Upper Deck Company has also produced popular card games, a few of which are based on videogames like World of Warcraft. For the card games, the company uses the Upper Deck Entertainment brand name.
Since its inception, Upper Deck Company has enjoyed a colorful history. On 23 December 1988, Major League Baseball granted the company with a license to manufacture baseball cards. By 23 February 1989, the company delivered the first baseball cards to Tulsa’s Baseball Card in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Such was the popularity of the cards that these were sold out midway through its debut year while its entire 1990 stock was pre-sold before the year even began. The 1990 set was also notable because it included the first randomly inserted cards personally autographed by sports superstars.
All of the trading cards manufactured by Upper Deck Company are distinguished by their exclusive trademark hologram. Upper Deck itself was recognized as Card Set of the Year from 1989 to 2004, an achievement that has solidified its reputation in the industry.
On 20 March 1990, the National Hockey League Players Association and National Hockey League also granted the company with the licenses to produce hockey trading cards. In the same year, Upper Deck was also granted licenses by the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.