Beckett

Topps Releases Super Bowl XLV Champions Green Bay Packers Set

By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor

Moments ago, via Twitter Topps announced its product nod to the Lombardi-lugging Green Bay Packers.

Celebrating the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV victory on cardboard, a limited 27-card set is available for sale on Shoptopps.com. Cheeseheads far and wide can expect the commemorative blister pack to ship on the week of Feb. 28.

Upper Deck Pack Attacks Invade New England

By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor

Upper Deck and Sports Images have teamed up to bring an expansive Pack Attack event to the New England area this month.

Beginning with pre-qualifying Upper Deck Pack Attacks at eight different hobby shops in the area (listed below), the promotion will culminate with the winners from each location competing in one final event on March 3, 2011 at the Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game. There, winners will receive premium prizes like player-signed mini sticks, Tyler Seguin-autographed gloves and a Rookie Showcase helmet featuring penmanship from this season’s top newcomers.

Those who can’t quite qualify for the grand finale at TD Garden won’t leave empty-handed, as the eight participating hobby shops will be supplied with plenty of prizes. Featuring various Upper Deck apparel, signed UDA items from the likes of Taylor Hall and more, each store should be a hotbed for hockey collectors this month.

Participating stores include:

Chris’ Comics – February 17^th, 6:00-8:00PM

341 South Broadway, Salem, NH 03079 – (603)898-4151

Bleachers – February 17^th, 7:00-9:00PM

988 Bedford Street, Abington, MA 02351 – (781)878-5998

New England Sportscards – February 18^th, 6:00-8:00PM

76 Route 101 A, #7, Amherst, NH 03031 – (603)249-9061

Diamond King Sportscards – February 19^th, 6:00-8:00PM

1 Bayside Road, Suite 11, Greenland, NH – (603)431-8311

Republic Jewelry – February 19^th, 6:00-8:00PM

212 Center Street, Auburn, ME 04210 – (207)782-9492

Comic Book Palace – February 19^th, 6:00-8:00PM

620 Primrose Street, Haverhill, MA 01830 – (978)372-1477

Slapshot Sportscards – Contact Store for event details

184 Broadway #16, Saugus, MA 01906 – (781)231-1800

Batter-Up Sports Cards – Contact Store for event details

1875 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876 – (978)640-1586

College coaches share spotlight in new Upper Deck set

By Chris Olds | Editor

In the college ranks, there’s typically one man who stands above the rest.

The head coach.

While countless coaching legends have appeared on cards through the years, it’s in Collegiate Licensing Company-approved and draft pick products where the legends are often found. The likes of Bobby Knight, John Wooden, Bobby Bowden, Tom Osborne and many more have made their way into packs.

But there are still more to be found — and that’s where the latest effort from Upper Deck comes in.

Arriving today after some delays is World of Sports, a multi-sport 375-card set that features some prominent basketball coaches along with athletes from baseball, basketball, swimming, hockey, skiing and much more. Among the highlights are 30 top coaches, including: Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Bill Self (Kansas), Jim Calhoun (Connecticut), Bob Huggins (West Virginia) and Tubby Smith (Minnesota).

“This is an exciting venture to have college basketball coaches featured on Upper Deck trading cards,” Self said. ” It was always a thrill opening up packs of cards as a youngster to see who you had.”

Some of the other notable athletes in the set include Bo Jackson, Jose Canseco, Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, Tiger Woods, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux and LeBron James.