Upper Deck Launches New All-Star Vinyl Sports Figures Exclusively at Toys "R" Us Locations

Ultra-hip, stylized figures of NFL stars including Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo and Eli Manning will hit store shelves this week!

North Las Vegas, NV (October 28, 2008) /PRNewswire/ — The Upper Deck Company is used to being called a cutting-edge pioneer in the sports trading card and collectibles industry. Revolutionary product launches by the Carlsbad, California-based manufacturer have kept the sports memorabilia marketplace humming since 1989. This week, the innovative company is debuting its first-ever, direct-to-retail collectible line of All-Star Vinyl sports figures and is bracing for the purchasing frenzy that's sure to follow!

"We've made great strides in our own hobby marketplace with earlier launches of the All-Star Vinyl line, which was configured in extremely limited quantities for the hardcore sports and vinyl figure collector," said Dave Sanders, director of Upper Deck Authenticated, Upper Deck's memorabilia division. "But now the popular comic-stylized look of the ASV line will be available to sports fans and consumers through a new retail-based configuration sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us stores."

This product launch will represent Upper Deck's first direct-to-retail toy line for its growing sports collectibles business. This latest line of the nine-inch-tall ASV sports figures, which will be on store shelves during the first week of November, includes NFL quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, along with elite running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Packaged inside a stylish, dual-panel window box, each of the full-color ASV figures comes complete with its own Upper Deck trading card touting the concept art, featured athlete and the artist behind the articulated figures. The suggested retail price per unit is $19.99 to $24.99 and they can be viewed by going to www.toysrus.com.

Each of the four major sports leagues and players' associations – MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL – have teamed with Upper Deck to provide spot-on representations of various stars highlighted. Upcoming launches on the ASV horizon will focus on NBA standouts and exclusive Upper Deck spokesmen LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett (Dec. '08), followed by a Sports Legends Series featuring Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali (Feb. '09).

"While the All-Star Vinyl line has had a niche following within the sports figure hobby, we're really looking forward to exposing more and more consumers to our ultra-hip sports vinyl figures," said Sanders. "With the holidays fast approaching, there's no better time to unveil a cool collectible like this one."

Eli Manning

Tony Romo

Donovan McNabb

About The Upper Deck Company
Upper Deck is a premier sports and entertainment publishing company which delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.