Upper Deck to include Ken Griffey Jr. buyback autos in 2009 sets

Upper Deck will celebrate its inaugural baseball card set this year several ways during its 20th anniversary, but the first comes via 89 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. autographed Rookie Cards that will be included in 2009 Series 1 packs.

Upper Deck had Griffey include the inscription “20 years” on the cards, which will be randomly inserted packs of the product and will arrive in  February. He signed the first 13 cards in black ink and the remaining 76 cards in blue ink.

“We have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Ken Griffey Jr. since our company’s inception,” said Gabriel Garcia, Upper Deck’s associate brand manager for baseball. “This is the perfect way to help celebrate our 20th anniversary and the enduring partnership that Upper Deck has enjoyed with one of baseball’s greatest stars. Griffey’s 1989 Upper Deck rookie card is beloved by sports card collectors and those who find these signed versions will truly have a special collectible to add to their collections.”

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.