Archive for michael jordan
Brag Photo of the Week: Michael Jordan Breaking Through
Posted by: | CommentsSince last week’s Jordan Art piece got such a good response, I figured I’d share another prime UDA Jordan piece with you. I doubt the photos can do this one justice after seeing it in person, but I’ll try.
This is an autographed “Breaking Through” piece featuring Michael Jordan. The ball you see here actually busts through the frame.
And a better look at the autograph while I’m at it.
You may have seen similar pieces from UDA in the past, but this one seriously stands out. It’s big, the design is sleek, and it really has a lifelike feel that dominates a room.
If you’re a big fan of the Bulls, Jordan or basketball in general, it’s definitely a great centerpiece for your home. Click here to check it out in the online store!
Popularity: 21% [?]
Brag Photo of the Week: Jordan Art
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’ve been with UpperDeckBlog.com from day one, you may remember our very first Brag Photo of the Week: it was a shot of the United Center floor before it got divided up and shipped out for our unique memorabilia pieces.
Well, with a select few pieces of that floor, we did something even more unique. Check it out:
This is a piece of the same floor, featuring unique art by Jolene Jessie, and autographed by MJ himself.
As you can tell by the numbering, quanitites are extremely limited, but we do have some left. Click here to check it out in the online store!
Popularity: 18% [?]
2009 Sweet Spot Baseball: Another Hit in the Series
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’re a baseball fan, it’s hard to top the premium cards offered in Upper Deck’s 2009 Sweet Spot Baseball. When collectors think of the set, the iconic autograph on a real baseball sweet spot card comes immediately to mind.
This year’s 2009 Sweet Spot Baseball has been another hit, carrying on the set’s tradition of success. Rookie cards for players like David Price and Matt Weiters are definitely high in demand with collectors. But, the cards that a lot of collectors get really gung-ho about are the “Sweet Spot Signatures” of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James! But before we get too caught up in this year’s Sweet Spot, let’s take a look back to where it all began for this brand.
Sweet Spot first jumped onto the scene in 2001, and was a smash right off the bat. Even Sweet Spot’s debut featured “Sweet Beginnings” rookie cards and “Sweet Spot Signatures.” Also featured in the set of Sweet Spot Baseball were a lot of premium game-used jersey and bat memorabilia cards, which were just starting out back then. You could pull Hall-of-Famers, too, adding even more value to the new set’s debut. The rise of Sweet Spot Classics was in 2002, with more Hall-of-Famers and retired star content.
It wasn’t until 2007 that Upper Deck changed Sweet Spot’s box dynamics. It used to be 12 packs per box, but with 2007 they decided to make it a loaded pack. They did this for 2007 Sweet Spot Signatures and Sweet Spot Classics. This new way to package the boxes allowed collectors buy more Sweet Spot because of the affordable price and the cool, collectible tin.
But Sweet Spot hasn’t only been a product just catering to baseball collectors. Also in 2001 (the year Sweet Spot Baseball debuted), Sweet Shot Basketball came on the scene with similar signature cards like the baseball version offered. Following these releases, Sweet Spot Football emerged. The autographs in Sweet Spot Football were featured on what looked like a part of a football. Lastly, Sweet Shot Hockey came to life during the 2006-07 season. Even though that NHL set was only around two years, collectors enjoyed the unique autographs on top of puck and hockey stick surfaces. Unfortunately, all Sweet Spot products, except baseball, ended after the 2007 season.
This year’s Sweet Spot Baseball takes on the same dynamics as 2008 Sweet Spot, with six packs per box and a “hit” in every pack. You also can find one “Sweet Spot Signature” card in every box. If you are lucky, you may even find a “Sweet Spot Classics” card with an autograph or jersey piece of a Hall-of-Famer or retired star. Because Sweet Spot has so many big names in the set, you’re hard pressed to find a bad autograph in a pack.
Another fun reason to collect Sweet Spot is all the autographed parallels. There are so many different types of “Sweet Spot Signature” autographs, many of them very low numbered. I personally love getting cards with gold ink autographs or blue and red stitching.
