Archive for Collectors
For nine-year-old Aiden McAfoose, the game of hockey has been a nice distraction and way to keep him busy while both of his parents serve in the military (Air Force). Aiden wrote an essay on why he loves the game so much that his parents submitted on his behalf for an Upper Deck promotion. Upper Deck partnered with the NHL® and the Defending the Blue Line Charity to surprise one youngster with an incredible weekend of All-Star activities. Aiden’s essay made him the clear choice. Here are some portions of his essay:
“Both my mother and father are in the military. Being a military dependent makes me feel proud. I really miss them when they get deployed.
“My biggest passion has always been hockey. As long as I can remember I have wanted to play. My mom started teaching me how to skate when I was two. I started to learn how to play ice hockey when I was four, but before that I played at home every day for hours. My favorite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins and I have attended many of their games since I was a baby. My favorite players are Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby, Evegni Malkin, David Perron and Max Pacioretty.
“I have a lot of hockey cards and memorabilia. I have three books and also signed jerseys, pucks, mini helmets, sticks, hats and posters. My dream is to become a NHL® star.”
Aiden will get the opportunity to see what it’s like to be a NHL® All-Star this weekend. He came out with his grandfather under the guise they would try to scalp some tickets for some of the events, but when he arrived, Upper Deck and Defending the Blue Line staff let him in on the surprise. This weekend, Aiden and his grandfather will enjoy complimentary tickets to the NHL® All-Star Fan Fair, Skills Competition and All-Star Game. On Saturday he will go behind the scenes with a special VIP locker room tour. Additionally, Upper Deck took care of their hotel accommodations and gifted Aiden with some collectibles that will surely become the centerpieces of his collection.
From left to right: William Csaszar from Defending the Blue Line, Aiden McAfoose, Jack Yackovich (Aiden’s grandfather) and Chris Carlin from Upper Deck.
Upon hearing the news Aiden simply said, “Wow, just wow. All I can say is thanks! This is like a dream.”
Check out the video of Aiden being surprised with the news.
This is not the first time Upper Deck has worked with helping out the military. Upper Deck partnered with Defending the Blue Line for the NHL® Draft and during the holidays while also doing activations around Veteran’s Day, Operation Gratitude, and more. It is just part of the company’s continuing effort to be recognized at the military’s choice for trading cards.
The Hockey Mom Review – Opening NHL® Upper Deck Packs as a Family Activity
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve talked before about why mothers should encourage their kids to collect sports cards. Recently we found a “hockey mom” from St. Albert, Alberta named Cheryl Stuart who loves the hobby and enjoys collecting with her kids. We think the bonds she is creating with them will last a lifetime and we asked her to give a review of Upper Deck’s Black Diamond Hockey. Here’s what she had to say:
“Being a ‘hockey mom’ is one of the best parts of motherhood as it is great to see my children grow up around the sport. My youngest started on skates at 14 months in our backyard rink and now at 19-years-old playing men’s hockey in cold arenas late at night. I’m not sure which I dislike more…the very early morning games in minor hockey or the very late nights in this beer league hockey – but I still attend whenever I can and will never tire of watching him play. Being a ‘hockey mom’ not only means buying the necessities of hockey like skates and sticks, but also all the extras including hockey cards every year.
Here’s a vintage shot of Cheryl exposing her son to the game of hockey at a very early age!
“Upper Deck has always had the best quality cards which we have always collected together. Stored now in boxes and albums are years of hockey cards which have been carefully opened, examined and organized as we work to build a set. Hockey and Christmas has always been a big part of our celebrations – between playing a yearly road hockey game, the Junior Hockey Championships and opening the hockey cards that Santa always remembered to put in my youngest son’s stocking has been part of the excitement.
Fun Fact: Santa Claus LOVES opening packs of Upper Deck NHL cards with his elves. Hockey is HUGE in the North Pole!
“This year not only did he get to open a box of cards, but so did I thanks to Upper Deck who sent me a box of Black Diamond cards to open and review. I drove my son nuts not opening on Christmas or even the following week as I was working long, very tiring 12-hour shifts but when I finally sat down and opened them together.
Waiting is the hardest part! Cheryl’s son was all over her to open up the box of Upper Deck’s Black Diamond Hockey cards!
