Ice Hockey Trading Cards
Following in the tradition of baseball and football, many Americans also collect ice hockey trading cards. They are a fun way to commemorate iconic and successful players as well as memorable seasons and the game in general. Collecting them is a hobby for many hockey and sports fans.
What is Upper Deck?The Upper Deck Company, LLC, also known commonly as Upper Deck or Upper Deck Authenticated, Ltd., is a private trading card company founded in 1988. Not only do they produce sports trading cards, including ice hockey, but they also produce figurines and die-cast toys. Since March of 1990, they have been licensed to produce hockey cards by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association.
What is the Biography of a Season?The National Hockey League Biography of a Season was a set of 30 cards that preserved the greatest moments of the 2008-2009 NHL Season. One was available each week through this NHL season by redeeming five wrappers of the 2008-2009 Upper Deck hockey cards at an Upper Deck Certified Diamond Dealer hobby shop. The first four hockey cards in this exciting series included:
- Alexander Ovechkin: Had the NHL single-season record 65 goals by LW
- Henrik Zetterberg: 2008 Conn Smythe winner
- Detroit Red Wings: Featuring the Stanley Cup team photo
- Steven Stamkos: The 1st overall pick in 2008 NHL Draft
In order to keep your hockey cards in their original condition or as close to it as possible, they must be properly stored or displayed. If you have vintage, rookie cards, or autographed cards, this is even more important. Follow these tips for proper storage and display:
- Trading card sleeves: Also known as penny sleeves, these individual clear plastic covers keep your hockey cards clean and dry, while still allowing you to see them. These sleeves are available in a few different sizes and do an excellent job of keeping the corners of your trading cards nice.
- Display stands: These stands let you show off your hockey cards on a shelf, curio, cabinet, or anywhere else you want them to be displayed. In order to accommodate several different types of cards, these can be purchased in both horizontal and vertical orientations.
- Storage boxes: Made of corrugated cardboard, these boxes work well for trading card storage. They are an economical way to safely store and organize large amounts of hockey cards.
- Trading card albums: These albums are 3-ring binders that hold plastic pages you slide your hockey cards into. While they require more of an investment and more time, trading card albums are an excellent way to organize, display, browse, and keep track of your sports trading cards collection.