In the sports card business, everything old seems to be new again and those who love a certain 1990s brand are going to see it reincarnated through Upper Deck.
As we reported Friday from the National Sports Collectors Convention, the company is dusting off the Skybox Metal Universe line for a new set and the original designer returned to help make it happen. It’ll be a multi-sport set that has elements of the 1997-98 Metal Universe set but with some new card designs.
The new release will include a 150-card base set that will showcase the work of Arena Design, the original husband and wife team that produced the designs for the original set 24 years ago. Jean MacLeod, who was an integral member of that team from Fleer/SkyBox, is known for designing memorable inserts like Jambalaya and Platinum Portrait that will be revived in the new product.
Collectors can build up to eight parallel sets of the complete base set, including six colorful and serial-numbered Precious Metal Gems (PMG) parallels and two autograph parallels that each showcase MacLeod’s original designs.
“We are thrilled to see that collectors still enjoy the designs that we worked on back in the 90’s,” MacLeod remarked. “It is great to see the hobby growing and thriving, and to be able to be a part of that again has been exciting.”
“With the excitement around Upper Deck’s multi-sport products like Goodwin Champions, collectors have been clamoring for more diverse content,” said Upper Deck’s Executive Vice President of Sales, Mike Phillips, who worked with MacLeod at Fleer/SkyBox back in the 1990’s. “We are thrilled to expand the Skybox portfolio while paying homage to the original 1997-98 designs.”
With the Blast Furnace insert set, collectors will find Tiger Woods alongside rising talent like Sabrina lonescu, while inserts like Fresh Foundation focus solely on new breakout stars like Collin Morikawa. The Skybox Premium offering includes numerous parallels, highlighted by the 1-of-1 Star Diamonds and a pair of variant sets sporting the 1997-98 Skybox Premium Star Rubies design.
Jambalaya will be crafted with lenticular foil treatment and is dedicated to top tier athletes, such as Woods and Wayne Gretzky.
Skybox Metal Universe Champions will be available later this Fall at hobby shops and this winter via Upper Deck e-Pack.
