Slightly OT/Big Lead Story About Upper Deck

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Very interesting read...just to clarify, what exactly did they counterfeit? was it real product, but they just made more than advertised (on the limited releases), or they literally forged cards? didn't fully understand that.

I think in essence they made more then advertised. I remember that French Hockey, we were going crazy for it up here in the Northeast for awhile. Boy, did it crash and burn hard. I wouldn't be surprised if they made even more then what was stated in the article.

[HRBAKER]

Another sad tale of greed.

[ctownboy]

Wasn't it also alleged that a few years after the Ken Griffey Jr card was released and had skyrocketed in price that someone at Upper Deck had thousands more printed off and kept some for themselves and gave (sold cheaply?) others away to influential friends?

David

[Exhibitman]

Card Sharks covers it all; a must-read.

What everyone seems to forget is that the UD product was beautiful. Just so many great looking pictures, front and back, on that '89 set. If it looked like '81 Topps no one would have cared. They also invented the signed chase card.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Card Sharks covers it all; a must-read.

What everyone seems to forget is that the UD product was beautiful. Just so many great looking pictures, front and back, on that '89 set. If it looked like '81 Topps no one would have cared. They also invented the signed chase card.

They did make a nice card, although I never really took to them. I think at the time the thin cardboard made them feel cheap even with the hologram and better printing than other brands. (To me anyway, lots of people really like them)

By the mid-late 90's, their standard product seemed like they weren't making much effort. The usual nice picture with a foil name. I did like some of the higher end stuff, SP and eventually SPX mostly for the die-cuts and the SPX layered look.

I bought a couple packs of the semi- unlicensed Goodwin cards they made a year or two ago, pretty disappointing considering what they'd been able to do in the past.

The new semi licensed stuff might be interesting.

Steve B

[midwaylandscaping]

From 89-93 they made some nice looking cards. Good pics, very nice.
After that, it was by the numbers.

[Rich Klein]

The 1988-89 Score sets were beautiful as well. Full color photos on both sides. 1989 UD was just a better set, as it was also beautiful AND made with the best card stock at that time. And better times were just around the corner for UD. It's been a fun ride and I agree, Card Sharks is a must read for the background to the Big Lead story.

My Sports Collectors Daily story -- no advancing of that story, just some more random notes

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...nd-upper-deck/

Rich