Upper Deck Begins 20th Anniversary Party

Content originally published by sportscollectorsdaily.com on 8 Marchy 2008

Upper Deck was founded in 1988, but as every collector knows, the company's first set appeared in 1989. As Upper Deck prepares for the 20th anniversary of that launch, a special collecting experience is being offered in the months leading up to the release of Upper Deck’s 2009 Series 1 Baseball.

The company is producing a limited-edition, 80-card set featuring athletes from professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Collectors can only receive the special 20th Anniversary cards through Certified Diamond Dealers, which is a group comprised of Upper Deck’s preferred hobby retailers. Eight new cards will be released every month from March through December 2008. Collectors will need to purchase packs or boxes of new Upper Deck and Fleer releases through Certified Diamond Dealers to receive cards from the set. This marks the first time since 2002-2003 UD Superstars where a card manufacturer has produced a set featuring players from all four core sports.

By entering in all 80 unique codes from the back of the cards on a company web page by December 31, 2008, collectors can enter to win a trip to four major sporting events.

A grand-prize winner will be selected randomly for tickets, airfare and accommodations for the winner and a guest to the Super Bowl XLIII; the 2009 NBA Finals (one game); the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals (one game); and the 2009 MLB World Series (one game).

The wrapper redemption program will offer collectors who purchase on the box level a sealed pack of the 20th Anniversary cards with their purchase (while supplies last each month). Upper Deck says collectors will be "blown away" by some of the cards that have been assembled to be inserted randomly in these packs.

“Our goal has always been to drive consumers to our Certified Diamond Dealer partners,” said Mike Phillips, Upper Deck’s director of Hobby Sales. “We are offering collectors an incredible set, fantastic buy-back cards celebrating Upper Deck’s rich history and one of the most amazing prizes ever, all for doing what they already do – and that’s collecting our products.”