2005/2006 Hockey Card Reviews: Upper Deck Series Two
The long and cold Canadian winters of our youth meant one thing….hockey. Constants in most of our lives were 6 am practices, playing on the pond and watching our NHL heroes skate on TV. During this special time, we were introduced to our hockey card hobbies. Whether it was Howe, Orr, Gretzky or Sakic….O Pee Chee, Upper Deck, Score or Parkhurst everyone remembers the sets and players where they developed their passion for collecting hockey cards. The rebirth of the NHL in 2005/2006 also brings about a renaissance in hockey card collecting. With the one-two punch of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin and an army of sets featuring cards we couldn’t even dream of as kids, this year is the most exciting year for collectors in over a decade….if not ever. This series of articles will breakdown many of 05/06’s most talked about hockey card sets. Upper Deck Series 2Although it is hard to believe, but the second series of Upper Deck’s base set is just as hot, if not hotter than Upper Deck Series One Hockey. Upper Deck’s decision to split the Young Guns subset in half and as a result leave Mr. Crosby in one and Mr. Ovechkin in two ensured that both sets would be hotly pursued by collectors.What Crosby is to the first series, Ovechkin is to 2005/2006 Upper Deck Series two. His Young Guns rookie #443, is the most sought after card of the series…and quite possibly the entire set in the eyes of some hockey card collectors.A total of 45 Young Guns rookies can be found in the second series. Aside from Ovechkin other rookies include: Jeff Carter, Thomas Vanek, Cam Barker, Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter, Jussi Jokinen, Jakub Klepis, Derek Boogaard, Yanick Lehoux. Between Upper Deck Series One and Two, this is the deepest set of rookie cards since 90/91, Upper Deck’s first year in the hockey game.Like Series One, collectors of 05/06 Upper Deck Series 2 will find signature and memorabilia cards, Rookie Ink autograph cards, parallel cards as well as inserts. Randomly inserted into packs of Series Two hobby are Upper Deck Victory Update cards. (Regular, Gold, and Black versions)Retail boxes of the second series give collectors two unique opportunities. Not only will they get more cards (30 packs x 9 cards per pack), meaning a better chance to land Young Guns rookies and memorabilia cards, but also, exclusive to the retail boxes is the subset: Sidney Crosby: Diary of a Phenom. Not to be outdone by their younger line-mates, 2005-06 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey will also include current stars and legends such as Joe Thornton, Martin St. Louis, Jarome Iginla, Wayne Gretzky, and Mr. Hockey® Gordie HoweAccording to Upper Deck spokespeople, each hobby boxes will deliver 3 memorabilia cards, while each retail boxes will deliver two. Look out for Upper Deck Masterpiece (press plates) #’d to 1, Game Used patch cards #’d to 15 and Majestic Materials – #’d to 50Basic Info: 200 card base set, 45 card Young Gun subset, 24 packs/boxParallels: UD High Glossy and High Glossy Young Guns (#’d to 10)Memorabilia: Game Jerseys, Game Jersey Patches (#’d to 15), Majestic Materials (#’d to 50)Autographs: Notable Numbers (#’d to player’s jersey number), Rookie INKInserts: Stars in the Making (1:12), Hometown Heroes (1:12), Destined for the Hall (1:24), Goal Celebrations (1:24)
About the Author
Grizzly Sports Cards has one of the widest selections of sealed wax sports cards boxes on the Internet. Upper Deck Series Two Hockey is available at Grizzly Sports Cards Visit their website at: http://www.grizzlysportscardhttp://www.grizzlysportscards.com/2005_2006_Upper_Deck_Series_2_Hobby_Hockey.htm
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