Upper Deck 25th Anniversary

[smapdi]

While everyone has their opinions on business practices, quality, price escalation, redemptions, etc., it's pretty undeniable that 1989 Upper Deck baseball changed the hobby forever. That was 25 years ago this year. I figure that warrants some discussion. Hopefully this thread becomes a central point where people can discuss it. When did you first see them? Do you remember what you got in your first pack? How many Griffeys did you find? Did you never find any because of sequencing issues? Ever find any of the error or rev neg cards? Do you still have a set you pieced together or did you buy a factory set? Do you not care at all because not chrome/no auto?

Also, does anyone know when packs actually hit the streets? Best I can find so far is "April." I wasn't collecting then, but I remember coming home from my first year at college and seeing 99-cent packs of cards in the 7-11 and scoffing at them, when all the other brands were right there for 50 cents. I didn't actually see an Upper Deck card for 2 more years, but it was actually Stadium Club that hooked me.

 

[George_Calfas]

My most vivid memory was one particular pack. The first and last cards were random players but every other card in the pack was Griffey Jr. At this point Jr. was probably a $25 or $40 card, sold them to dealers at the local card show and had plenty of gas/Taco Bell money for a couple of weeks.

 

[Brewer Andy]

Nice pack George! I remember the first time I saw them in the shop. Even at 12 years old I was ANGRY that a pack would cost so much. Oddly enough my mother insisted we buy 2 packs. Pulled a Griffey and probably only bought singles after that until the 1990 release. Sadly I traded the Griffey for a Gary Sheffield Sportflics RC but got another back eventually.

Never had much luck with Upper Deck products. Like none. Lots of beautiful sets but beyond that first Griffey I had a lot of dud boxes over the years. Literally the only UD pull that stands out beyond a few dollar jersey cards was the Michael Jordan 1991 SP1

 

[olerud363]

I don't recall seeing any 1989 UD in my area of Eastern Canada at the time it came out. It wasn't until 1990 when I started seeing 1990 singles at local shops. I recall a couple of friends and I driving to a shop in the next town looking for those "red hot Upper Deck cards that everyone was talking about." I found one in a singles box and snatched it up for a steal at 25 cents. I remember examining it at home, admiring the high-tech hologram and thinking, "You're going to make me lot of money." The card? 1990 Upper Deck Billy Ripken.

By 1991 packs had made their way into most retail outlets and were going for around $1.49. I remember a high school buddy and his Dad were building the '91 UD set as an "investment" and pulled three Michael Jordan #SP1 cards. I was so jealous!

- Rodrick

 

[ronfromfresno]

I remember being at a card show in 1989 as a 10 year old who only started collecting in 1988 and all of the adults at the show were falling all over themselves to buy up all of the Upper Deck packs. I'd read about the new cards and technology that Upper Deck was using and that they were supposed to be a big deal but I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that I had to pay $1.00 a pack. That was insane to me since I could get more cards per pack of Topps for 35 cents each.

 

[nappyd]

The packs and smell of the cards is still distinct even if you get a cheap box to bust off eBay

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Freedom Card Board mobile app