Michael Jordan and Upper Deck Agree to Long-Term Renewal for Exclusive Collectibles, Trading Cards and Autographed Memorabilia

CARLSBAD, Calif., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Upper Deck, the exclusive provider of trading cards and memorabilia for some of the world's greatest athletes, including LeBron James, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy, has announced a long-term renewal deal with Michael Jordan. Under the new agreement, the company will continue to be the sole producer of authenticated collectibles, trading cards and memorabilia featuring the basketball legend's image and autograph. The new deal will also limit the number of Jordan autographs and make Jordan's highly coveted signature even more valuable for fans and collectors.

Upper Deck's portfolio of Michael Jordan products includes some of the most innovative collectibles and trading cards on the market today. Collectors will find original and limited edition pieces such as "The Show," a breathtaking 46"x20" framed, limited edition piece featuring the largest Jordan signature available, "Tegata Lithograph," a limited edition handprint surrounded by an iconic image from Jordan's career, and "Breaking Through," an oversized 25"x45" image of #23 soaring toward the hoop with an actual Jordan Brand basketball breaking through the Plexiglas. In addition, the collection features items that include pieces of the game-used floor from Jordan's era with the Chicago Bulls, as well as incredible dual and multi-signed items showcasing Jordan with other legendary athletes such as Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, and Larry Bird.

"We are honored to be the exclusive provider of Michael Jordan collectibles," said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck. "We have worked diligently to bring the highest quality, most innovative Jordan memorabilia to collectors and we will continue to maintain the same level of service and authenticity that fans and collectors have come to expect from Upper Deck."

 "With so many forgeries on the market, it has become increasingly important for fans to trust the source of the autograph they are investing in," said Gabriel Garcia, Upper Deck Authenticated's Brand Manager. "If the cost of an autographed item seems too good to be true, chances are that you aren't getting the real deal. The only way for a collector to be confident that they are buying an authentic signature from Michael Jordan is to look for the official Upper Deck Hologram and matching Certificate of Authenticity, available only through Upper Deck or Upper Deck Authenticated's network of authorized dealers."

Michael Jordan is commonly referred to as the greatest basketball player of all-time and was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 90s. He played at the University of North Carolina for three seasons before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, where he quickly became a shining star in the NBA and earned the nickname "Air Jordan." His long list of accolades includes six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, five regular season MVP awards, 14 NBA All-Star selections, and ten scoring titles. He is a two-time inductee to the Basketball Hall of Fame (for both his individual career and as a member of the 1992 Men's Olympic basketball team – aka "The Dream Team"). In 2006, Jordan became part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, and in 2010 became the majority owner of the team, which is now known as the Charlotte Hornets.

Fans can view Upper Deck's exclusive Jordan collection of limited-edition collectibles and memorabilia at: http://upperdeckstore.com/Michael-Jordan.

About Upper Deck
Upper Deck, headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., is a worldwide sports and entertainment company built on the pillars of quality craftsmanship, authenticity and innovation with a dedication to creating products that turn memorable moments into collectibles. Upper Deck revolutionized the sports trading card experience with anti-counterfeit holograms, high quality card stock and stunning photography in its inaugural 1989 baseball set. Today, Upper Deck is home to the world's greatest athletes, including Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Rory McIlroy. In addition, Upper Deck maintains an award winning portfolio of gaming and entertainment products.

Find more information at www.upperdeck.com, www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (UDAuthenticated), Instagram (UpperDeckSports), Twitter (@UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (udvids).

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