tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post1488097902664208276..comments2023-11-02T15:40:34.031-05:00Comments on Play at the Plate: Same old song, or a new direction?Play at the Platehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14231140141558021698noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-15566242936900136842011-03-03T21:29:27.065-06:002011-03-03T21:29:27.065-06:00Contest closed.Contest closed.Play at the Platehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231140141558021698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-72387809164504916472011-03-03T01:46:27.721-06:002011-03-03T01:46:27.721-06:00There won't be glory days again until ideas at...There won't be glory days again until ideas at the top change. Brand management and licensing have to change where the value is there for the consumer and company. Upper Deck has a long-time name, but I think they should be welcomed back only with new management. Too many issues would be repeated again.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10426813731400850113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-68359290107556248702011-03-02T20:58:44.596-06:002011-03-02T20:58:44.596-06:00I think Topps needs competition, and I like what U...I think Topps needs competition, and I like what Upper Deck has done, at times. Give them a limited license - maybe 5 sets or so, and let them prove themselves. (I've heard and seen a lot of good things coming from Panini too, so let them have the same chance.)<br /><br />And I think Upper Deck probably should be bought out or at least reorganized - new leaders at the top (who know what they're doing as far as quality cards) can bring some respectability back to them. Upper Deck has had issues with ethics since their beginning.Ryan Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670458381967699663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-8202672277913268742011-03-02T20:58:12.729-06:002011-03-02T20:58:12.729-06:00I've always enjoyed Upper Deck products, with ...I've always enjoyed Upper Deck products, with the exception of a few years here and there. I'd like to see them get back to their roots, back to simplicity.The Angels In Orderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18266787671936519341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-2588070664297697722011-03-02T20:36:58.560-06:002011-03-02T20:36:58.560-06:00I don't know enough about the shenanigans they...I don't know enough about the shenanigans they pulled to really say, but I know that for the most part I liked the end result of Upper Deck having a license - the products themselves, aside from some bizarre missteps, were pretty nice and had their own feel to them that Topps will likely never replicate.maddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08493650721714521989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-13161026140942382372011-03-02T20:15:51.783-06:002011-03-02T20:15:51.783-06:00I would always be hesitant to buy anything from Up...I would always be hesitant to buy anything from Upper Deck, because the owners are underhanded enough to line up shell companies to hide the true identity of the ownership.Rod (Padrographs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05355113829498375086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-10841795447819967722011-03-02T18:29:52.464-06:002011-03-02T18:29:52.464-06:00I think they should come back to add some levelnes...I think they should come back to add some levelness to the playing field. I think they need to go back the what they did best in the beginning, and quit with all the fancy stuff. Most of us just want regular baseball cards.Mariner1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09797929595718567181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-1753393276261866642011-03-02T16:56:33.402-06:002011-03-02T16:56:33.402-06:00I think Upper Deck should break out it's baseb...I think Upper Deck should break out it's baseball wing into a complete rework of management and rebranding. While still under UD umbrella, a baseball department rebranded as "Masterpieces" that begins with a re-introduction of the Masterpieces set would be a great start towards getting the license back. Don't worry about relics at this point, do verifiable autographs, innovative parallels and quality art. Market it as a sophisticated set aimed at people who enjoy the art of the cards. My humble opinion.The Dimwithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06525916638277895973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-27052496710187160252011-03-02T16:52:51.694-06:002011-03-02T16:52:51.694-06:00New management, definitely. I would like to see t...New management, definitely. I would like to see them (and topps) in a somewhat more limited release schedule though.The Diamond Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001830855287742523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-19042070830759560142011-03-02T15:31:20.266-06:002011-03-02T15:31:20.266-06:00I agree with Benny here. I think some of the UD s...I agree with Benny here. I think some of the UD stuff was cool and I am disappointed they are not an option anymore.TheBrooklynMethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920910516501279232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-32254774047042046362011-03-02T15:21:13.373-06:002011-03-02T15:21:13.373-06:00I wouldn't mind seeing Upper Deck revamp there...I wouldn't mind seeing Upper Deck revamp there upper management and take another run at the hobby the right way. Competition is always good and variety is always good.BA Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08150345904848914238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-57843586098675748132011-03-02T13:03:27.586-06:002011-03-02T13:03:27.586-06:00I think UD is in a sort of catch-22 in that withou...I think UD is in a sort of catch-22 in that without a license, what reason do they have to improve their name/return to glory? They most likely did too much damage, but new management/faces can change things. Maybe change their name to "Cheap Seats" and start putting out some new lines of cards.Matt Hickeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820312085180767110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-61141686167893528252011-03-02T11:16:14.414-06:002011-03-02T11:16:14.414-06:00I don't know anyone that collected a base set ...I don't know anyone that collected a base set of UD every year. If not for masterpieces I wouldn't know anyone that collected UD sets at all. THey rule the high end game though.AdamEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107347958456472504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-12469837998646647902011-03-02T10:33:36.474-06:002011-03-02T10:33:36.474-06:00New blood could definably help. Get some people i...New blood could definably help. Get some people in there who care about the hobby not just the bottom line.bdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754236508742743206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-9722591143499123742011-03-02T10:08:12.373-06:002011-03-02T10:08:12.373-06:00I personally would like to see it go into new mana...I personally would like to see it go into new management. I'm not a massive fan of Upper Deck, but did like some of the products. If nothing else competition breeds innovation. Topps has done a good job thus far being the sole license holder, but that doesn't necessarily mean Topps won't get lazy as the years go on, and with no real competition who would blame them, people are still going to buy the licensed product no matter what.