One of the fun parts of being a trading card company is creating custom cards from time to time to share with partners, vendors and fans. Such is the case almost every year with Upper Deck’s holiday cards. For decades Upper Deck has made a practice of creating some unique holiday cards and this year is no different. Upper Deck recently sent out a few hundred special holiday cards featuring the company’s exclusive hockey spokesman; Wayne Gretzky. Take a look:
Many fans have enjoyed collecting these cards each year and these new cards featuring Gretzky are likely to make their way to trading sites soon as they start to hit the market. Upper Deck holiday cards from over the years continue to be highly collectible. Have a gander at some of the previous year’s cards from throughout the company’s rich history!
Want to score a Gretzky holiday card from this year? We only have two cards left! For your opportunity to grab one of these cards, please submit a comment below as to which of these holiday cards in your favorite. The two fans who most skillfully convey their enthusiasm for these unique holiday collectibles will be selected to receive one of the new Gretzky cards. You have until Monday, December 30, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. to leave a comment of no more than three sentences.
57 Comments
I feel the Kobe Bryant because he is so giving on the court. Also the Wayne Gretzky. Winter and ice is there not anything better during the holidays.
I’m from Canada,I love hockey and I love the 2005 Sidney Crosby of the Dashers from the North Pole League. Living in Gretzky’s hometown of Brantford, this years card would be the ICING on the cake.
I like the Babe Ruth card the best. He was kind of like the Santa of baseball. If you think about it, you picture him walking down the streets, kids in tow cheering, asking for autographs. Much like if Santa were to walk down the street. Plus he was stout like Santa.
I REMEMBER SEEING THE SANTA CLAUS CARD IN A BECKETT MAG AND WANTING IT REEEEAL BAD.MIXING BASEBALL LEGENDS FROM MANY YEARS AGO IS COOL TOO.
I think the babe ruth really captures the holiday season it is a throwback to when the holidays were celebrated with little fanfare.and when people knew the real meaning of Christmas. nowdays its all about money -gifts. so that 1 gets my vote. great colors no fluff.
Love the KG. So intense on the court. Very playful card.
My favorite Upper Deck holiday card is the Lebron James holiday card. The reason for this is because he is King James and each year the holiday card being released is an event like that of a coronation of a monarch. Receiving one is the actual placement of the crown on your head.
Love them all but mostly the Babe Ruth card
I prefer the Kris Kringle Gift Giver Jersey card. It is much more in season than any of the other cards you have displayed. It is a very natural looking card, compared to the other “posed”, or, “attempt at comedy” cards you have provided in the past. It will also be a much more natural card to be displayed in my collection, compared to the others, even with my “hero” , Sidney’s, card. The baseball bats, basketballs and hockey sticks forming an integral part of the cards, does not do it for me. Your 2013 card looks like a hockey card placed in the centre of a cutout Xmas card, is much more to the point of Xmas and not using any of the equipment to form part of the Xmasy portion of the card. The 2013 example is the best card of all, in my opinion. Thank You.
THE KEVIN GARNETT CARD IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE HIS EXPRESSION ON THE BACK OF THE CARD IS WHAT THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT!
Hands down, the Santa jersey card is my favorite! Even at age 26 that card would bring so much holiday spirit and joy during the holidays. Its a lot better than seeing a store Santa 🙂 I do have to say the next best thing to Santa would be Wayne Gretzky. I would make sure that if I get picked that I pass this down for many, many years. Mainly for the fact that Upper Deck is a great year round gift, but cracking open cards during Tue holidays has an unmatched feeling of joy and wonderment! Happy Holidays to everyone at UD, and to everyone who enters (good luck to all)
The Kris Kingle game worn jersey card and the 94 Santa in a football huddle are my favorites . It limits the card to the holiday season and opens the demand to the card from the different sport collectors.
