1993 Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA)
Triple Crown Contenders 2-Card Autograph Set

As I noted on My Favorites page these 2-Card UDA Autograph sets are susceptible to forgeries.

Look carefully at the acrylic holder. It's about 1/2" thick. The top half of the acrylic has a four-side, beveled edge. Note that only the autographed card has the UDA certified hologram found on the back of the card. Also note the shape of the UDA hologram - it's oval shaped with a starting code of "UDD". Remember that - it's important. Why? Because there are two other versions, both authentic, but produced years later and under different UDA promotions.

These 2-card UDA Autograph sets came in a green and red Upper Deck Authenticated Box. When you opened the box, along with the Certificate Of Authenticity (if you're striving for "completeness", the COA will have a small business-card sized UDA advertisement tucked inside) you should find the acrylic holder wrapped with green tissue paper (only for '93, after that these sets came with white tissues) and that green tissue will be sealed with a UDA sticker. On the back of the box you should find some printed Upper Deck information, it's there to help vendors easily identify the product without having to open it, but it's useful for us collectors as well since it states right there what the contents of the box should contain. You can sometimes find these UDA 2-Card sets without the box and/or the tissue. It's not an issue of authenticity, but it is nice to have for the sake of "completeness". Additionally, truly "complete" sets will have their UDA Postcard still inside. It should already be partially filled-in; identifying the player's name, card brand, and UDA number. If unregistered - the section for your name, address, etc. will be found empty.

Collector's Note: This is one version of a fake. I've seen a couple of others - so be aware.

In 2001 Upper Deck produced an autographed version of the regular 1993 SP card (#260) as part of their "Buy Back" Program. There were 79 autographed by Big Frank with a UDA certificate & hologram - here's one of them. Don't let someone sell you one inside an acrylic holder and tell you it's one of the UDA 2-Card sets - it's not. I didn't have a chance to download the homemade set I found on eBay which prompted this notation - for that I apologize. But should another one come to market I'll do a screen capture and post it for your review. For the record: I was duly impressed with the fake. The seller went to some lengths in order to make his homemade version. Not only was the acrylic holder very nice, he went out and got ahold of a UDA box and added his own green tissue paper! Most con artists only go 'so far' before deciding they're losing money on the deal - but this guy went all out. In a way, I respect that kind of twisted determination. <g>

The second genuine UDA Triple Crown Contenders Autograph was issued in the form of an "ultimate" Buy Back for the 2003 program. A 1-of-1 auto onto a '93 Triple Crown Contenders card which sold for an amazing $770. As I don't own this ultimate signature - I can't tell you what the hologram looks like. ;-)

And finally the third genuine UDA Triple Crown Contenders Autograph version:

UPDATE (2/13/05): 1993 (2004) Triple Crown Contenders Autographed Card Re-Hologram - Extremely unusual "re-hologram" card from UDA_Auctions (their eBay ID). Not sure how this came about since the sales contact I spoke with was new to the company and she didn't know too much about UDA's history. Also note that this is definitely from the initial 1993 issue - numbered out of a 1000. Again, how this came about I can't say, but it matches the two versions I already have in my collection.

Possible Explanation: My gut instinct says that not all of the thousand were issued back in '93. I suspect some were set aside for Upper Deck's general purpose use. i.e. Gifts to UD guests and friends, Archives (In-house Library), or possibly held back in case of returns or rejections by hobbyists. This is entirely possible since at least some 2-card sets are so tightly set inside their acrylic holders that it literally crushed the cards, damaging them if opened. I actually witnessed this at a dealer's shop with a Tom Glavine 2-Card UDA Set. A really sad memory. He was trying to realign the cards, which were crooked. But when he unscrewed the holder and tried to separate them - two corners of the autographed card were literally stuck to the top half. And even though the dealer was cautious and did his best to 'release' the card, the corners ripped off the card. So sad.

Collector's Note: The UDA hologram on this "re-hologram" is found on the card front. (click on Re-Hologram entry to see it)

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