I remember going to the National in Atlantic City (1988) and seeing something exciting, a new card company. Upper Deck was making its debut with slick looking white-bordered cards and hologram logos on the back of each card. At the time our hobby had three major manufacturers, Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. Overproduction was a prime problem as tons of boxes of 88 baseball were available for well under cost. The hobby was looking for something new and Upper Deck was it.
As 1989 came around we were all excited to open the new cards. Just as sharp and clean white as the promos we saw the summer before, they were an instant hit led by card #1 of Ken Griffey Jr. Over the years Upper Deck has had its high points and low points, much like the other companies, but they've stuck it out and managed to produce some wild cards for baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and auto racing.
| Has there ever been a hotter modern card created than each of the six "A Piece of History" Babe Ruth cards? | |
For their 10th Anniversary UD shows no signs of slowing down. In preparation for the milestone they purchased an authentic Babe Ruth baseball bat as well as six cut signatures (index cards or checks) of the Babe. Using their Piece of the Action technology a couple hundred slices of the bat were added to cards and six unique one of one cards were produced with both a piece of the bat and one of the autographs.
These six sure to be red-hot pieces of wood and paper are being split evenly between two new products, 1998 Upper Deck Retro and 1998 Upper Deck. Retro is an interesting new product that comes with 24 packs stuffed into a vintage style lunch box. The lunch boxes (each with one of six different stars) are already proving to be collectible as we find a whole new type of collector getting drawn into baseball cards.
Besides Babe Ruth and cool lunch boxes we find Retro to be a simple set of flat cards featuring a mix of current players and past stars. A few unexciting insert sets including some numbered ones don't do much to help, but the real draw might be the autographs. With just one in every box and a half and names like Griffey (Jr. and Sr.) and Ryan (Nolan not Klesko) it makes Retro more than just a chase for lunch box collectors.
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With 32 different players signing and 6 cool lunch boxes holding the packs, you can bet that Upper Deck Retro will be a hit with young fans and old. |
In the next couple weeks we'll also get our first look at the real anniversary celebration as 1999 Upper Deck Baseball arrives. In addition to the Babe bonanza you'll have a shot at 22 different Game Jersey cards plus a unique tribute to 1989. Each hobby box will have one pack of 1989 Upper Deck in addition to the 1999 packs. Apparently UD went out to the secondary market and bought cases of unopened 89 UD plus 100 Ken Griffey Jr. rookies. They took the rookie right back to Griffey himself and now you could find one of 100 signed and numbered Jr. rookies.
Some people might contend that it's all just gimmicks, but I've got to give some credit to Upper Deck for finding out what people enjoy and trying to take it one step further. At first when I heard they were cutting up a Babe Ruth bat I thought it was insane, but the more I think about it the more I realize that I'd love to be lucky enough to find one of the cards because I'm pretty sure I'll never have the money to buy the whole bat.
The 1998 baseball season ended a month ago, but you'd never know it if you collect cards. With the NBA lockout the manufacturers have decided to get the '99 baseball cards out as early as possible so be on the lookout not only for Upper Deck, but also Fleer Ultra, Topps Stadium Club and more to hit the shelves this month. Oh, and if you get a Babe Ruth card, how about dropping me a line and I'll even publish your name if you'd like.
CHAT