My favorite always has been & always will be the Santa Claus from 93 in the Chiefs uni. I got one from the card shop that I was “working” @ age 14, sorting tons of 800 card UD sets (dont miss those but still miss those design years LOL) for the shop & they paid me in boxes or packs. One year he gave me that exact card. Unfortunately it’s gotten lost over the years, but I’ve thought about it every Xmas season since I last saw it in my hand. They Gretzky would be AWESOME to have! If I won it, I’d ask you to send it straight to BGS for encapsulation then sent to me so no chance of getting damaged.
The kris kringle card is the best at capturing both the innovation of game used cards by Upper Deck and the Holiday spirit!! Ho Ho Ho!!
I absolutely love the 1998 Holiday Worn Santa Card. It’s just the coolest thing you could get for the holidays.
LOL idc if I’m disqualified cause I went over 3 sentences. I’d share that story no matter what 😉
I like the Sidney Crosby card from 2005. I think it looks very Christmassy, I like the reindeer on his jersey in place of the typical penguin. The elves on the bottom are a nice touch to.
Once I have an Wayne Gretzky autographed hockey stick. After moving to other town and a friend of mine who is diagnosed with Tunnel Vision and deaf, helped me by moving the stuff including the stick but he carelessly left them outside when raining. The signed by Wayne Gretzky were smeared. Oh well, I cant blame him.
I love the Gretzky card the most out of all the holiday cards! It’s pretty cool how UD puts out special holiday cards each year, especially with the creativity of the Kris Kringle “holiday worn” card and the amazing colors of the Ruth card. But as a die-hard hockey lover, it’s hard to beat the beauty of The Great One donning the Oilers garb inside a special holiday border!
Thanks!
The 2000 card is BY FAR my favorite! It features a young enthusiastic, #8 with Adidas wearing, and mini-fro rocking Kobe Bryant. He was beginning to come into his own at the time, as the torch was being passed to him from MJ. The smile on his face perfectly embodies holiday cheer. It’s almost as if he knows that he is about to take the league by storm and go down as one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.
I love the holiday cards. I received the 1985 card in the mail with a note from Mr Williams from UD when I was in the club.
I love the 1999 Holiday Season Ken Griffey Jr. Santa Card because Ken Griffey Jr. represented the passion and integrity of the game that all players should have. This was Griffey’s most unique card with the infused Santa Claus hat and one of his final Mariner cards during his first stint. Ultimately, this card embodies the golden age of baseball cards that originated from the iconic 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Set.
My favorite UD Holiday card is of the Past and Present Yankees! People live getting holiday postcards in the mail every year from friends and family and who wouldn’t love getting a postcard from the legendary “Yankees Family”! All the holiday cards are great every year but that one by far is my favorite! Thanks UD! Happy Holidays!
My favorite is the Sidney Crosby card with the reindeer in place of the Penguin on the front of his jersey.
Hi Upper Deck, I am loving the Wayne Gretzky Seasons Greetings holiday card and would love to display it with my Upper Deck hockey card collection. It would look great with my new 13-14 Series 1 and it would be nice to have for bragging to my friends. Hope you choose me for a winner and have a Happy New Year!
The Yankees “Past and Present” is my favorite card above;
But the Wayne Douglas Gretzky card is definitely the one I love.
Untill this year my mother alway put a pack of cards in my stocking. I would ask her why upperdeck..she said..they maybe tops but your one step up..because they are Upper deck! Just lost mom but starting next year I will start the same tradition with my 6yr old..
Wow !!! Great card !!! One for me please !! 😉
Love the Kris Kringle Game jersey worn piece of history 25 gift giver !!!! AHAHHA Think there has been more than 25 gift given that years !!!!
My favorite is Reggie Jackson dressed as Santa. Who knew Mr. October was also Father Christmas!!!!
