By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Detroit Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez may only have a 5-4 record this season, but his win over the Minnesota Twins Friday night was one of the more memorable games of his career.

He nearly threw the second no-hitter of his eight-years in MLB, blanking the Twins for a 6-0 win at home but allowing a single hit in the ninth to Joe Mauer. He would have been just the sixth pitcher to throw a no-no in each league.

Sanchez (click here for a checklist or OPG) appears on just 571 cards for his career, carrying a total value of just $1,919.05, excluding rarities. His 12 Rookie Cards can be found in 2005 MLB products with his priciest being his 2005 Ultimate Signature card that typically checks in at $60 or less. It’s an autographed card limited to just 125 serial-numberd copies.

He did not appear on a Topps card as a rookie, with 11 of his 12 made by Upper Deck and the final card produced by Donruss. His earliest cards can be found in 2004 Just Minors prospect/minor league sets. (Click here to see Sanchez items on eBay.)

The right-hander is 53-55 for his career spent with the Marlins and Tigers. He has 86 certified autograph cards with a few of them noting his previous no-no among season highlights recaps. His only no-hitter was on Sept. 7, 2006, with the Marlins when he blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 2-0 win as a rookie.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

Superheroes. Old School designs. Popular sports releases.

Upper Deck has used these elements to create 2013 Marvel Fleer Retro trading cards – taking a popular new brand from its sports edition into the comic world.

Each display box will contain two mini boxes with 10 five-card packs in each mini box. Marvel Fleer Retro is scheduled to release in August.

Marvel Fleer Retro will feature a 60-card base set. Inserts will use many old designs including 1990, 1991 and 1992 Marvel Universe sets, 1994 Fleer UltraX-Men and 1995 Marvel Metal set.

Fleer was also known for its Precious Metal Gems and Upper Deck will not be leaving those out. Collectors can find at least one Precious Metal Gems in every display box of Red (numbered to 100), Blue (#’d to 50) or Green (#’d to 10) of the Marvel Metal set.

Upper Deck will also bring some retro sports designs that have been popular to Marvel such as 1997-98 Jambalaya, 1997-98 Fleer Metal Hardware, 1997-98 Ultra Stars and 1998-99 Skybox Intimidation Nation. These will fall two per mini box.

Other hits include autographs (two in every display box), 1-of-1 Sketch Cards and randomly inserted 1-of-1 Press Plates, Holograms, Power Blast and Stickers

Here’s a list of the Retro designs included and odds:
 1990 Impel (Marvel Universe!) – (1:12)
 1991 Impel (Marvel Universe!) – (1:15)
 1992 Impel (Marvel Universe!) – (1:20)
 1995 Fleer Marvel Metal Design – (1:10)
 1994 Fleer Ultra X-Men – (1:5)
 98-99 Skybox Intimidation Nation – (1:30)
 97-98 Fleer Metal Hardware – (1:60)
 97-98 Fleer Ultra Stars – (1:40)
 97-98 Skybox Z-Force Quick Strike – (1:40)
 97-98 Metal Universe Titanium – (1:40)
 1994 Marvel Universe S5 Power Blast – (1:33)
 Fleer Retro Base Set Auto – (1:10)
 1990 Impel Marketing Design Auto – (1:576)
 1991 Impel Marketing Design Auto – (1:720)
 1992 Impel Marketing Design Auto – (1:960)
 Fleer Retro Stickers – (1:10)
 97-98 Jambalaya Design – (1:200)

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

One of Jack Hoffman’s blow-up rookie cards from Upper Deck has landed on eBay with the proceeds from the auction going to the Team Jack Foundation.

Upper Deck created five of these cards for the Hoffman family. According to the auction (view here), one went to 7-year-old Jack while the other four were signed. Just one of the cards is up for auction. UPDATE: The card finished at $6,100.

In this auction, one of the cards signed in silver pen is being sold. With three days left, the auction is already at $2,300.

Hoffman is fighting pediatric brain cancer. The money raised through this auction and other avenues will go the Team Jack Foundation, which will in part support pediatric brain cancer research.

Related: Upper Deck creates card for 7-year-old cancer patient

Hoffman entered the media spotlight in April when he ran for a 69-yard touchdown in the University of Nebraska’s spring game. Hoffman had befriended one of the Cornhuskers, Rex Burkhead, after he was diagnosed in 2011.

The card is currently on display at Prep 2 Pro Sports in Norfolk, Neb.

Related: Purple Heart recipient will card a baseball card

Click here to view the embedded video.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor

It’s a busy time in the NBA with the postseason marathon ongoing and the awards season generating headlines beyond the court.

On cardboard, it’s just as busy with several new products arriving and stars making their own pushes with strong performances. (Need a checklist or OPG for one of the 541 basketball sets already made this year? Click here.)

Here’s the latest Beckett 20 Questions on cards and the court. Tell us what you think about the state of cards today, its stars and more with your votes and the comments below.

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Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

Upper Deck has used its Team Canada license throughout its products, featuring the red and white uniforms in sets such as 2012-13 SP Game Used.

Rather than mix the Team Canada cards into other sets, the card manufacturer has decided to build a set around one of the best national teams in the country. In August, collectors will get a 2013 Upper Deck Team Canada Hockey set – that could only be found in Canada.

Each box will contain 24 packs with five cards in each pack. There will also be at least two autographs in every box featuring about 200 current and former member of Team Canada. Players collectors can expect to find include Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Joe Sakic and many others.

