upper deck
If there is one company that is truly in the drivers seat as far as design Innovation / card art it has to be Upper Deck. It seems almost every year Upper Deck delivers. Sets from 1991, (See the 1991 Upper Deck Joey Browner #52 below) to the 1996 set, (See the 1996 Upper Deck Orlando Thomas #197 below), were all put together extremely well with excellent photography and great write-ups and stats. The 1995 Upper Deck layout was so grand that they brought that set back in 1997 as the Upper Deck Legends series. Do they look Similar? Upper Deck is always impressing me with new designs and artwork that leave all the others trying to keep up. I seems to me that collectors are always willing to pay top dollar for Upper Deck products.
However, with all the praise that comes UDs way there is one small problem and every collector knows about it. Upper Deck has a horrible, (and I mean very horrible), collation problem. I bought about 3 and a half boxes in 1998, (See the 1998 Hardy Nickerson #237 below), and I was still unable to attain Quentin Coryatt. Quentin Coryatt? A common card. Upper Deck can say whatever they want, but it boils down to greed in my book. Buy more boxes! That is exactly what their trying to tell us.
After the introduction year of 1996, Upper has continued to push the envelope of Game Used Memorabilia. With titles like MVP and Ovation, Upper Deck has given us cards that include college memorabilia and multiple jerseys, (See the 2001 Upper Deck MVP Jamar Fletcher Campus Classics #CCSJF and the 2001 Upper Deck Ovation Jr. Seau Train for the Game #TGJS, respectively below). The designers at Upper Deck do an outstanding job giving the collector quality while laying the groundwork for great sets that hold there value for years to come. I just hope they allow you to put a BASE set together without having to buy 10 boxes.
My Photos
September 5, 2009
I have the following sets:
Upper Deck Series:
1) 1991 Upper Deck Set
A) Joe Montana Insert
B) Joe Namath Insert
C) Game Breakers Insert
D) Domino's QB Challenge Set
2) 1992 Upper Deck Set
A) Dan Marino Insert
B) Walter Payton Insert
C) Gold Insert
D) Coach's Report Insert
E) Fanimation Insert
F) Game Breakers Insert
G) Pro Bowl Insert
3) 1993 Upper Deck Set
A) Future Heroes Insert
B) Pro Bowl Insert
C) Team MVPs Insert
D) Rookie Exchange Insert
E) Miller Lite Super Bowl Set
4) 1994 Upper Deck Set
A) Pro Bowl Insert
B) Predictor Wards Insert
C) Predictor League Leaders Insert
5) 1995 Upper Deck Set
A) Joe Montana Trilogy Insert
B) Pro Bowl Insert
C) Special Edition Insert
D) Predictor Wards Insert
E) Predictor League Leaders Insert
6) 1996 Upper Deck Set
A) Proview Insert
B) TV-Cel Insert
C) Pro Bowl Insert
D) Team Trio Insert
E) Hot Properties Insert
F) Game Face Insert
G) Hobby Predictors Insert
7) 1997 Upper Deck Set
A) MVPs Insert - Incomplete ( 16 / 20 )
A) Team Mates Insert
B) Star Crossed Insert
C) Game Jersey Insert
D) Memorable Moments Insert
8) 1998 Upper Deck Set
A) Super Powers Insert
B) Constant Threat Insert
C) Define The Game Insert
D) Game Jersey Insert - Incomplete ( 18 / 21 )
9) 1999 Upper Deck Set
A) 21 TD Salute Insert
B) Live Wires Insert
C) Strike Force Insert
D) Highlight Zone Insert
E) Quarterback Class Insert
Black Diamond Series:
1) 1997 Upper Deck Black Diamond Set - Do Not Have
2A) 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond Set
A) Premium Cut Insert
2B) 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond Rookies Set
3) 1999 Upper Deck Black Diamond Set
A) Piece of History Insert
B) Diamonation Insert
C) Gallery Insert
D) Might Insert
E) Myriad Insert
F) Skills Insert
4) 2000 Upper Deck Black Diamond Set - Incomplete ( 155 / 180 )
A) Diamonation Insert
B) Diamond Might Insert
C) Diamond Skills Insert
Encore Series:
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1)1998 Upper Deck Encore Set
A) Superstar Encore Insert
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2)1999 Upper Deck Encore Set
A) Electric Currents Insert
B) Upper Realm Insert
3) 2000 Upper Deck Encore Set
A) Highlight Zone Insert
B) Proving Ground Insert
C) Rookie Combo Jersey Insert
D) Rookie Helmets Insert - Incomplete ( 27 / 28 )
E) Rookie Helmets Autographs Insert - Incomplete ( 13 / 15 )
F) UD Authentics Insert - Incomplete ( 27 / 28 )
Ionix Series:
1) 1999 Upper Deck Ionix Set
A) Electric Forces Insert
B) Power F/X Insert
C) UD Authentics Insert - Incomplete ( 1 / 10 )
2) 2000 Upper Deck Ionix Set
A) High Voltage Insert
B) Majestix Insert
C) Rookie Xtreme Insert
D) Sundays’ Best Insert
E) Super Trio Insert
Legends Series:
1) 1997 Upper Deck Legends Set
A) Marquee Matchups Insert
B) Legends Autographs Insert - Incomplete ( 35 / 162 )
C) Big Game Hunters Insert
2) 1998 Upper Deck Legends Set - Does Not Exist
3) 1999 Upper Deck Legends Set
A) 20th Century Superstars Insert
B) Epic Milestones Insert
C) Tour De Force Insert
D) Epic Signatures Insert - Incomplete (9 / 30 )
4) 2000 Upper Deck Century Legends Set
A) Canton Calling Insert
B) Defining Moments Insert
C) Reflections in Time Insert
D) Rookie Gallery Insert
E) Millennium QBs Insert
MVP Series:
1A) 1999 Upper Deck MVP Set
1B) 1999 Upper Deck MVP Silver Script Set
A) Theater Insert
B) Dynamics Insert
C) Drive Time Insert
D) Power Surge Insert
E) Strictly Business Insert
F) Draw Your Own Card Insert
G) Game Used Souvenirs Insert
2) 2000 Upper Deck MVP Set
A) Theater Insert
B) Prolifics Insert
C) Air Show Insert
D) Headliners Insert
E) Highlight Reel Insert
F) Game Used Souvenirs Insert
3) 2001 Upper Deck MVP Set
A) Team MVP Insert
B) Top 10 Performers Insert
C) Campus Classics Insert
UD3 Series:
1) 1997 UD3 Set
A) Generation Excitement Insert
B) Signature Performers Insert
Other Upper Deck Series:
1) 1996 Upper Deck Silver Set
A) All-NFL Insert
B) Dan Marino Insert
C) All-Rookie Team Insert
D) Prime Choice Rookies Insert
E) Helmet Cards Insert
2) 1999 Upper Deck Power Deck Set
A) Auxiliary Insert
B) Time Capsule CDs Insert
C) Time Capsule Cards Insert
D) Powerful Moments Cards Insert
3) 1999 Upper Deck HoloGrFX Set
A) 24 / 7 Insert
4) 1999 Upper Deck Retro Set
A) Inkredible Insert - Incomplete ( 6 / 30 )
5) 2001 Upper Deck Vintage Set
A) Smashmouth Insert
B) Matinee Idols Insert
C) Signatures Insert - Incomplete ( 1 / 25 )
D) Franchise Players Insert
E) Old School Attitude Insert