“I was very impressed with the quality and overall look of the cards. I especially liked the 3-D effect of the player’s pictures on the cards. I don’t know what it is about opening hockey cards, but it is exciting ripping open each package hoping to find either a special card or a player we like.
“These cards have it all. There are Rookie Gems, Championship Ring Cards, special numbered cards, Double Diamond Jersey cards and a few old time hockey player cards to boot. Each card is marked with either one, two, three and if you’re lucky four diamonds (the rarest cards of the best players). These cards did not disappoint. They are produced on heavy card stock with beautiful foil on the front of the cards that makes them sparkle under the light. Within the box I opened I only had minimal duplicates, which was a good sign. As a consumer I feel these are certainly well worth their price and will likely continue to increase in value as the players themselves continue to play at high levels. As a ‘hockey mom’ it would be a set I would purchase for my son to open together.
“In the box I was lucky enough to open I managed to get a special Championship Rings card of Tyler Toffoli from the Kings which fall 1 in every 60 packs! There was also two Double Diamond Jersey cards!
“I know from years of listening to my husband and son talk and examine rookie cards that they are always a special bonus and these Black Diamond Hockey cards have a stunning set known as Rookie Gems. We got our fair share of those in the box as well!
You’ve really got to hold these cards in your hand to see the beauty of them as they shimmer in the light.
“One of my special gifts this Christmas was a sweatshirt proclaiming for to know all that I am a ‘hockey mom.’ Now that my son is so much older we haven’t spent as much time pouring over hockey cards, putting them in albums and reading up on the various stats as we used to. I must admit however, I enjoyed the opportunity of re-visiting this hobby with my son. Collecting cards is the perfect family activity, even if you are not a ‘hockey mom’ like me. Pick up some packs today and share the hobby with someone you love!”
You will likely see Cheryl sporting her top Christmas present at hockey games around Alberta this season!
Upper Deck Surprises 25 Redemption Customers with a Free Hobby Box!
Posted by: | CommentsIt can be frustrating pulling a redemption card sometimes for collectors as there can be delays with them and obviously we would love to deliver the experience of pulling a live autograph from packs, but that is not always possible. So, as part of Upper Deck’s Random Acts of Kindness program we decided to spread a little holiday cheer to 25 random collectors who had redemptions shipping out in December as a way of also celebrating our 25th Anniversary.
Recently they received their redemptions with a FREE hobby box inside and letter thanking them for their support. Here was some of the feedback we received so far:
“Just wanted to take a minute to say Thank You! I received a nice gift today along with my redemption…a box of 2012 SP Authentic Golf. Cannot tell you how much I appreciate the thought. In this day and age, high level customer service is paramount and you have shown yourself to be ahead of the curve with gestures such as this.” – Rod K.
“I recently redeemed a couple of cards nothing spectacular. I received my cards really quickly. I was told it would take up to 12 weeks which was fine. To my excitement the cards arrived today, only 2 weeks after I emailed through my redemption. So thank you very much for the quick response and quick delivery. Living in Australia it’s hard to find anywhere decent to purchase Basketball cards so I have found a good shop in the US to buy them from. When I opened the box you sent to find a box of North Carolina Basketball and a greeting card I was ecstatic. So thank you very much!” – Adam F.
“A simple thank you for the package I received today (box of Goodwin Champions). Very nice of you and the UD team. Right in time for Christmas!” – Luc O.
“I just received my redemption for my 13-14 SP LaPhonso Ellis By The Letter card as well as your Random Act of Kindness 14-15 Letterman box. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity! I’m a long time collector and obviously a big fan of Upper Deck. This proves why Upper Deck is the best.“ – Justin S.
Thanks to all the fans who have offered Upper Deck your support this year and over the last 25 years! We are excited to share we will be continuing our Random Acts of Kindness promotion into 2015 as fans have really enjoyed it. To see more of the fun stories the program brings to collectors, search #UDRAK on Twitter!
When you think of the perfect gift for someone important to you, usually they are not cheap. You know these special people are worth it and they deserve something nice, but it is hard to justify breaking the bank just to show them how much you care. It is at this point that many savvy gift givers join forces with family, friends or co-workers for a group gift!