The base set will consist of 260 cards with 100 short-prints. Collectors can expect to get about 24 SPs in every box.

The additions to the set could be fun for collectors. Each box will contain two trade cards good for two future 2013 Draft Picks cards, including signed versions.

Other inserts include Clear Cut Program of Excellence (acetate cards) and a 60-card SE foil board set with rare gold die-cut parallels.

Each box will contain at least one of the following: Exclusive Red (numbered to 100), Exclusives Gold Spectrum (numbered to 10) or a Printing Plate (1-of-1)

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

High-end college collectors should prepare for 2012 Exquisite Football coming out in June.

The release will include six cards in every box with five of them being autographs. There will be at least one Rookie Autograph Patch and one UD Black or UD Black Rookie Lustrous Signature.

Back again are Exquisite Choice Dual and Quad Signatures along with Exquisite Book Marks.

But Upper Deck is adding new elements as well with Exquisite Dimensions, Exquisite Sixteen and Exquisite Art

There are three boxes to every case and collectors will get a chance to snag two autographs in every case from a player on the following list: Jerry Rice, John Elway, Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Namath, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill.

In addition, Upper Deck will include rare redemption cards for a full Rookie Autographed Patch Set.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

When is it time to start talking hockey’s double rookie class?

Now, seems like a good time. Upper Deck released its plans for the Spring Expo in Toronto (May 3-5) and its highlighting next season’s cards

Upper Deck will give away free chances to win signed memorabilia from members of the 2013-14 NHL double rookie class. Collectors at the Sportcard & Memorabilia Expo simply have to show up at the Upper Deck booth to get a raffle ticket. The giveaways will take place Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.

Priority Signings wrapper redemption

As usual, UD is having a wrapper redemption program for its Priority Signings. Fans that purchase a hobby box of 2012-13 Artifacts, 2012-13 Upper Deck Series 1, 2012-13 NHL Black Diamond or a mini box of 2012-13 Fleer Retro from a Certified Diamond Dealer at the show will get a voucher. Bring that voucher along with the wrappers to the Upper Deck booth and get a Priority Signings autograph free.

All the copies of the autographs will be numbered to 35 or fewer.

The Priority Signings redemption will take place during these hours only:
Friday – 5 p.m.to 7 p.m.
Saturday – 10 a.m. to Noon
Sunday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Instant redemptions will be included in the Priority Signings packs for Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia of rookies who will appear in 2013-14 NHL products such as Tyson Barrie, Jaden Schwartz and Charlie Coyle.

Case breaker promotion

The case breaker promotion is also back. To participate, open one eight-count case of 2012-13 SP Game-Used or a six-count base of 2012-13 NHL Fleer Retro that was purchased at the show from a Certified Diamond Dealer (don’t forget your voucher).

Turn in the voucher and wrappers from the case and get two Priority Signings autographs and an instant redemption for an exclusive Priority Signings single or dual signed card or for an autographed memorabilia item of an NHL draft pick.

Football case breaks

But it’s not all hockey for UD.

The company is having a special case breaker promotion for football fans. The first five people to open a case of 2013 Upper Deck Football will receive one of these five available prizes:

Two (2) mini boxes of 2012 Fleer Retro Football
One (1) Priority Signings Exclusives Autograph One-of-One card of Matt Barkley
One (1) Priority Signings Exclusives Autograph One-of-One card of Geno Smith
One (1) Priority Signings Exclusives Autograph One-of-One dual card of Matt Barkley and Geno Smith

Bubble Hockey

Upper Deck will be playing some games at its corporate booth and so can collectors. Those in attendance can sign up for bubble hockey tournaments and winners can get an autographed puck from members of the next season’s double rookie cards.

Tournament times:
Friday: 4 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
Sunday: 2 p.m.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook and Twitter.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Doc Jacobs got his tryout — and now he’s getting a baseball card.

A Purple Heart-honored Navy vet who lost his left leg, toes on his right foot and parts of two fingers in Iraq had a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 28 — and now he’ll get his own baseball card from Upper Deck in its retro-styled 2013 Goodwin Champions multi-sport set that arrives on July 9.

Jacobs will be signing 100 copies of the card found in an insert set called Heroic Inspirations.

“When we heard about Doc’s story, we immediately said to ourselves, ‘Now that’s a baseball player we need to make a trading card for,’” said Chris Carlin, sports marketing manager for Upper Deck. “We worked in concert with our great partners at Operation Gratitude and the charity Doc co-founded, VETSports, to make it happen. We couldn’t be more excited to give patriotic Americans the opportunity to collect inspiration.”

On Saturday, Jacobs was presented with his card and got the chance to visit with Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda. He also received a signed gift from Upper Deck spokesman LeBron James.

“He’s a hero,” Lasorda said. ”A lot of youngsters have baseball players as their heroes. One of a man who’s given his leg and toes and hands and everything, deserves a card.”

James took the time to sign a Goodwin poster for the veteran along with penning a message: “Doc Jacobs, You are an inspiration to us all! Best wishes!”

The Jacobs card will be part of a series of cards with a bigger message in mind from the long-running card company.

“This is the beginning of a larger program we will be unveiling soon working in unison with Operation Gratitude and VETSports,” Carlin said, “to show the brave men and women in uniform how much Upper Deck appreciates their service.”

Join Beckett Hockey‘s Dan Hitt and Chris Olds as they rip into a box of 2012-13 Fleer Retro in this latest edition of Box Busters.

What will they find inside? Watch and find out …