1989 Upper Deck
 

What are your opinions on the importance of Upper Deck's first year of issuing cards? How do you think the modern card market would be different if Upper Deck had not entered the scene with the so called premium cards?

I must say that Upper Deck basically started all this insert card craze. First there was the 89 UD Griffey that everyone wanted to pull. Then in 1990 they got the ball rolling by releasing the UD Reggie Jackson Heros Auto card, which people were paying up to $1,000 for back then. They started the insert card revolution with that Jackson card, then Donruss caught on in 91 with Donruss Elite.

Don't forget the first game used items in the '96 set. Game used jersey card of Griffey that started it all...

Yep, they ruined modern collecting for me.

That's the bad news.

The good news is, that's why I started going backwards, so without them I probably wouldn't have much of my collection.

Doug

Amen to that. I really liked the first inserts but after Donruss Elite it was really stupid especially how Donruss Elite became after it's initial launch in 91. I quit the newer stuff back in 96 because of all the crap coming out, then when I grew up I went with vintage all the way, but picked up may post 1980 dream cards along the way.

I loved the Upper Deck product when it first came out............but grew to hate the proliferation of multiple sets after that and abandoned the new card game shortly after.

I think the last cards I really liked were the first incarnations of the OPC Premier Hockey and Baseball cards. I lost my patience quickly after that.