 Two high end sets from rival companies will compete for baseball card collectors' playoff budgets.
Topps Sterling baseball has returned. The high end product comes in an individually-wrapped player-specific wood box and includes a Mystery Pack.
Among the highlights:
- 1 Autographed Triple Relic numbered to ten or less OR 1Triple Relic numbered to ten or less
- 3 Base Cards numbered to 250
- 1 Mystery Pack featuring a 1 of 1 letter patch or a base parallel numbered to 50 or less.
Expanding from last year, 2007 Topps Sterling features 29 players in all:
Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, Roberto Clemente, Ichiro, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Roger Maris, Stan Musial, Nolan Ryan, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Ryan Howard, Tom Seaver, Manny Ramirez, Carl Yastrzemski, Mike Schmidt, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Ryne Sandberg, David Ortiz, Tony Gwynn, Justin Morneau, Bob Gibson, David Wright, Johan Santana, Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang.
Each 10-Box case of 2007 Topps Sterling baseball guarantees 1 Mickey Mantle and 1 Barry Bonds, 5 Autographs, 1 of 1 Letter Patch and one of the following: 1 of 1 Autographed Triple Relic, 1 of 1 Triple Relic or 1 of 1 Parallel. 2007 Sterling hits hobby shelves the first week of December.
Upper Deck felt it necessary to revamp the Ultimate Collection brand by giving the $100 per pack product a facelift.
“There are more collectors putting together these high-end base sets today,” said Gregg Kohn, Upper Deck Baseball Product Manager. “When these high-end sets are done right, you can provide more value to the product than most collectors realize. We really challenged our design staff to incorporate technologies we have not done on cards before and the results paid off here. You cannot really appreciate the die cut and rainbow foil added to these cards unless you see them in person, but collectors who are pulling them so far have been impressed.”
Upper Deck has noticed a spike in Baseball sales this year primarily due to the strong performance of many rookies who continue to make an impact into the playoffs. The deep rookie class has collectors scurrying to invest early on players like Ryan Braun, Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum, Troy Tulowitzki, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Upper Deck’s exclusive spokesman Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Ultimate Collection delivers high end autographed versions of the top rookies, but also autograph and game used content of Hall of Famers including Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, Mike Schmidt, Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, Cal Ripken Jr. and Sandy Koufax.
The product also includes high-end chase cards. One of one logo patch cards feature the MLB logo from a game used jersey on the card and “The Ultimate Card” which is an autograph card with a game used jersey, tag and button all on both sides of the card.
 
Over 98% of the autograph content is live in packs which is part of what Upper Deck says is a "continued dedication to reducing the number of autograph cards in the market." Additionally, Upper Deck says it's Athlete Relations group is optimistic wait times on any redemptions pulled will be minimal.
2007 Ultimate Collection baseball is now live in the market. Each four card pack carries a suggested retail price of $100.00.
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