My collecting days as an “adult” have not been particularly linked to major release dates. While I did look forward to series one and two drops once I had kids, this was more to do with the fact that these tended to overlap with the dates of the fall and spring Toronto Expo and a fun day out with the munchkins! Barring that draw, I wasn’t pre-ordering or parked waiting for the “box of the month” at any point. Certain promotional releases though? Count me in!
I’ve always been a sucker for certain promotional releases over the years. If you have seen any of my blurbs focused on the Tim Horton’s releases, you’ll see that these things hold a special place in my collecting heart. Sometimes it’s the chase, others the return on investment, or perhaps just a snapshot of that period. At the best of times it was all three! Whatever the case, they’ve always provided an affordable way to, once a year, put a set together without bankrupting myself. The anticipation built around the promotion dropping certainly added to this and continues to into my later years of collecting.
Today the spotlight will fall on the 1998-99 Upper Deck McDonald’s Ice release. What better place to highlight than card number one, featuring “The Great One”: Number 99, Wayne Gretzky!
1998-99 Upper Deck McDonald’s Ice
Right off the bat: these cards have not held any sort of value over the years, due in part to overproduction, lack of demand, and sustained availability. The latter point is partially related to what made these cards so great at the time of their release: the base set was made entirely of acetate cards. At that point in time, landing these at a price point of under a dollar was a big deal. This was the second year that McDonalds and Upper Deck went this route versus the standard card stock/foil releases of the early ‘90’s produced during their first partnership from 1991 to 1994. What does this have to do with availability over time? Acetate cards, by nature of the material, are generally sturdier than cardboard/foil stock, and ergo, have likely seen less complete and utter destruction over time! Less destroyed equals more have stuck around equals supply-demand impact. Now I don’t want to paint this set as completely lacking in value, as this would be inaccurate. At the same time, what one can expect to see is the value much more specific to the high-end stars of the set (e.g., Gretzky, Jagr, Hasek, Broderick, Roy) and a lower overall ceiling in sale prices (not necessarily jumping into the double-digit zone). Despite lacking in some higher resale prices, they do retain some worth, are sweet looking cards, and are a nice addition to any collection.
Here's the skinny on this release: These packs were sold during the winter of the 98-99 season, coming at a hit of 0.79 cents per fries purchase. Three cards per pack, with Gretzky’s Teammates and Gretzky’s Moments inserts thrown in at random. The base set was an achievable 28 cards, with slight deviations in design across base forwards (#1-14), goalies (#15-21), and rookies (#22-28). This followed the same pattern from the 97-98 release, albeit with that release being a larger overall set at 40 cards and using a silver detailing versus the gold of the 98-99 set.
So let’s take a peek here homies! Number one on the “Checklist of Awesomeness” is a slam dunk here: it’s Gretz!
Here is final season Gretzky in all his glory. As opposed to a 100% transparent design, only the crowd, boards and ice are left so, with all other design elements left opaque. The front of the card features offset player photos, with a smaller gold-filtered headshot holding down the bottom left corner and a larger full colour action shot as the centerpiece of the larger upper area of the remainder. A nice solid gold reflective banner below the gameplay shot serves as a nameplate and UD logo area. While a similar, albeit smaller, section is present above the headshot, this is coloured with a flat gold, allowing the golden holographic UD fill of the lowercase “ice” logo to pop right off the surface. A broadening cascade of silver and black pucks acts as a trim of sorts between the areas of the design, while a small full colour team logo in the corner of the headshot acts as a nice cherry on top to the overall presentation.
As for the back, we deal with some of the limitations inherent with a card like this. When you need to label with the appropriate company and league logos and legalese and lose half of your printable surface, something will have to give. In this case, simplicity won out, albeit not for any real loss. Simple demographics and stats can suffice, particularly when the stats are the previous season and overall career in the case of the Wayner. Still a decent incorporation of these elements with the action shot (even if it is mirror imaged) and carryover of the puck cascade again to the back.
Two quick things I also appreciate about these cards: First, the rounded edges always gave these the feel of a bank or credit card which was a unique experience and prevented inadvertent corner stabs! Second, the McDonald’s logo was kept very subtle in the design. If you didn’t know it was a McDonalds-related release you’d never think the front of the card had a logo on the boards purposefully, while the only other noticeable reference to the restaurant comes on the back with the logo featuring next to the league and NHLPA graphics, all of which are quite small. Nice, neat, and tidy.
Previous “Ultimate Set Build” Articles
1959-60 Parkhurst
59-60 Base
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee
80-81 Base
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee
90-91 Base
1991-92 Upper Deck
High Series Young Guns
1994-95 Fleer
94-95 Base
2005-06 ITG Heroes & Prospects
Prospects Base
2008 UD Champs
Champ’s Mini Signatures
2016-17 Upper Deck Parkhurst
Rookie Red Parallel
2017 Upper Deck Toronto Maple Leafs Centennial
Maple Leafs Marks
2018-19 Upper Deck Tim Horton’s
Clear Cut Phenoms
Positive vibes to you all. Please put some care into you and yours this beautiful day and look out for one another where possible! Our impact on others with even the smallest of actions, is far greater than we tend to realize. My best your way…
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Do you have a piece of treasured memorabilia that has a great story behind it? Let me know and you can be featured in an article. Doesn't matter how big or small the piece is, how valuable it may be, or whether it's a common item or more oddball. If you think it has a story, contact me via the information below and we'll chat. In the meantime, check out some previous "Display Case" articles via the links below to see what others have submitted in the past...
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Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Facebook: ShawnMcShawn
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Previous “Eye-Graines” Articles
1989-90 OPC Randy Cunneyworth
Previous ”The Display Case” Posts
#1: The “Frankenstick!”
#2: Your desk has the right to remain collectable!
#3: Have Pads, Will Travel
#4: Pick a Pekka (Rinne) Autographed Mask
#5: Ted Lindsay Gets Kronwalled?
#6: The Only Thing We Have To Fehr Is Fehr Himself
#7: “Hungary” For Team Canada Swag
#8: The Soldiers Kid and “The Kid”
#9: Fan Appreciation & Player Humility Via The '72 Series
#10: Bobby Orr and....Birth Control?!?!?!
#11: Johnny Bower The “Portrait” Of Health At 88!!!
#12: Scotty Bowman – Stick Detective!!!
#13: Touch 'Em All Joe!!!
#14: Joey and Sergei's European (Lockout) Adventure!!!
#15: I’d Give The Jersey Off My Back For You…
#16: The Case Of The 1940’s Era Leafs
#17: Scrapping The History Of The Isles...
#18: Gretzky “Re-Signs” in Edmonton
#19: Gilmour Is Such A Caricature!!!
#20: Toys In The Attic
#21: The Right King Place At The Right King Time
#22: Momma Bear Takes On A “Killer”!!!
#23: Leafs Lunch Stool
#24: The 50 Goal Stub
#25: Scoring From The Rafters
#26: Junior Jersey Mail Order Mayhem!
#27: Stick with the Stick!
Previous “Who Am I?” Articles
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#2,
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Previous “Devil In The Details?” Articles
Centering
Corners
Previous Random Hockey Musings
Oh? Canada? A Hockey History…
Industry Blow To Topps Possible Foreshadowing For The NHL, NHLPA & UD
As The Fanatics Plan Unfolds What To Make of the NHL, NHLPA & Upper Deck
2021-22 Tim Horton’s Upper Deck
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