And if the person you are shopping for is a sports fan, you can likely start and end your search for the perfect gift with Upper Deck Authenticated collectibles available at www.upperdeckstore.com! You can only find authentic autograph collectibles from superstar athletes like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, LeBron James and Rory McIlroy through Upper Deck Authenticated. With incredibly innovative memorabilia items, there are plenty of options for selecting something truly unique that will earn you praise and admiration from the recipient for years to come. And make sure to check out our incredible deals while available!
Be careful when looking for the perfect sports collectibles however as many of them may be forged and that is the last thing you want to get someone you care about. While it is impossible to definitely estimate the percentage of forged memorabilia, most industry experts concede that over half of the autographed memorabilia is forged. Upper Deck Authenticated protects consumers from that threat by witnessing every signature and further protecting fans with our 5-step authentication process.
Here are some tips and tactics for organizing the group that will pool together your funds for the perfect gift based on what type of group you are!
The Office – Going in for a good group gift, you likely won’t want to break the bank, but you do want to show the boss you care. Best bet here is to be the organizer as that will likely get you the most kudos in the end. And if this co-worker or boss loves golf, they are going to love some of our Rory McIlroy autographed memorabilia. Get a dozen co-workers to kick in $40 a piece and you can get some awesome collectibles! Check this out!
The Dad – Play on the heart strings of any hesitant group gifter for dad. Tell them they can make up to dad for their “Terrible Twos” or the time they told mom he fed them cake for breakfast? There is no quicker way to a father’s heart than with an autographed memorabilia item from Upper Deck Authenticated. And what father wouldn’t want an autographed collectible from an athlete like Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky? Instead of getting him a bunch of ties for Father’s Day or golf clubs for the holidays, why not get him a collectible he will enjoy and admire from one of his greatest sports heroes? The best part is every time he looks at it he will think of the group who gave it to him! Get the family together to pitch in for a stellar item dad will always remember and appreciate!
The Graduate – They grow up so fast don’t they? And during that process they likely spent a significant amount of time cheering on their favorite sports stars. Give them an item that can be the cornerstone of their fledgling collection, something they can be proud of, a piece they will treasure. There is nobody hotter with the youth of today than the 2-time Olympic gold medalist, 4-time NBA MVP and 2-time NBA champion; LeBron James. Pool your funds together to give your pride and joy a gift that will make all their hard work feel like it was worth it.
The Futbol Fan – For fans of the beautiful game it can be difficult to find collectibles that show your love for the sport of soccer. Luckily Upper Deck has authentic memorabilia from two of the biggest players on the planet in Lionel Messi and Landon Donovan. We have something for every level of fan in terms of price point.
The Man Who Has Everything – Many people have a friend or family member who has everything they could want that is a challenge to shop for. When it is time to get them a gift, why not chip in together and get them something truly memorable, something innovative, something like Upper Deck Authenticated’s new autographed Shadowbox memorabilia, signature Breaking Through pieces or signed “Tegata” collectibles.
Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia makes the perfect gift! Take a look at all the amazing autographed collectibles available at www.upperdeckstore.com.
See How this Deadpool Fan Displays his Incredible Marvel Premier Letterman Cards!
Posted by: | CommentsWe found Eric (@Arrick77) on Twitter and we loved his passion for Deadpool. Recently from the Marvel Premier set, he chased down the Code Name Letter card set for Deadpool which is no easy task. Here’s his story on how he did it and what he did with the cards when it was completed!
“I’m a die-hard Deadpool collector. I bet I own 90% of the licensed Deadpool products and 99% of every Deadpool comic appearance.
Eric’s office is a tribute to Deadpool.
His Deadpool collection is vast to say the least.
When it comes to figurines, Eric has just about every licensed Deadpool collectible there is.
And how can you be a die-hard Deadpool fan without a tattoo? You can’t and he does!
“When I first saw the Code Name Letter card listed on eBay, I knew I wanted that card and also to complete the set. I probably spent more on this set than any other I’ve done before. I won all the cards through eBay auctions. There were moments when I thought I may not complete the set. The letters ‘E’ and ‘A’ were very elusive.
“The letter ‘A’ was at auction from a seller in Hong Kong and I bid pretty high to make sure I didn’t lose out on it. The ‘E’ was the last letter I acquired and I was so excited when I won that auction knowing the set was complete. I knew from the start this set would look very cool framed. It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but the frame is shiny chrome and the red matting is actually fabric like the letter patch material.
“Everyone I have shown the piece to love how it came out. It is a very cool set to add to my Deadpool collection.”
