Upper Deck signs Andrew Luck to card deal
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor
Collectors who had Upper Deck “Trade” cards from 2012 football products have watched their patience pay off.
The redemption was good for a trading card of a first-round quarterback from the 2012 NFL draft. Collectors speculated as to whom it would be, and finally Upper Deck has revealed the player – Andrew Luck.
UD will now be able to produce Luck cards, including autographs, featuring him in a Stanford University uniform.
“Being able to provide collectors with one of the most-valuable rookies of the 2012 season is a big win for Upper Deck,” said Brandon Miller, collegiate sports brand manager for Upper Deck. “Andrew Luck racked up just about every award you could imagine at Stanford and he is continuing to break records in the pros. … Getting his rookie cards into the market for collectors is a top priority for us and signing this deal was the first step to getting that done.”
Luck’s first cards will appear in 2013 products, but Upper Deck was not specific.
The trade cards were found in 2011 Exquisite Collection, 2012 Upper Deck, 2012 SPx, 2012 SP Authentic and 2012 Exquisite Collection.
Upper Deck was prohibited from making Luck cards because the Indianapolis Colts quarterback signed an exclusive deal with Press Pass, allowing them to be the only non-NFL licensed company to produce his card (this did not affect Topps or Panini America). Upper Deck had to wait until the deal ran out to sign Luck under its umbrella.
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.
Too little, too late for UD. Maybe they’ll make some fake never-worn patch cards too.
I’m glad to hear that my “Trade Upper Deck” card is actually worth something. Now I just wonder how long I’ll see the “ATHLETE COMMITED TO SIGN” message before something appears…..I know Upper Deck has a history of having players sign upcoming products before fulfilling waiting redemptions, so I might be waiting a while…
I haven’t purchased an UD product sine they lost their NFL liscense. Don’t want to see todays players in college uni’s. I am not a college collector – but for those of you that are – there you have it – every player from every team in college uniforms. Rather sad state of affairs. $600.00+ dollars a box for Exqusite – with luck in a Stanford uniform? – come on – for that kind of cash I want Luck in his Colts gear. And oh yes – there are plenty of OTHER products that offer NFL players and that is where my money will go. Too bad UD – you loose my vote.
BobbyO
every company uses unauthentic jerseys or items in their product. you’re a fool if you believe everything is truly authentic. companies make mistakes, it’s just too bad that the collector pays for it
So wait, this doesn’t make sense. Press Pass was the only non-NFL company able to produce Andrew Luck autographs for 2012. So how is Upper Deck going to do autograph cards for his 2012 products. That seems to be an end around the system. So will this be a 2012 card from the products mentioned above or will it be a special commemorative autograph card.
Its a redemption. Odd are they will never be sent because half the cards from the redemption center in NC are going out the back door. Then being sold at card shows to local dealers. Upper Deck has been told about it but they seem to care less about it.
If I were Andrew I would ask for the check in advance, then make Upper Deck wait 7-10 business days until it cleared before he signed the cards.
Now this was a sad choice on Lucks part.