Upper Deck’s 2009-10 ‘The Cup’ Hockey Skates In

Content Originally Published by Sports Collectors Daily on Monday October 4, 2010.

The puck may soon drop on a new season, but Upper Deck’s newly released The Cup hockey card issue is still labeled a 2009-10 product.

A 90-card collection, The Cup is known in hobby circles as the “Exquisite Collection of Hockey” and returns as the company’s most sought-after brand in the product portfolio.  Upper Deck promises two autographed patch cards in every tin, including one autographed rookie patch.

“The Cup is clearly our best-received launch every season and this year’s effort left nothing out,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck’s hockey brand manager. “We’re excited about the fact that we were able to close out last year’s stellar NHL season with the hobby’s best collection of cards. We’ve brought back some staples, like the autographed ‘Draft Boards’ and the ‘Property of…’ stick nameplates, but we’ve added some RC tribute  cards of veterans Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin that will really get collectors excited.”

The  insert chase begins with “Signed Rookie Patch Cards” numbered to both 99 (Level 1) and 249 (Level 2) featuring the likes of John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, Antti Niemi and Calder Trophy winner Tyler Myers. Autographed patch cards run the gamut from “Signature Patches (numbered to 75) to “Emblems of Endorsements” (numbered to 15) to dual-autographed “NHL Shields (numbered to 1).”

Hall of Famers  like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux share “Dual-Scripted Swatches” and four-player memorabilia combos showcase the likes of Gretzky, Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier!

There are also dual-sided and dual-autographed “NHL Shields” memorabilia cards (numbered to 1) featuring  duos like Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley, and Gretzky and Lemieux.

The “Legendary Cuts” lineup includes cut signatures cards from Canadian legends like Terry Sawchuck, Tim Horton, Sid Abel and Jacques Plante. The “Stanley Cup Signature” cards include autographs (numbered to 50) of hockey heroes including Bobby Orr, Grant Fuhr, Gordie Howe, Denis Potvin and Johnny Bucyk.

Upper Deck’s 2009-10 The Cup Hockey includes five cards per pack, one pack per tin, and is currently  selling for $300-375 per pack on eBay.