Upper Deck has released its 375-card World of Sports set which includes subjects from a variety of sports including basketball, baseball, swimming, skiing, hockey, figure skating, golf, lacrosse and mixed martial arts.
The far-reaching collection includes hundreds of different athletes and coaches from a host of countries and includes autographed cards from many of the personalities including 30 members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Headliners like Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Bill Self (Kansas), Jim Calhoun (Connecticut), Bo Ryan (Wisconsin), Bob Huggins (West Virginia), Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma) and Gary Williams (Maryland) top the list of participating NABC memb
ers.
Their inclusion, with autographs, is a first for Upper Deck.
“I think being associated with them is going to benefit us,” said Izzo, a championship coach whose Michigan State team is experiencing a rare down season. “It’ll get our name out there more and kids will be more involved in it. I think it’s a win-win-win.”
Other sports stars featured in the set include: Bo Jackson and Jose Canseco (baseball); Dara Torres and Mark Spitz (swimming); Matt Danowski (lacrosse); Tiger Woods (golf); Landon Donovan and David Beckham (soccer); Mat Hoffman (BMX); Taylor Hall, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe (hockey); LeBron James, Larry Bird, Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins (basketball); and Sasha Cohen and Johnny Weir (figure skating).
Boxes are selling for $70-80 on eBay this week.
Some of the coaches chatted with Upper Deck about getting some trading card love:
