Upper Deck revamps insert in 2011-12 Series 1
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor
In about a week, Upper Deck releases its 2011-2012 Series 1 Hockey, and it is trying something a different this year with Hockey Heroes, one of its most popular inserts.
“The Hockey Heroes insert set has been an integral part of the Upper Deck NHL release each year, but it had grown a little tired and become redundant for collectors,” UD said in a statement. “So the hockey team worked to come up with a new way to deliver the set to collectors.”
The company has come up with a theme for the set that will carry into next year.
Starting with 2011-2012 Upper Deck Series 1, the Hobby Heroes will honor players from the 1950s with 12 cards. Some of the cards – where the players are still alive – will have rare on-card autograph variations.
The 1960s will be honored in Series 2 and next year’s sets will have 1970s and 1980s. All the cards will keep the same numbering system to keep with continuity.
For Series 1, there is a chase card, an art card depicting Andy Bathgate, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, which is signed by all three and numbered to just 10 cards.
What do you think of the change?
Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.
Dave? Is he really an idiot?
only the best sport ever! dave-friends and life…try to get em…. stuff looks awesome…cant wait to get it!
“Some of the cards – where the players are still alive – will have rare on-card autograph variations.”
I would hope they’re still alive if they were to be hand signed.
Cards can be hand-signed if they are dead … just not any new ones.
I like this idea for hockey as compared to the player themed hockey heroes sets of years past (ex. steve yzerman). Would love to get that bathgate/howe/hull….kinda reminds me of the gretzky/howe/orr from 00/01 sp authentic sign of the times, just not as strong of a card but still nice!!!
Parkhurst autos look soooo much better, all these photos look super imposed…
Not impressed.
looks good, but probably really hard to get i’m sure
I think it is an excellent concept and kudos to UD for honouring the old timers!
Upper Deck shows that it is possible to have people sign on the card rather than mostly on stickers. Someone should tell Topps that. Thanks to Upper Deck for producing high quality hockey product.
Found a Gordie Howe in a hobby box signed 10/15
Pretty crazy addition to the series