I shared last weekend the reasons why I was looking forward to the 2011 Sports Card & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto and as I hoped, it most certainly did not disappoint. Fans lined up early and often to take part in Upper Deck’s “Priority Signing” wrapper redemption program and they were happy they did! Fans were pulling some really amazing autographs from the set from players like Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Taylor Hall and many more. Many players were featured with Team Canada as well and that seemed to mean a lot to Canadian collectors in attendance.
UD fanatics were chomping at the bit to get the "Priority Signings" program started. If they opened a box of new UD cards, we would reward them with a FREE autograph card exclusive to that show.
This collector was all smiles when he pulled at autograph of Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe!
This father and son bonded over receiving their Bobby Orr "Priority Signings" card!
This collector was all smiles after he pulled a rare Sidney Crosby Winter Classic parallel from the "Priority Signings" set.
What a thrill! This collector pulled the one-of-one Alexander Ovechkin parallel from the "Priority Signings" set, wow!!!
It wasn’t just the cool “Priority Signings” cards that were making fans excited. Collectors were having a blast opening products like 2010-11 NHL SP Authentic, SPx and SP Game-Used. There were some MONSTER cards pulled during the weekend from those boxes that they are still likely talking about with other collectors.
This pull certainly was a "Great One" as he snagged a Wayne Gretzky autograph patch limited to just 25 copies!
Double trouble; these twins both scored with a Tavares autograph patch and a Bobby Orr autograph card!
A six autograph card with Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier on the front with their NHL teams and then again on the back as members of Team Canada!
Three great signatures from three great Habs goalies, very nice!
On Saturday we had a really great event where we got about twenty collectors together of all ages and had Grant Sandground, UD’s NHL product manager, go through some of the new products coming out over the next few months. Grant was able to reveal that UD would indeed be producing The Cup later on this summer with more details coming out right before launch. As Grant walked them through the product while showing off large images of some of the cards, you could see anticipation grow for the release of the amazing product! It was powerful for us to be able to put together a focus group like this and we rewarded those who took part with a variety of goodies.
UD's Grant Sandground shares details on new products with collectors during a focus group during the weekend at the Expo.
That certainly wasn’t all UD had going on at the Expo however. Each day we held a raffle that had collectors packed around the Upper Deck Booth for their chance to win a variety of sweet items from Upper Deck. We were giving away autographed mini sticks, autographed pucks, uncut sheets, boxes of cards, autograph cards, blow-up cards and more! We pulled out all the stops and even gave away a tin of The Cup each day of the show. Check out some of the happy collectors with their items they received from UD!
He scored a Taylor Hall signed stick from the NHL Draft, awesome!
Winning a larger than life Ovechkin card has this collector all smiles!
We would like to give special thanks to everyone who made it out for the event this weekend. It means a lot to us to be able to spend time with our passionate base of collectors and even more to give back to you for your support throughout the years. We know that not everyone could make it out to the Expo so we want to give others a chance to get some “Priority Signings” autograph cards we brought back from the show. Just leave a comment below about the best pull you’ve ever had from a pack of Upper Deck hockey cards below and we will randomly select two collectors who left comments on Thursday afternoon to receive an autograph card from the “Priority Signings” set. Thanks again and good luck!
147 Comments
My best card ever pulled from a pack was 1st year of Black Diamond-96-97. They were a little more expensive than other packs at the time so I grabbed 3 packs to check it out and pulled card #180 from the 1st pack.Gretzky Triple Diamond Gold.
I would have to say that my best pull was a triple patch of Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby & Mark Recchi from Artifacts a few years ago. The card is numbered 8/10 (Recchi’s #) and has a sweet multi-colored Crosby patch. As a Penguins collector, it always feels good when you can actually pull an amazing card to add your personal collection.
I was 10 years old, and went to my favorite card shop to buy the “brand new” hockey cards that were produced by Upper Deck in 90/91. I bought four packs, and got Modano and Belfour rookie cards in the first two packs, Jagr and Ricci draft pick cards in the third. The best pull was in the last pack, last card, and it was a Gretzky hologram. One of the coolest cards I had ever seen at that time, and I still have it to this day.
As a Blackhawks fan, it would have to be the 2007/08 The Cup Patrick Kane rookie #d to 99. Such a sweet card. A close second would be the 2010/11 Black Diamond Gretzky Gemography autograph my son and I pulled two days ago.
My best pull ever was a Brian Leetch Property Of from a tin of 07-08 Cup at my local hobby store 401 Games in Toronto.
Pulled a Neanderthal Flint Knife from a box of 08/09 Champs. My son was after the T-Rex tooth, but settled for the knife after seeing it in hand, he was happy, and we are STILL the proud owners of it. One of the greatest products out there at the time of its release. Thanks for the unique chances of pulling these rare treasures!!
sadly i haven’t had much luck with UD in past years that would make me jump out of my pants. Luck of the draw i suppose. But my best personal pull was a Pavel Bure jersey card from 1996/97 Upper Deck. Was my favorite player at the time and still this day continues to be a top 5 in my book, even though he is hated by half the city here in vancouver.