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614035397010831382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-56258082518706401022011-03-02T09:41:42.828-06:002011-03-02T09:41:42.828-06:00I'm short on time, so I'll leave you with ...I'm short on time, so I'll leave you with a short comment that will require a slight bit of deciphering: NoJustin McLeodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01841690749406744083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-61029482137085582762011-03-02T09:38:49.469-06:002011-03-02T09:38:49.469-06:00I don't see a point to wishing the company wou...I don't see a point to wishing the company would go under. New management could take their existing resources and potentially make a terrific product.Bohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10955725607806692792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-34504494717627836132011-03-02T09:01:35.395-06:002011-03-02T09:01:35.395-06:00You know, I've barely collected Upper Deck pro...You know, I've barely collected Upper Deck products, compared to a lot of you (I still don't own a base set of theirs, and I've never tried to build one), and their entry into the hobby was the point at which I said "I'm out" as a kid. I've also heard most of the horror stories about how they do business, and seen a few of them.<br /><br />With that having been said, though, they produced what's probably my favorite set of the last 20 years (2007 Goudey; after '07, it just wasn't as good) and a few other truly great products (Goodwin Champions, the '93 set, Sweet Spot, '02 A Piece Of History, '07 Legendary Cuts, and every once in a while, I'll find a product where I'm like "Wow, this was pretty good!" like '94 Collector's Choice when I was recently sorting a set I picked up and forgot about). That's a handful of examples out of a complete and utter avalanche of products, but their art department really did bring it once in a while. Oh, and as everyone else mentioned, they do own the Fleer name, and this hobby thrives on nostalgia, so I'd hate to see it go the way of the dodo completely, almost as much as I'd hate to see you-know-who buy it and make it yet another brand of theirs.<br /><br />So, I say that the best answer would be to have a new company poach Upper Deck's art people and buy the Fleer license. ;)Scott Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01471846477103927644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-73607974869055612602011-03-02T09:00:27.183-06:002011-03-02T09:00:27.183-06:00I agree with community gum - they'd need new m...I agree with community gum - they'd need new management. Before they made great cards, iconic cards a lot of times, but it was all with shadiness going on. If they could get rid of the fake relics and mass printed errors and all that nonsense and just make some damn good cards again, then we could have some competition on our hands finally.SpastikMoosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13374559066158419166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-62942481805439854792011-03-02T08:47:47.849-06:002011-03-02T08:47:47.849-06:00Like I said in my previous post, I miss UD for the...Like I said in my previous post, I miss UD for their non-base sets. I really don't think anyone else would do sets quite like that. Certainly not Topps.<br /><br />You can see their idea of a portrait-based set. National-Freakin-Chicle. There's a reason that thing was one and done.<br /><br />I hope UD comes back to baseball. But it'll take a house-cleaning and going hat in hand to MLB and the MLBPA for it to happen.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-84153019937852999842011-03-02T08:41:08.988-06:002011-03-02T08:41:08.988-06:00I like Offy's comment, that UD needs to go und...I like Offy's comment, that UD needs to go under so their designers can move to the other companies. I would love to see Topps Masterpieces.Spankeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359644189269593175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-17230512017296075212011-03-02T08:38:21.544-06:002011-03-02T08:38:21.544-06:00I'd really like to see Upper Deck make a comeb...I'd really like to see Upper Deck make a comeback, but they really to need to cut out all the shenanigans that they were pulling at the end of 2009. They probably need to clean house and then beg MLB for a second chance.Ryan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797481743677208484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-6744853626277791202011-03-02T08:30:23.137-06:002011-03-02T08:30:23.137-06:00I was not a real big Upper Deck fan, and feel that...I was not a real big Upper Deck fan, and feel that there were some major problems with management. However, with new management in place I would be willing to give them a chance, but the name may be tainted forever due to the crap that was pulled.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217827063741767040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-11471092870289089252011-03-02T08:29:10.405-06:002011-03-02T08:29:10.405-06:00I'd like to see them back with new management ...I'd like to see them back with new management just to have some competition in the marketplace.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17171340244169773103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374663649398420285.post-81040795544401655152011-03-02T01:33:12.830-06:002011-03-02T01:33:12.830-06:00I was never an Upper Deck guy (except in '93) ...I was never an Upper Deck guy (except in '93) and they deserve everything they got from a business standpoint.<br /><br />I don't even care whether UD returns to the baseball game, just as long as someone does.night owlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673973790245316059noreply@blogger.com