Upper Deck jettisoned 33 workers in January. It turns out that was just the beginning.
The Carlsbad, California trading card and memorabilia maker has filed notice with the state of California that it is laying off 119 workers.
Upper Deck has gone through a series of issues lately, including the loss of its partnership with Major League Baseball that launched the company in 1989 and two significant law
suits. A recent letter from the MLB Players Association to player agents indicated Upper Deck still owed royalty money to a number of players.
Left with only a licensed hockey card product, Upper Deck plans to expand its non-sports and gaming departments. The company continues to sell autographed memorabilia through its Upper Deck Authenticated program.
“It’s safe to say that Upper Deck still employs more people within its trading card division than any of its competitors. And in today’s economy, that’s saying something,” said spokesman Terry Melia.
It isn’t certain where the employees who are being let go worked within the company but Melia told the San Diego-Union Tribune that no department was spared by the job cuts, which take affect Monday.