I would have to say my best pull came from a box of 05-06 UD Ice. I bought one box at my local shop and busted it right away. Out of this single box I pulled two of my favorite cards, an Ovechkin patch and the Ovechkin Ice Premiers RC /99. I started flipping out and jumping up and down as soon as I saw this card. To know that I was able to pull two amazing cards out of one box still astounds me to this day.
when i first started collecting again after fifteen years of not collecting i decided that traveling 30 minutes by train to the local card store was not worth it i decided to go to the seven eleven right beside my house i bought pack after pack clearing out almost the whole display case, my friends would call me names cuz i never got anything good from it til i opened the first redemption i ever got from upper deck it was a 07 08 artifacts redemption for a blackhawk rookie. i was so excited that i got either johnny toews or pat kane that i freaked out, i sent it in and the upperdeck representative after four months of waiting that i called told me that they had no more regular rookies and that they had something i would be pleased with. i said that this is the first redemption i ever got and the rep told me that this would be one of the best i would ever get. i waited another couple of weeks and i recieved a johnathan teows parralel rookie numbered to 50. (not the biggest but definitly the best pull) the sheer excitement from that day has made me a loyal upper deck fan for life. thanks for the contest guys.
My best pull was 05-06 SP Authentic Mike Richards Future Watch Auto RC /999, i still have that card and wouldn’t trade or sell it for anything
My best pull came from my first ever box of Upper Deck series 1 hockey. It was a Jonathan Toews big playmakers card and it was my first big pull!
My best pull from upper deck was probably from about 5 years ago at the expo, pulled a Orr buyback auto 4/5
Considering that the 05-06 season was when I opened my first hockey products ever, it’s pretty fitting that one of my favorite cards came from 05-06 SPx, a Mike Richards rookie/jersey/auto. Even though I pulled a Lundqvist spectrum auto/ 25 and a Boom Boom Goeffrion auto, the Richards holds a special place in my Flyers collection and will never be parted with. Thanks Upper Deck, for creating my hockey obsession…I’ll never be the same!
I have had many good pulls but the one that stands out for me is when my dad and I bought 4 packs of 98-99 Sp Authentic and pulled a Milan Hejduk rookie. I dont own it anymore since my dad had to sell it, but i will always remember the looks on our faces when we pulled it out of the pack.
Best UD Box breaks I had are:
1. 2007 OPC Premier, one box I got Ovie patch out of 25 and Jeff Carter auto patch /10, RC Sam Gagner auto patch /35
2. 2009 SPA: Duschene FW Auto patch /100, Eric Staal Marks of Distinction,RC FW Hedman, Reimer and a Mystery Dual SOTT
Great contest, I hope there’s more of those signed oversized card posters to give away!!!
I won my hockey pool this year so I treated myself to a box of sp game used and a box of sp authentic. Great hit in both. The authentic had a Tavares auto patch with lots of color and stitching and the game used had a Stevie Y Significant Number duel patch auto /19. Best card I have ever pulled from a box. Thanks Upper Deck.
My best pull came from a box of 2000-2001 Upper Deck Series 1.
In the box I got a Jari Kurri A Piece of History 500 Club jersey card, and a Wayne Gretzky Patch card with four colours! Being a huge Gretzky fan, that is my best pull from a box!
Those ARE some SWEET PULLS! Wish I could have made it Chris! BUt because of the back problems and now a Frozen Shoulder, it’s not getting any better. But hey, your here, I’m here and the crowds at the Expo were great from what I can see! Hopefully on FB I’ll win somethin 🙂
TTYL Chris! Have a GREAT DAY!
David Bonneville
OMG! I just some something! That guy won a larger than life Ovechkin card! WOW! Man I’d be framing that BEAUTY! Nice going!
David Bonneville
I have had many great pulls,but to list only One,I would have to say it was from 09/10 The Cup John Tavares SPX Auto Printing Plate #d 1/1 *AWESOME!!!!
I’m just getting back into the world of hockey cards so I haven’t had much luck yet, I guess the best pull so far was a triple patch Iginla, Kiprusoff, Phaneuf.
It’s been a long time since I’ve busted any UD Hockey so I’m going to have to say that my best pull (at the time) would have been a Sergei Federov rookie.
My best pull has been s SOTT Gordie Howe, and Mark Howe. Father and son. Plus my P.K Subban sp game used rookie #/99.
In 2008-09, I was actually able to buy my first full case of SP Authentic. As I was opening, I was really enjoying the FW Autos, the FW patch cards, and then the best card I ever pulled. A SOTTs 8’s Goalies card was signed and in a pack. Needless to say I was super pumped. It has Patick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Tony Esposito, Grant Fuhr, Dominik Hasek, Rogie Vachon, Ron Hextall, & Carey Price. It is a beautiful card, and is still in my collection today.