It’s the 1998 Kris Kringle That shows the Holiday Spirit in a way that anyone can enjoy. The Sports theme with a Relic shows how Upper Deck tries to make every card stand out. I believe that this card shows the true meaning of Christmas and all the Joy People have during the Holiday Season.. And Upper Deck just does it right 🙂
I Like The Griffey Jr Santa Hat Because, In Ken Griffey Jr’s Rookie Year 1989 Your First Set. Upper Deck Brought Ultra Premium Baseball Cards To The Sports Card Market. The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #1 And Upper Deck Has Made These Other Companies Make Ultra Premium Cards, But Upper Deck Keeps Coming Up With New Ideas And Technology Of The Sports Card Business. A Hundred Years From Now People Will See The 1989 Griffey Jr. Rookie Like They Look At The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie As That Probably Made People Buy Sports Cards. Please Keep Making Many New And Invented Cards For Years To Come. Happy Holidays.
Thomas Scheiterle Jr.
Love the KG card! I live in Minnesota, and it’s a great reminder of all the years of holiday cheer he brought us while he was in town.
I have the babe Ruth one it’s a cherished part of my collection
My favorite is the christmas card style with yankees stars past and present as I bleed pinstripes. My favorite Yankees memory is Watching a Yankees and Red Sox game with my dad when I was three, my dad started a chant of “Go Yankees” when my mom (Red Sox Fan) walks into the room and says “Go Red Sox”, I turned to my mother, (being three years old) and said “Boo Red Sox!”. Lets just say my parents knew what my favorite team was, is, and always will be from that day on.
The original “Santa worn” suit piece card is my favorite. It’s a really creative card from a time when game used cards were in their infancy. The concept of making the used piece from “Santa” and not an athlete was is very cool and original.
I like the painted football playin’ Santa ones, they are very fun and cheerful.
Frankly, I’d be happy with any of the cards you’ve pictured above. I’m partial to the Tiger Woods Ball Marker card just because I’ve never seen anything like it yet. After what has probably been the worst year ever for me ( reasons I won’t bore you with ), This would be the only Christmas present I will have received should I be one of the lucky two chosen. Either way, nice cards from years past, keep up the good work people!
U nique holiday card featuring the Great One who wouldn’t love that?
D ashers card with the Xmas elves and Sid the Kid is the favorite.
1 and only reason, cause Upper Deck makes cool cards!!
2001 Tiger Woods Ball marker !
Absolute best Christmas card out there
Kind of hard to play golf in the snow… but for woods I’m sure he’d ace it! (have to use a colored ball.)
I love the Santa game jersey card, “Gift Giver” my son would like that one. Thanks for the great products.
That 98′ Kris Kringle is really sweet A really cool holiday treat! Ive been real good and if you check your list twice, you’ll see I’ve been nothing but nice. A Gretzky card card would bring such joy to this lil’ family’s girl and boy.
I do enjoy the Kris Kringle card, especially since it looks like it’s signed by him too. But the Tiger Woods one is decent as well (And at least Elin Nordegren didn’t get near that sleigh 😛 )
I’d love to be able to hand this card to my son zachary, He’s 9 and is an avid card collector. Living just outside Edmonton and him Loving his Edmonton Oilers, this card would be treasured in his collection which is mainly Edmonton Oilers though according to him not near big enough!!!
The Kris Kringle 1998 Holiday Season Game Worn Jersey is by far my favorite!! Very Unique and a great take on the Holiday Season. I would totally give that to any child and watch their face light up with joy knowing that they have a part of Santa Clause 🙂
In the spirit of Christmas, it has to be the 1998 Holiday Worn Jersey Card – with a patch of Santa’s red suit, his signature & him giving a gift is the ultimate card for any of Kris Kringle collectors.
IT IS A GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR TO HAVE A great PLAYER CARD.
The creativity in your organization is incredible! I wish I could be on your annual Christmas card list. The Tiger Woods card is really unique, I’ve never seen a more unique end of year card. The Santa suit series really put a smile on your face showing these athletes on a lighter side. If I don’t win the Gretzky card, thanks for sharing these it was fun to look at them.
For me it’s the Santa jersey card!
Collecting cards makes me happy instead of sad
It reminds me that getting old is fun
Always the thrill to discover what’s inside the pack!!
I love the Crosby “Dashers” card. I love the elves across the bottom of the card, but my favorite part is that the jersey is altered with green stripes and a reindeer in the penguins logo
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