following cards are available:
- Ronald Reagan & Mikhail Gorbachev
- Robert Kennedy & Jimmy Hoffa
- Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin
- Albert Einstein & Thomas Edison
- Roger Maris & Babe Ruth
- John F. Kennedy & Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Clark Gable & Vivien Leigh
- Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
- Marilyn Monroe & John F. Kennedy
- Johnny Cash & Elvis Presley
- Walt Disney & Charles Schultz
- Winston Churchill & Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Princess Diana & Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- P.T. Barnum & Charles Stratton (Tom Thumb)
- King George V & Queen Elizabeth I
- William Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan
- Douglas MacArthur & George S. Patton
- Ozzie Nelson & Harriet Nelson
- Robert E. Lee & Ulysses S. Grant
- Jack Dempsey & Floyd Patterson
- Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz
- Al Jolson & George Burns
- Art Carney & Jackie Gleason
As of 12/18 no Dual exchange cards have been redeemed, as UD Ultimate Collection Baseball was released in Mid-October and includes three of the exchange cards.
From Upperdeck.com:
CARLSBAD, Calif. – (November 29, 2007) – In what has become as common as the leaves turning shades of brown, orange and yellow in the fall, Upper Deck has once again beat the competition to sign the top rookies for its young stars themed set, Hot Prospects Basketball. 2007-08 Hot Prospects Basketball is headlined by Kevin Durant and his 25 points per game and his fellow NBA Freshmen, such as Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Michael Conley, Jeff Green and Julian Wright.
Each of these newcomers to the pro hardwood have signed their autos to the popular auto patch rookie cards – which will drop at a rate of one per box – as well as the Rookie Materials letter cards and Draft Day Postmarks. 2007-08 Upper Deck Hot Prospects Basketball hits store shelves today (November 29).
“Hot Prospects Basketball celebrates the most anticipated rookie class since ‘Melo’ and LeBron in the 138-card set with three autograph or memorabilia cards including at least one autograph patch rookie card numbered to 599 or less per box,” said Bill Beaman, Associate Basketball Product Manager for Upper Deck. “We take great pride in scouting out the best players to put in our world class basketball brands.”
The product and brand teams in Upper Deck’s workshop have brought back iconic card inserts like autographed Rookie Materials and the Draft Day Postmark cards – autographed rookie cards stamped and postmarked from the 2007 NBA Draft in the Big Apple.
Continue reading ‘Top Prospects Make Their Mark in Upper Deck’s Hot Prospects Basketball’
From Upperdeck.com
Upper Deck Brings Back Successful NHL Mass Market Promotion – ‘Backstage Pass’ Sweepstakes
Two Youngsters Can Win Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance To Be Named Stick Kid at the NHL All-Star Weekend
CARLSBAD, Calif. (October 10, 2007) – Blessed with consecutive rookie classes loaded with talented playmakers, the NHL is continuing to bring fans to the game and reach new heights with its fast-paced play. Upper Deck, who holds the exclusive trading card license from the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, is also benefiting from the crop of youngsters who are making headlines on the ice. Upper Deck continues to exert its leadership position in the trading card industry as it announces it is bringing back the popular and successful marketing campaign “Backstage Pass” for the 2007-08 NHL season.
From Upperdeck.com-
Initial 2007 Sweet Spot Classic Baseball Mystery Cuts Revealed
Legendary Entertainers and Presidents Headline the Series
Carlsbad, CA – (October 8, 2007) – Very few products this year have delivered more excitement than 2007 Sweet Spot Classic Baseball. Customers felt they received more value with one autograph and two memorabilia cards in each five-card tin. Collectors appreciated the tin packaging as it removed the element of pack searching as well. There were a variety of components that made the product successful and fun to break, but the biggest excitement has come from Mystery Cut exchange cards.
Continue reading ‘Initial 2007 Sweet Spot Classic Baseball Mystery Cuts Revealed’
From Upperdeck.com:
Young Stars Make Their Mark in New Upper Deck Rookie Threads Football
Two Signed Rookie Letter Patches Numbered to 250 or Less in Each Box
Carlsbad, CA – (September 25, 2007) – Once again proving worthy of its leadership position in the hobby, Upper Deck is set to mix the best rookies with one of its premier brands to bring the best rookie content to the hobby. SP Rookie Threads, SRP $50 per five card-pack, will bring instant credibility to collectors with each card designed to bring long-term collectibility and value to consumers.
“SP Rookie Threads will become an instant hobby classic, with its signed Rookie Letter Patch cards,” commented Steven Judd, Football Product Manager for Upper Deck. “We wanted the look and feel of the cards to appeal to the high-end rookie card collectors with its similarities to our SP brands.”
Continue reading ‘Young Stars Make Their Mark in New Upper Deck Rookie Threads Football’