Thanks UD for another great product year in, year out. I look forward to my case every year now.
hey upper deck, my best pull would have to be a crosby young guns. i didnt buy cards for a couple of years but i was pretty bord on day and went to a dealer and bought a few packs of ud 05/06, 5 packs i think. sure enuf i pulled a crosby. then i went and bought a box cause i was so excited…haha i didnt pull another one though…but i did get two nhl generations cards wich i love.that kind got me collecting again….and now i cant stop….dont tell my wife !!
Best pull of my life is my Alexander Ovechkin SP Future Watch auto. The irony of that card was that I was on my computer firing up the scanner and I let my wife open the box because we together 2 years at that point so she was curious about my hobby and the pulls. So she pulled an RJ Umberger and she was happy because she knew him from his Phantoms Calder Cup championship team. But as she opened more, she asked who is “Alexander O-ckin”. I ran from the other room to her. Saw the card and I was absolutely elated. 4 years later she is my wife and she likes to buy me UD boxes to surprise me. She really liked the shininess of Black Diamond this year 🙂
I have never had much luck with hockey, so sadly must best pull has been from last years Artifacts. It was a Martin Brodeur Frozen Artifacts 2 color jersey. My luck is just not there with hockey. Maybe it will be with this contest! Thanks for running it!!
I would say that my favorite pull was a Gordie Howe mini-jersey relic card out of UD Champs. I was super excited and couldn’t believe it! I consider Gordie to be one of the best all-time players in the game and the nicest in the business. I hope one day I can meet my childhood hero.
I haven’t had a lot of luck with great pulls in hockey but my best that I have had was a 2002-03 sp authentic Rick Nash autographed future watch card.
Best pull ever happened a few weeks ago when I cracked a few boxes of the new SPA. First box yielded an Orr Sign of the Times (I assumed I was done) and in the next box was a Gretzky Immortal Inks autograph! I was stunned!
I only buy a few boxes a year, so I never envisioned that I would pull a card that is shown on a ‘sell sheet’!!!
My best pull from a pack of Upper Deck trading cards was a Jussi Jokinen Young Guns High Gloss 3/10 and a Alexander Ovechkin Young Guns in the same box back in 2005-06
Best pull I did was in 08/09 trilogy. I pulled a Mr. Hockey – Gordie Howe Scripted Swatch #’d to 25. That card will be passed down to my son when he’s old enough 🙂
My best pull so far is a Sidney Crosby 2009/2010 Ultimate Collection Autograph.
My best pull from a pack of UD hockey cards was from 07-08 SP Authentic. I bought three packs and out of the middle one came a Patrick Kane Future Watch Auto Rookie. I was pretty excited since Future Watch’s always have high value. Needless to say I was able to turn that card into many other cards for my PC.
@ The Collector’s Den in Pittsburgh, PA – Steven Stamkos 08/09 The Cup Black True #1/1 Rookie in the first week The Cup was released.
The best pull I ever had was a 06-07 SPA box it was my first ever hockey box, and I pulled a Lemieux, Malkin, Fleury Sott triple auto.
gretzky immortal ink/10 from spa 🙂
Best pull was a Crosby artifacts jersey card 3/5 with Canadian flag from jersey.
Never had much luck with hockey so my best pull is probably a Mike Richards penned perfection auto out of 50. Thanks for the contest!
My Best pull would have to be a George Hainsworth Woodcut auto 1/1 from UD Black, a little scratched on the surface with glue residue from an error placing the wood piece with the auto but a fantastic card all the same.
The best pull I ever had was this year opening my first box of cards ever. This box was 10/11 Series 1 and in the last pack I pulled a Taylor Hall young gun!
I haven’t busted much Hockey until recently… My best has to be a 08-09 UD black quad jersey auto of Luc Robitaille One of my fave players back when I played street hockey everyday after school!
best pull was mvp 2 on 2 jersey sidney crosby, Evgeni Malkin and on other side Alexander Ovechkin, Nicholas Backstom thanks UPPER DECK
best pull was a Steven Stamkos young gun 😀
My best pull was a SP Authentic Quad auto of Guy LaFleur, Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito and the best of all Stan Mikita serial numbed to 10!!! The most awesome card I’ve ever pulled of 4 legends…
MY best pull is an 08/09 Be A Player Trios auto of Staal/Malkin/Fleury /25. The great thing about this that makes it so unique is that it has the autos mixed up on Staal & Fleury. I was so happy to had gotten this card as I am a Staal collector. This pull was great because I had never pulled an auto of any of them and this card is such nice design and I just love it! Its even better as they all won the Stanley Cup the same year that I pulled it so it was even more of a nice touch!
My best pull sp authentic hall fwa
My best pack pull would have to be my 2008-09 SPA Future Watch auto of Nikolai Kulemin
The nicest card I have pulled from UD Hockey was from this years SP Authentic. I pulled a Hall /100 Limited Patch Auto. I am sure my neighbors knew I got something nice =)
My best pull was a 1999-2000 Upper Deck MVP rookie card of Shawn Marion. It came from the first box of cards I opened – my brother and I had to save for a while back then to make this purchase. Shawn Marion is one of my favorite players and I knew this was his favourite card from an article in SLAM magazine. I later got this signed in-person before a game (Suns vs Raptors).
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