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Upper Deck Launches 1,000 Limited-Edition Favre, Roethlisberger, Brady Vinyl Action Figures Week of Super Bowl

Super Bowl-Winning QBs Get Superhero Treatment: Upper Deck to Launch 1,000 Limited-Edition Favre, Roethlisberger, Brady Vinyl Action Figures Week of Super Bowl; Characters Based on ‘Stylized Realism’ Found in Comic-Book Art

Source: Upper Deck — Posted 2/1/2007

Upper Deck launched three superhero-inspired vinyl action figures based on three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks during the week of the Super Bowl: Ben Roethlisberger (Jan. 30 at 9:07am PST), Brett Favre (Jan 31 at 9:04am PST) and Tom Brady (Feb.1 at 9:12am PST).

Only 1,000 of each have been produced and were offered exclusively online (www.allstarvinyl.com; MSRP $49.99), making the 11-inch action figures – based on the stylized realism found in comic-book art –arguably the most limited league-licensed football figures ever released to collectors. Each figure sold out of the Upper Deck Store in just a few hours--capped by Brady selling out in just over an hour on Thursday.

“Even though these quarterbacks put up big numbers each season, we’re going to keep our numbers on this release extremely small staying true to the roots of low run limited edition vinyl figures,” said Upper Deck sports figure product manager Dave Sanders. “Like their real-life athlete’s on-field ability, these figures are extremely rare. And like their fan’s expectations, product demand will be high. If history is any indicator, there’s no doubt they’ll go fast.”

According to Sanders, Upper Deck’s first vinyl figures –featuring LeBron James – sold out in a little more than an hour. The Super Bowl quarterback series represent the first licensed vinyl figures from a sports league, and are a follow-up to Upper Deck’s successful “The LeBrons” figures released last year in partnership with Nike and centered on LeBron’s latest sneaker campaign.

Sanders also noted that Upper Deck’s January NFL release is the start of All-Star Vinyl’s product launch in all four major sport categories. Its NBA and NHL athletes hit retail in March, MLB players in May. In total, 38 elite athletes of the present and past will be unveiled on the All-Star Vinyl label in 2007.

More on Upper Deck’s NFL All-Star Vinyl Action Figurines

At 11 inches and produced in the underground style of urban vinyl, Upper Deck’s All-Star Vinyl NFL quarterbacks are a combination of art and realism not typically found in sports licensed products, according to Sanders. “In this medium, our designers are able to have fun by adding or playing up on player attributes and subtleties that give life to these athletes, highlight their distinct features, playing style – design characteristics that make them highly unique in comparison to more traditional based sports figures.”

To that, Sanders pointed out the cleft in Brady’s chin and Roethlisberger’s pinky on the ball, lifted a half-inch from the laces. Other features of note: Brady’s eye black and boyish cowlick; Rothlisberger’s backward baseball cap and hockey-style playoff beard; Favre’s steely blue gaze and ever-present hand warmer and towel.

All three action figures are featured in their team’s home jerseys, complete with Reebok logo on sleeve, NFL logo on chest. Away versions of all three quarterbacks will be launched in July.

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