Upper Deck To release 2009-10 Exquisite Basketball

2009-10 NBA Exquisite will feature standout rookie players and exciting new content paying tribute to the original release six years ago



Carlsbad, CA (September 21, 2009) – When Upper Deck released 2003-04 NBA Exquisite, the trading card market was forever changed. Never before had collectors seen innovative cards packing this much quality which is one of the reasons why a single pack of that product routinely sells for more than $3,000. Today Upper Deck has announced that it will be releasing the company’s final NBA Exquisite set ever later this month. Upper Deck’s 2009-10 NBA Exquisite set will arrive in stores on September 30.



In addition to having Exquisite rookie cards from some of the top 2009-10 NBA draftees, some great retrospective inserts have been created paying homage to the heritage of the Exquisite brand. In 2009-10 Exquisite, Upper Deck honors the most valuable modern day rookie card: 2003-04 LeBron James Exquisite RC (#78). Upper Deck is bringing back that particular card design as a limited insert with some of the sporting world’s biggest names like Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, John Elway, Barry Sanders, Sidney Crosby, and Wayne Gretzky. The ever popular “Triple Logoman Patch” cards and “Dual Logoman Autographed Patch” cards return as well making this Exquisite release a most memorable one.



“It’s awesome to be able to provide collectors with a final exquisite experience in basketball, and this will represent the most limited run we’ve ever done because of the short amount of time we had to bring it to market,” said Brandon Miller, Upper Deck’s basketball brand manager. “There are some cards we included that will have everyone talking starting with the Ricky Rubio autograph rookie cards. This will be the only chance collectors have to pull a Rubio Exquisite rookie so that should be big.”



“Also, we have Upper Deck spokesman Tiger Woods signing dual patch cards with Michael Jordan as well as LeBron James. On one of the Tiger and LeBron cards, they actually inscribed their birthdates on the card as they share the same birthday [Dec. 30].”

The NFL Football Season is here!

Football season is finally here with a so so game on Thursday with the Super bowl champion Steelers squeaking one out. All the excitement begins on Sunday with Tailgate parties and season kickoff parties in front of big screen TV's. Most of the rookie excitement revolves around QB's Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez. Can they duplicate the success last year of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco? Look for this years football boxes to deliver alot of value with the top draft picks rookie cards and autographs and memorabilia of the games greats. Check out the 2009 boxes and presales on our site at great prices! Any opinions on this years season or your favorite team? Feel free to leave a comment!

Sanchez Named Jets Starting QB!

What the football world expected became reality Wednesday when the Jets' quarterbacks were informed that Mark Sanchez is the new starter, team sources confirmed to ESPN.


Uncharted Territory
No Jets rookie started the first game of a season since Dick Jamieson started the first game in franchise history in 1960 when the Jets were known as the New York Titans.

The last Jets rookie QB to start a game was Matt Robinson on Nov. 27, 1977 at home against Pittsburgh.

So when Sanchez starts in Week 1, he'll do something even Joe Namath didn't do. Namath made his first start as a rookie in the Jets' third game of the 1965 season.

Rookie pass attempts by Jets QBs drafted in first round:

Year Quarterback Attempts

2009 Mark Sanchez ?

2000 Chad Pennington 5

1983 Ken O'Brien 0

1976 Richard Todd 162

1965 Joe Namath 340

1962 Sandy Stephens 0

Source: ESPN Stats & Information

Sanchez will start the Jets' third preseason game Saturday night against the New York Giants -- and, more importantly, the team's regular-season opener at Houston against the Texans.

It wasn't a question of if Sanchez would be named the starter, but when. Even though he struggled some against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, the Jets have seen enough moxie and talent from Sanchez to make this year's fifth overall pick the face of the franchise.

The designation of Sanchez as the Jets' starter was first reported by FoxSports.com.

The Jets traded up in the draft to select Sanchez, who was signed to a five-year deal that could be worth up to $60 million, including $28 million guaranteed.

Vying to become the Jets' starter, Sanchez, drafted out of Southern California, got off to a wretched start Monday night but finished with a flourish in a 24-23 preseason loss.

Starting for the first time, Sanchez handed off the ball on the game's opening play from scrimmage. Then he forced a pass while being hit in the stomach by middle linebacker Ray Lewis. The ball was intercepted by Haloti Ngata, who rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 with 52 seconds elapsed.

"Not obviously the way you want to start. I thought I was doing the right thing; I felt Ray come free on the right side from the protection," Sanchez said. "I was checking it down to the flat, perfect. Haloti just jumped right in front of the ball and made a really athletic play."

Sanchez nearly had his second pass picked off, too. On his final play, however, he threw his first NFL touchdown pass -- a 19-yarder to running back Leon Washington with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

Sanchez went 3 for 8 for 43 yards. He didn't experience success until the Ravens removed several players from the first-team defense, including Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

Jets first-year coach Rex Ryan spent the previous 10 years building the Baltimore defense, but there was no way he could fully explain to Sanchez the experience of going up against the wickedly effective unit.