Sweet Spot patch cards have always been a favorite, and they are back again! You can even pull dual patches of some of the hottest stars, past and present. Another awesome feature in this year’s rendition is the Upper Deck 20th Anniversary memorabilia cards commemorating history from the past 20 years. All of these reasons and more are why collectors worldwide continue to collect and buy boxes and cases of the Sweet Spot brand. It is, and forever will be, one of the most interesting and innovative sets in Upper Deck baseball card history.
Richie Sliwinski, 14, is a young card collector who enjoys playing, watching, and talking about sports, hanging out with friends, going on the computer . . . and of course, collecting cards! He has been featured in Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and was a kid blogger for Upper Deck Kids.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Brag Photo of the Week – Richard’s Office: Tiger and MJ
Posted by: | CommentsLast week, I had snuck my way into Richard McWilliam’s office to snap some shots for this here blog, and left you with quite the teaser:
If you looked closely, you spotted two items on the wall: autographed pieces of Tiger and MJ. Let’s take a closer look.
Here’s the Tiger piece, and a closer shot of the personalized signature:
This piece was actually personalized for Richard during Tiger’s first signing with Upper Deck. He’s definitely been one of our most loyal spokesmen since coming on board.
Just as we enjoy a strong relationship with Tiger, Upper Deck has been working with Michael Jordan for many, many years. In fact, Upper Deck signed Jordan before his peak years and the fame that followed. Richard had an inclination that Jordan was going to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and that definitely came true.
Personalized autographs from the best golfer of all time, and the best basketball player of all time. Not a bad start. Check back next week for more!
Popularity: 26% [?]
Upper Deck: Home of the No. 23
Posted by: | CommentsVery few people would argue with me if I said that Michael Jordan was the best player to ever step on to a basketball court. What many don’t understand is that Jordan was not simply blessed with unbelievable talent. He was never the fastest player on the court, nor the strongest. He didn’t even make his high school basketball team the first time he tried out. Something else made him great and it was something that no one else at the time seemed to have: heart. One thing that can’t be taught is having the passion and drive to persevere through hard times. Jordan lived by the motto of “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Jordan displayed this passion for the game his whole career. This is the reason that he is also one of the most respected basketball players of all time.
When Jordan entered the NBA in 1984, he quickly emerged as a rising star. Since then, people have been in a rush to anoint someone else as the “next MJ.” The title has gone to many unworthy people such as Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, Penny Hardaway, and even J.R. Rider! Many felt that the closest comparison to Jordan would be Kobe Bryant. But that was before LeBron James entered the league. Like Jordan did, James wears uniform number 23, largely out of respect for his favorite player of all-time. That isn’t the only thing James mimics about Jordan. James has undergone Jordan’s offseason and regular season workout routine. When Jordan finishes a regular/postseason, he takes a couple of weeks off, and then gets right back to work. He chooses one facet of his game that he could improve on and works on that during the entire offseason. This is the same regimen that James employs. Additionally, James can seemingly fly like Jordan, and also shares a similar understanding of the game.
For all of these reasons that symbolize greatness is why Upper Deck signed an exclusive partnership with James. He has joined his idol – the other No. 23 – as an exclusive representative of Upper Deck. Not only is James following Jordan on the court, but off the court as well by making smart and timely business decisions. Jordan has been an exclusive partner with Upper Deck since 1991. He is also one of the most successful sports businessmen of all time, a moniker James would like to wear as well.
James got off to the right start by teaming with Jordan and Upper Deck. Their job now is to help revitalize the trading card industry, and reaffirm Upper Deck’s position as the industry leader. If you would like to collect any trading cards or memorabilia that boasts a signature from either of these living legends, look no further than Upper Deck. We have several pieces of autographed memorabilia that would more than satisfy any collector.
One of the more intriguing pieces in our inventory is a Jordan-autographed Bulls game-used floor. Between 1996 and 1998, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA like no other team in history, setting the record for victories in a single-season (72-10, 1995-96) and over a three-year span (203-43, 1995-98). Upper Deck presents a direct link to that historic era with a familiar section of the playing surface, an authentic piece from the 1996-98 United Center floor featuring the Bulls team logo. This amazing showpiece measures 8’ x 8’ and will be signed and custom inscribed by Michael! Be the first to own this extremely rare 1-of-1 piece of memorabilia by visiting www.upperdeckstore.com.
Popularity: unranked [?]
