Has it Been 20 Years Already Upper Deck?

Rookies, Stars and Legends from Every Sport Help Celebrate 20 Years of Upper Deck Trading Cards

Twentieth anniversary promotion begins in mid-March where collectors can compete to win the ultimate sports dream package

Carlsbad, CA – (March 6, 2008) – Upper Deck was founded in 1988, but as every collector knows, the first set from the leader in sports trading cards debuted in 1989.

As Upper Deck prepares for the 20^th anniversary of that historic set, a special collecting experience is being offered in the months leading up to the release of Upper Deck’s 2009 Series 1 Baseball. The company is producing a limited-edition, 80-card set featuring athletes from professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey that have helped make Upper Deck the collector’s choice over the last 20 years.

Collectors can only receive the special “20^th Anniversary” cards through Certified Diamond Dealers, which is a group comprised of Upper Deck’s preferred hobby retailers. Eight new cards will be released every month from March through December 2008. Collectors will need to purchase packs or boxes of new Upper Deck and Fleer releases through Certified Diamond Dealers to receive cards from the set.

This marks the first time since 2002-2003 UD Superstars where a card manufacturer has produced a set featuring players from all four core sports. Upper Deck has come up with a very compelling reason for collectors to put the entire set together by offering one of the most sensational prizes in the company’s history.

Set collectors need to show they have completed the set by entering in all 80 unique codes from the back of the cards at www.upperdeck.com/anniversary by December 31, 2008.

A grand-prize winner will be selected randomly from that group of collectors to win the ultimate sports dream package: tickets, airfare and accommodations for the winner and a guest to the Super Bowl XLIII; the 2009 NBA Finals (one game); the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals (one game); and the 2009 MLB World Series (one game). The wrapper redemption program will be even more exciting for collectors who purchase on the box level as they will receive a sealed pack of the “20^th Anniversary” cards with their purchase (while supplies last each month). Upper Deck has secured some of the most relevant and famous insert, rookie and promotional cards from throughout the company’s history. Starting with the 1988 Wally Joyner promo card all the way up to the Michael Jordan autographed Fleer rookie buy-back card released last year, collectors will be blown away by some of the cards that have been assembled to be inserted randomly in these packs. Even some rare cards from Upper Deck’s Golf, Motorsports, Soccer and Entertainment product lines have been included. “Our goal has always been to drive consumers to our Certified Diamond Dealer partners,” said Mike Phillips, Upper Deck’s director of Hobby Sales.

“We are offering collectors an incredible set, fantastic buy-back cards celebrating Upper Deck’s rich history and one of the most amazing prizes ever, all for doing what they already do – and that’s collecting our products.”