The wait for a new golf trading card product will come to an end next year. Upper Deck announced Monday it would be launching three golf releases in 2021, including Artifacts, which will launch the series at an as yet undetermined date in the spring. “Collectors have been begging us to bring golf cards back for years,” said Upper Deck’s Sports Brand Manager Paul … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Lands Exclusive Deal with NHL No. 1 Pick Jack Hughes
The NHL’s top draft pick is sticking with the NHL’s trading card partner. Jack Hughes, drafted No. 1 overall by the New Jersey Devils, has signed an exclusive, multi-year agreement for autographed trading cards. The deal was arranged through Hughes’ agents at CAA Sports. "Jack Hughes is an exceptionally talented and hard-working player who has proven himself … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Signs Shanshan Feng to Autograph Deal
Upper Deck has a new memorabilia and trading card autograph deal with Shanshan Feng, the first-ever Chinese player to become a member of the LPGA. Feng started playing golf in China at age 10, then moved to the U.S at 17 after being discovered in China and offered a golf academy scholarship in the U.S. She has nine victories on the ladies' professional golf tour since … [Read more...]
Alexis Lafrenière Signs Autograph/Endorsement Deal with Upper Deck
He won’t be eligible for the NHL Draft until 2020 but Alexis Lafrenière now has an endorsement and autograph contract with Upper Deck. Believed to have the skill to become the league’s next young superstar, Lafrenière signed a multi-year agreement with Upper Deck, giving the company exclusive rights to his autographs. At 17, he's the youngest athlete Upper Deck … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Grandeur Hockey Coin Collection Launches
Upper Deck is launching a set of legal tender hockey player coins this week, the first collector coins to be distributed in pack form. The company was scheduled to unveil the Grandeur Hockey Coin Collection at a special event inside the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Tuesday night. The first series of limited-edition coins are minted in one of four … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Partners with COMC on ePack Program
Upper Deck has unveiled a new revenue-producing online pack buying platform that aims to marry digital cards with physical ones and they’ve brought COMC into the process. ePack and COMC The new e-Pack website allows users to instantly purchase and open digital “packs” online. While some of the digital cards are just that—pixels on an electronic screen that can be … [Read more...]
Upper Deck President Jason Masherah Settles In
The Upper Deck Company became famous for its groundbreaking 1989 baseball card set featuring Ken Griffey Jr.'s rookie card but as the southern California-based collectible company celebrates its 25th anniversary, there is no Upper Deck baseball brand. Not yet anyway. Since losing its MLB license, Upper Deck has been content to focus its sports efforts on the NHL … [Read more...]
Welling Joins Panini
Panini America has hired collectibles industry veteran Martin Welling as its new Vice President of Operations. Welling spent the previous 18 years at The Upper Deck Company, most recently as that company’s Senior Vice President of Creative Services. At Panini America, Welling will oversee the product development, production and creative departments for the company and will … [Read more...]
Upper Deck vs Abdul-Jabbar Set for December 12
There has been no settlement in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's lawsuit against the Upper Deck Company over the use of the Hall of Famer's photo on its 2010 Greats of the Game trading card set. A trial date of December 12 has been set. Abdul-Jabbar claims Upper Deck didn't have permission to use his name or likeness in the set and says he's had to turn down autograph requests from … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Company Lays Off Five
The loss of its major trading card licenses has forced Upper Deck through several rounds of layoffs over the last three years. A few more workers were let go last month including public relations manager Terry Melia. "On Friday, July 22, I was laid off from the Upper Deck Company," Melia wrote in an email. "After 14 years of dedicated service, my number finally came up. I … [Read more...]