Upper Deck Completes Purchase of MJ Rookie Stock

Upper Deck has purchased a limited number of 1986-87 Fleer cards, packs and boxes – including the Michael Jordan rookie card - on the open market, and that they will be randomly inserting them in packs of 2006-07 Fleer Basketball slated for release within the next several weeks.

The promotion is designed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of one of the most influential basketball sets ever released.

The 250-card base set incorporates a 50-card Rookies subset featuring top freshmen like Charlotte's Adam Morrison, LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland and New Jersey's Marcus Williams. There will be one Rookie Card and one insert card in every Hobby pack, and an average of one Fleer "Buyback" and one memorabilia card in every Hobby box. Many of the Buybacks, including the Jordan, have been autographed.

Other highlights of the brand include the very popular Autographics cards of players past and present (including Jordan), Michael Jordan Missing Link memorabilia cards, a glossy parallel set, and a 132-card 20th Anniversary subset featuring current NBA stars on cards with the 1986-87 Fleer design.

NFL rookies such as Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young also make an appearance in the Platinum Influence insert set, a concept devoted to the influence the Jordan rookie had on young athletes from all sports. This insert set, Platinum Influence, also includes the top NBA players from this year's draft class.

"Michael Jordan was not part of Fleer's original autograph or memorabilia sets, so by including him we are helping to further bridge the historical gap and bring
amazing content to basketball collectors," added Bill Beaman, Associate Basketball Product Manager for Upper Deck.

The "Hunt For 23" Sweepstakes is designed to encourage both young and novice
collectors to repeat purchases by offering prizes. Specific cards
with a connection MJ and to the number "23" will incorporate a code which collectors can enter when visiting UpperDeckKids.com and FleerKids.com. The grand prize winner (open to youngsters 17 and under) will receive a free trip to Michael Jordan's Flight School For Kids.

"This set marks a major undertaking and a return of the glory days," said Upper
Deck's Public Relations Manager Don Williams, "especially when it involves our
signature athlete."