Two rounds of previews regarding this highly anticipated hockey release have collectors chomping at the bit
North Las Vegas, NV (September 25, 2008) – Upper Deck first previewed its NHL UD Black cards unannounced in packs of 2007-08 NHL Upper Deck Ice and they were instantly a hit. Then came three straight weeks where 2008-09 NHL UD Black card previews were posted on a popular hobby website and collectors were beside themselves. Some of the collector reaction included these quotes:
“I thought UD Black Baseball was awesome, well this is even better.”
“Great looking stuff, just incredible!”
“Breathtaking. Some of the nicest looking hockey cards ever.”
“I can’t put my eyelids down.”
“I LOVE the idea of the Trophy Cuts…love it, love it, love it.”
“Kudos to UD on this one. The cards look absolutely amazing.”
Key characteristics that make 2008-09 NHL UD Black so attractive include the thickness of the cards, as well as having athletes sign the black middle surface with either silver or gold ink.
There are five major insert sets that really have collectors talking. The first is the “Game Night Ticket” autograph cards that highlight a player in a key game where they turned in a superstar performance. There are also dual-signed versions of these cards that spotlight two key players.
Another of the inserts that has collectors talking right now is the “Pride of a Nation” autograph cards. On each of these limited cards is a manufactured flag swatch of the featured player’s country. With hockey having players with such a diverse background, there is a tremendous variety of country flags included.
The next insert set is technology driven and called “Lustrous Materials” autograph collection. These cards include two memorabilia swatches, the player’s autograph and a clear image of the player embedded in the card.
The cards that will fetch the highest prices and no doubt the most interest in the hobby will be the “Cuts from the Modern Era” and the “Trophy Cuts” cards. The former have cut autographs from deceased personalities that are sure to have collectors talking, while the latter cards include an autograph from the person the trophy was named after as well as an autograph from a star who won the award. So for the first time there will be dual-autograph cards from stars like Ray Bourque and Clarence Campbell, King Clancy and Jarome Iginla, Maurice Richard and Rick Nash and, of course, Wayne Gretzky and Lord Stanley.
“We spent a lot of time to deliver a product to hockey fans that was unlike anything they had ever seen before,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck’s Hockey brand manager. “The technology, design and innovation that was incorporated into 2008-09 NHL UD Black makes it a set that collectors will love. When you hold these cards in your hands, you realize you have something special.”
Upper Deck’s 2008-09 NHL UD Black carries a suggested retail price of $125 per two-card hobby pack and is available in stores now.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
· Two Awesome Hits in Every Pack, on average:
o An autograph or multi-swatch memorabilia card!
o A Rookie Letterman Patch Card!
· Highlighted by Autographed Manufactured Flag Patch “Pride of a Nation” cards!
· Collect sweet Marks of Obsidian cards!
o With an autograph and a patch, single and dual versions!
· Four distinct inserts with cut signatures – some paired with recent superstars!
· Commemorative “Game Night Ticket” cards, with one or two autographs on each!
· Tons of triple and quad memorabilia cards, some jerseys, some patches and some combos!
PRODUCT BREAKDOWN:
· UD Black Cards (combining to deliver an avg. of 1 per pack!)
o Regular Cards – Quad Jersey – #’d to 99
o Regular Cards – Jersey/Patch, Gold // – #’d to 15
o Regular Cards – Patch, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Auto Jerseys (Quads) – #’d to 25
o Auto Patches (Quads) – #’d to 5
o Dual Player Auto Jerseys (Quads) – #’d to 15
o Dual Player Auto Patches (Quads) – #’d to 3
o Dual Player Jerseys (Quads) – #’d to 50
o Dual Player Jersey/Patch, Gold // (Quads) – #’d to 25
o Dual Player Patch, Blue // (Quads) – #’d to 5
o Trios Jerseys – #’d to 50
o Foursomes Jerseys – #’d to 25
o Trios Gold // Jerseys – #’d to 10
o Foursomes Gold // Jerseys – #’d to 5
o Trios Blue // Patches – #’d to 1
o Foursomes Blue // Patches – #’d to 1
o 3-on-3 Jerseys – #’d to 10
o 4-on-4 Jerseys – #’d to 5
o 3-on-3 Jerseys, Gold // – #’d to 5
o 4-on-4 Jerseys, Gold // – #’d to 3
o 3-on-3 Jerseys, Blue // – #’d to 1
o 4-on-4 Jerseys, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Pride of a Nation Autographed Patches – #’d to 25
o Pride of a Nation Autographed Patches, Gold // – #’d to 10
o Pride of a Nation Autographed Patches, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials – #’d to 35
o Dual Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials – #’d to 25
o Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials, Gold // – #’d to 25
o Dual Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials, Gold // – #’d to 10
o Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Dual Marks of Obsidian – Auto Patch Materials, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials – #’d to 25
o Dual Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials – #’d to 10
o Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials, Gold // – #’d to 10
o Dual Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials, Gold // – #’d to 5
o Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Dual Game Night Ticket – Auto Patch Materials, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Lustrous Materials – Auto Dual Jersey – #’d to 25
o Lustrous Materials – Auto Jersey/Patch, Gold // – #’d to 10
o Lustrous Materials – Auto Patch, Blue // – #’d to 1
o Trophy Cuts (cut with label auto) – varied #ing
o Past and Present Autographs (cut with auto) – varied #ing
o Dual Cuts – varied #ing
o Cuts from the Modern Era – varied #ing
· Rookie Cards (combining to deliver an avg. of 1 per pack!)
o Rookie Lettermen (spell player’s names) – #’d to 399
o Rookie Lettermen Gold (spell rookie) – #’d to 15
o Rookie Lettermen Blue (first letter of player’s last name) – #’d to 1
o Rookie Lettermen Redemption – #’d to 99
About Upper Deck
Founded in 1988, Upper Deck is a premier global sports and entertainment-publishing company that delivers a robust portfolio of products for sports and entertainment collectors alike. For more information, visit www.upperdeck.com or www.upperdeckstore.com.
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