By Nick Tylwalk Oct 16, 2009

Baseball collectors have been anxiously awaiting more details on what to expect from Upper Deck since Major League Baseball declined to renew its license to produce league-licensed baseball cards. The company has been somewhat tight-lipped about its plans for the sport that first put it on the map 20 years ago, but has vowed that it will remain a presence thanks to its deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Upper Deck took another step toward honoring that commitment Wednesday, when it announced the first "National Packtime" day, scheduled for March 6, 2010. Visitors to hobby shops on that Saturday will be treated to free packs of baseball cards featuring superstars like Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, all created specially for the promotion.

One of MLB's stated reasons for partnering exclusively with Topps going forward is that it felt that was the producer with the best chance to get more younger collectors into the hobby. But Upper Deck has its eye on that same demographic with National Packtime.

"During these difficult times, we want to remind fans of the joy and exhilaration they felt when they opened their first pack of baseball cards, whether it was 10, 25 or 50 years ago," Upper Deck CEO Richard McWilliam said in a company press release. "We also want to share that fun with kids, a new generation of collectors, many of whom haven't ever had the chance to bask in the glory of finding a coveted rookie card, the star player from their favorite team or maybe even a valuable autograph card. It's a very unique and special experience that is truly unmatched by any other product."

The concept isn't a new one, as collectors have been able to pick up free packs of event-specific cards on National Baseball Card Day for the last few years. Those promotions were always done jointly by Topps and Upper Deck, though, so National Packtime will represent the first time in recent memory that a single producer gave away free packs of cards just for stopping in a hobby store.


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