To honor the New Orleans Saints franchise’s first ever Super Bowl victory on February 7, 2010, the Upper Deck Company is set to release an impressive Super Bowl XLIV collectible box set of football cards on March 9. The 50-card collection captures many of the thrills and chills racked up during the NFL’s latest battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The memorable contest between the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts and the NFC Champion Saints ended with New Orleans pulling out an exciting 31-17 victory.
SB XLIV C-Card - Upper Deck
“Never before in their 44-year history had the Saints made it to the Super Bowl, much less won the Super Bowl,” said Brandon Miller, Upper Deck’s Football brand manager. “Their convincing victory over the favored Colts will go down as one of the greatest Super Bowl games ever played. We’re just proud that Upper Deck is able to put together something special to commemorate this first-time achievement for the City of New Orleans and its rabid football fans.”
In addition to sporting 40 regular player cards from the Saints’ winning roster this past season, the set includes five “Season Highlight” cards along with four “Post-Season Memorable Moments” cards that show the following unforgettable passages from Super Bowl XLIV: 1.) Pierre Thomas’s 16-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter; 2.) the unpredictable onside kick recovered by the Saints to start the second half; 3.) Jeremy Shockey’s two-yard touchdown reception that put New Orleans in front 22-17; and Tracy Porter’s game-clinching 74-yard interception return that sealed the Colts’ fate with 3:12 left in the game.
Drew Brees MVP Card - Upper Deck
The 50th card in the set is an impressive Super Bowl MVP keepsake of Saints QB Drew Brees, while an oversized (3.5” x 5”) commemorative card showing the Saints celebrating Porter’s touchdown return adds the finishing touch. The set will be available nationwide at hobby shops and retail outlets starting next month.
Tracy Porter Mem Moment - Upper Deck
For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com
Well as some of you have no doubt realized, I am waaay behind over here. This year has started off VERY BUSY for me and I am having a hard time keeping up. I am still here – and boxbusters.net is still alive. A few of you were patiently waiting for packages – those have been mailed out. I am very sorry for the delay – but as I told you in the notes – “Life stuff” has just been in the way lately. If your not aware, I am getting married next month in Jamaica, March 6th, to be exact. So needless to say, I am extremely busy getting things ready for that. Which, brings me to my next point – I could use a little help. I am looking for a few good authors, to write about cards, the industry, and sports of course. You don’t have to run a blog or site to participate – just have a love of cards and be able to translate that love in to words. It would help if you had access to a scanner or digital camera for images but is not necessary. If you or someone you know may be interested – drop me a line.
No Lebron. The field was announced today for the NBA dunk contest in Dallas, Feb 13th. Once again, it does not include Lebron James. Nate Robinson will be defending his title against – get ready – Gerald Wallace and Shannon Brown. The last spot up for grabs will be decided by a “dunk-off” during halftime of the rookie game. Eric Gordon and Toronto rookie DeMar DeRozan will throw down to see who takes the fourth spot. So, what do you think of the field this year? Is this enough to make you want to watch? All I know is I would really like to see Mr. James compete in at least one of these before he calls it quits.
Well, today was the day. Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids for nearly a decade. Honestly, I wish I could say I was surprised or shocked or even angry but truth is I have written about where I stand on steroids before. Quite honestly, I couldn’t care less. Bottom line is before steroids, they were cheating and long after steroids or HGH, they will be cheating. Technology will change the way athletes cheat, but make no mistake, they will continue to do so.
Now is it fair to compare McGwire’s steroid use to Gaylord Perry’s spitball? What about comparing A-Rod’s use to Whitey Ford’s “gunk ball?” Which one is worse? I’m not sure but I do wonder why it is that we only seem to care about the steroid guys cheating? I don’t know but I can tell you all forms of CHEATING had an impact and all these men are CHEATERS. Two of these men are in the HOF – any chance the other two will get in?
Pete Rose, one of baseball’s most colorful and revered players and managers, has just signed an autograph deal with The Upper Deck Company. Due in part to Rose’s roller-coaster ride with baseball officials, his autographed cards remain in high demand and Upper Deck officials are ecstatic to have the all-time hits leader (4,256) on board for its 2010 baseball releases.
1964 Topps Pete Rose
“Despite his current ban from baseball, Pete Rose’s signature and game-used memorabilia cards continue to be sought-after by baseball fans and card collectors everywhere,” said Gabriel Garcia, Upper Deck’s baseball brand manager. “We are extremely excited to have Pete be a part of our newest baseball card releases.”
Rose, who finished his 24-year playing career in 1986 with a lifetime bating average of .303, was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year as well as the league’s MVP in 1973. A 17-time All-Star selection, Rose was also named MVP of the 1975 Fall Classic when he batted .370. He concluded his illustrious career on the baseball diamond with three championship rings to his credit.
The first Upper Deck product that will include Rose’s game-used memorabilia cards is 2010 Goudey Baseball, which is scheduled to hit store shelves on March 18.
This week, throughout Canada, the Upper Deck Company is releasing a series of single, cello-wrapped NHL® trading cards that are packing out inside of specially marked bags of Sunkist® oranges. A total of 10 different home-grown Canadian NHL® players comprise the impressive lineup of specially branded cards: Sidney Crosby, Martin Brodeur, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Mike Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, and Jay Bouwmeester.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Sunkist to bring these unique cards to Canadian hockey fans,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck’s hockey brand manager. “These 10 players represent some of the best NHL® talent to ever come out of Canada, so we’re proud to be able to commemorate them in this special way.”
As an added bonus, six of the previously mentioned 10 players have signed a total of 400 autographed cards that will be randomly inserted into bags.
“Consumers love to get free gifts and when you make that gift a collectible NHL® Superstar trading card, it creates quite a buzz,” says Julie DeWolf, director of Marketing for Sunkist Growers Inc. “We are in the fourth year of our uniquely Canadian Hockey program and the excitement continues to build with the best home-grown Canadian talent the NHL® has to offer in a collectible series of 10 Upper Deck cards for 2009-10.”
The oranges are currently available at grocery stores throughout Canada. Safeway stores are running a special sweepstakes component that culminates with a grand-prize package consisting of an all-expense-paid trip to a Stanley Cup playoff game later this year.
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