AFC East blog
ESPN.com's Tim Graham writes about all things AFC East in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation


"You put a young guy like Sanchez in there and you see our defense, it can be difficult," Lewis said. "You saw his eyes get big, and he was jumping around in the pocket. Bottom line: We gave a lot of looks and disguises and we confused him a little bit."

To say the least.

"Oh, they were flying. They were flying around," Sanchez said. "You practice for it and you see it on film. These guys were doing it. You're trying to keep one eye on Ed Reed and one eye on Ray Lewis and a D-lineman gets you."

Clemens, who started New York's other exhibition game, was 5 for 10 for 60 yards. Like Sanchez, he had an interception returned for a touchdown and threw a TD pass (a 28-yarder to David Clowney in the third quarter).

Sanchez finally started to move the offense on his final drive Monday night. A short pass to Washington on a third-and-12 went for 16 yards, and a run by Washington for 15 yards on a third-and-10 set up the TD pass.

"I'm proud of the way he responded," Ryan said of Sanchez. "It ain't going to be perfect; sometimes you have these type of nights. You've got to give credit where credit is due, and most of that goes to their defense."

Information from ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Look for Mark Sanchez Autographs and rookie cards in 2009 Football boxes at DCS Sports Cards!

Legendary Red Wings Center Steve Yzerman Re-Ups with Upper Deck

After long hiatus, recent Hall of Fame inductee returns to sign autographs for hockey card leader’s 2009-10 lineup of products

Carlsbad, CA (August 19, 2009) – In an effort to provide collectors with new and exciting content of hockey greats, Upper Deck is pleased to announce that a deal was recently inked with Hall-of-Famer Steve Yzerman to provide autograph trading cards in its 2009-10 products. Yzerman led the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships as a player and one as Vice President of Operations. He was also a gold-medal-winning Olympian for Team Canada in 2002.

Yzerman has not signed licensed NHL trading cards for a number of years so this deal is unique in that there is a very short supply of his autographs in the market. Collectors will likely be excited about the prospect of pulling autograph cards of his in new 2009-10 Upper Deck releases since they have gone so long without them.

“Steve Yzerman amassed a multitude of awards and accolades during his playing career both with the Detroit Red Wings and as a member of the Canadian National Team,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck brand manager for hockey. “To be able to provide collectors access to a player like Yzerman who is so popular in key hockey markets like Detroit and throughout Canada provides a huge boost to our new hockey releases for the upcoming season. We know collectors have been waiting a long time to see content from this legendary player and Upper Deck is thrilled to deliver his autograph.”

Hockey fans can look for the first Steve Yzerman autograph cards in 2009-10 NHL Black Diamond, which is scheduled to arrive in stores in December. Things will really get revved up with products like 2009-10 NHL SPx and NHL SP Game-Used Edition.

“For SPx, collectors can look for him to appear in the popular ‘Flashback Fabrics’ set, but we will also have autographed ‘Dual Winning Combos’ cards of Yzerman paired with legends like Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux,” said Matt Bromley, Upper Deck product manager for hockey. “SP Game-Used will feature some really great multi-signed autograph cards with Yzerman signing on cards with players like Lemieux and Gretzky, Howe and Lidstrom, even current Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg. The cards should command huge values and be the centerpiece of a true hockey fan’s collection.”

2009-10 Bowman 48 Basketball Cards Release 8/19/09

2009-10 Bowman 48 Basketball Cards will be live on Wednesday August 19th. This unique retro design coupled with some great autographs should make this a much sought after product. Check out all details on the website, and order yours today!

Upper Deck Inks Reigning NHL MVP Alexander Ovechkin to an Exclusive Deal!

Ovechkin will sign autographs exclusively for Upper Deck at the start of the 2009-10 season and also appear on packaging



Carlsbad, CA (August 14, 2009) – Upper Deck, the exclusive provider of NHL licensed hockey cards, is pleased to announce an exclusive autograph deal with Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals at the onset of the 2009-10 season. Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, was named the NHL Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season, and has earned back-to-back league MVP trophies for the past two seasons.



Besides signing autograph cards exclusively for new Upper Deck products, Ovechkin will be featured on 2009-10 Upper Deck Hockey card packaging. Collectors can look forward to seeing new Alexander Ovechkin content in all Upper Deck releases at the onset of the 2009-10 season.



“Alexander has distinguished himself as a proven superstar in the NHL in just a few short years,” said Bernd Becker, Chief Operating Officer for Upper Deck. “The sky is the limit with a player of his caliber in terms of what his legacy will be and hockey fans realize that. To be able to deliver exclusive content of this international icon is a coup for Upper Deck and something our collectors can get excited about.”

2008-09 Exquisite Basketball is here!

2008-09 Upper deck Exquisite has arrived and delivers the highest quality basketball cards on the market. This product is made each year in an extremely limited print run and is always a hit with high end collectors. Exquisite basketball is available right now!