2009 UD Signature Stars Baseball Is Live and with More Hat Logos

Yesterday some images of 2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Baseball started popping up. Now some 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Baseball has emerged as well. After much speculation, it looks like Upper Deck has tipped its hand: all things are go save for the actual logos and nicknames. Clearly these cards show logos and there's no real attempt of even hiding the fact. For the casual collector who doesn't bother following the legal wranglings of the hobby, they likely wouldn't notice any difference from Topps licensed cards. As evidenced by the Hanson, they've even come up with their own answer to the rookie card logo.

On the one hand, I give Upper Deck credit for making some nice looking cards. On the other, I'm really getting tired of them wanting to make up their own rules. Yes, they're a business that's out to make a profit, but they're not the rebel start-up that they once were.

Back in 1989 Upper Deck was something fresh and new. They really did revolutionize the hobby. It was easy to get behind them because they were forcing everyone to do a better job at producing cards. But more than two decades later, they're the establishment. They've got a massive market share in North America. These moves in baseball equate to me like a big, old flipping of the bird at Topps, Major League Baseball and anyone else who's bothering to pay attention. This is just the latest move of many that haven't been so much about competition as they've been about appearing petty to at least this collector. Other instances include the Sweet Spot Michael Buysner and the blatant ripoff of Topps designs masqueraded under the guise of O-Pee-Chee.

It seems obvious that Upper Deck is ready to fight with these baseball cards. Otherwise, why would they hold back releasing images? Just remember Upper Deck, you do hold an exclusive with hockey, which is going to make your argument seem a little superficial. But then again, maybe a small chunk of baseball is worth more than all of hockey.

In the long run, I find it difficult to see how Upper Deck will be successful in landing future licenses. By sticking their thumb up to baseball (not to mention the whole counterfeiting CCG thing), they're showing disrespect to the hobby that has made them what they are today. I know if I were a licensor with a brand name and image to protect, I'd be very leery when dealing with such attitudes. I may be way off base here, and if I am I'd love to hear different perspectives.

Update:

This card from the Signed, Sealed and Delivered insert set shows Upper Deck is still willing to mention the team names as well, not just the cities:

Preview: 2009 (???) Upper Deck Signature Stars Baseball

From the files of this doesn't make sense, Upper Deck has announced an addition to their 2009 baseball lineup. 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars is set for release at the end of the month and, like every other upcoming Upper Deck baseball product save for their latest USA boxed set, I'm curious to see what it looks like.

Putting on my Little Orphan Annie Decoder Ring and a tall mug of Ovaltine, I'm going to attempt to decipher the available info.

It's priced at $90 for a 20-pack box. And remember, although the date says it's a 2009 product (that was announced in 2010), don't expect any of those MLB logos. But Upper Deck's got this one figured out by offering a competing USA-heavy product immediately after they're putting out their USA box set. Each box is slated to have a total of four autographed and game-used cards.

The set has 100 base cards, 20 Top Prospects, 65 Base Set High Series Signatures and 25 Rookie Signatures. The base set will also have a Blue Platinum parallel numbered to 170 copies.

A plus that I see is that Upper Deck appears to be adding some value to boxes by creating several different insert sets that are placed at somewhat tough but not ridiculous rates.Basic inserts include Signature Skills (1:25 packs), Signed, Sealed and Delivered (1:25 packs), and Trophy Winners (1:50 packs).

Common autograph and game-used insert sets focus largely on USA Baseball. Along with the previously mentioned High Series Signatures and Rookie Signatures, the following appear four per box:

• USA Star Prospects Game Jersey
• USA Winning Materials (/499)
• USA Flashback Fabrics Dual JerseyImpressions Signatures
• USA Star Prospect Signatures
• USA Prospects- Auto Jersey (/399)
• USA Future Watch Auto Jersey National Team (/799)
• USA Future Watch Auto Jersey 18U Team (/899)
• USA By  The Letter Autographs

There's also several sets that would be considered case hits:

• Gold Signature parallels (1/case)
  
• Team USA Patch Autographs  (combined 1/case)
  USA Star Prospects Patch Auto (/25)
  USA Future Watch Auto Patch National Team (/50)
  USA Future Watch Auto Patch 18U Team (/50)
  
• Autographs (combined 3:4 cases)
  Signature Trios
  Signature Quads
  Signature Portraits
  
• UD Black Pride of a Nation (combined 1:2 cases)
  Veterans
  Rookies
  Rookies (/1)
  
• Team USA Memorabilia (combined 1:2 cases)
  USA Star Prospects Game Patch (/25)
  USA Premier Materials National Team Cap Flags (/4)
  USA Premier Materials 18U Team Cap Flags (/1)
  USA Winning Big Materials (/10)
  USA Flashbacks Fabrics Dual Patch (/25)

Bryce Harper's autograph is scheduled to appear alongside others like Michael Saunders, Chris Tillman, Josh Reddick and Fu-Te-Ni of Taiwan. Buybacks from all the way back from 2008 USA Baseball will also be inserted.

Without images, it's near impossible to get a real feel for this set but the more I look at the inserts and the structure, the more it seems like license-free Upper Deck's version to Bowman. You've got your token veterans in the base set like Bowman but the driving force behind the flashier inserts, that will likely drive sales, is based on the youngsters. Instead of being Minor Leaguers, they're national stars.

Since there's no pictures yet, I give you Bobo the Baseball-Playing Chimp and his handsome striped shirt.