COMING ATTRACTIONS
2022 23 ULTIMATE COLLECTION
WHAT IS IT?: Ultimate returns with the usual focus on hard-signed cards and premium memorabilia printed in limited quantities. Details on odds and print runs are sparse, but we know the four-card boxes will offer at least one autograph and one memorabilia hit, along with a third single that is either an autographed relic, premium relic, or highend insert.
THE BASICS: While the set size has not yet been announced, it’s known that cards in the Veterans and Legends subsets will have 149 copies each, plus Blue (/99), Gold (/35), Purple (/15), and Black (/5) parallels. Select cards also feature autographs (Veterans – 1:8, Legends – 1:48), with numbered parallels in Gold (TBD), Purple (/5), Black (1/1), and Jumbo Patch Auto versions (/3).
Ultimate Rookies are limited to 299 or 99 copies each, many of which will be autographed. Jersey variations, which don’t have signatures, are numbered to 799 or 599. ere also will be Auto Patch (/99 or /49), Jumbo Auto Patch (/5), and Auto Shield Patch (1/1) versions.
CHASE HIGHLIGHTS: e key hits will be Rookie Tandem Shield Patches (/2), Ultimate Shield Patches (1/1), and Ultimate Shield Patch Autos (1/1).
ere are plenty of autographed patch cards, starting with Pro reads (/49) and the rookie-centric Debut reads (/99 or less). Emblems Auto Relic (1:9, Rookies 1:4) have Gold (/49 or less) and Platinum (/10 or less) parallels, and Ultimate Displays Auto Jerseys have Patch and Tag (/6 or less) versions.
Other autographed relic inserts include Ultimate Material Signatures, Ultimate Premium Material Signatures, Rookie
Signature Premium Materials, Signature Masterpieces (1:8), and Signature Materials Laureates.
Sticks are the theme for Stick with Me (/79). Parallels come in Blue (/49) and Gold (/10).
e 1999-00 Ultimate Victory design is the basis for a new set of Retro Autographs (1:48) and Retro Rookie Autographs (1:32). Gold parallels for each are limited to 10.
Ultimate Tendys (1:24) feature top goalies. Look for Patch (/20) and Tag (1/1) parallels, along with a select number with autographs.
Multi-swatch themes are prevalent, including Ulti-Mates, (1:8), Ultimate Power Play Combos (1:42), and Ultimate Quad Materials (/99 or less). All three have Patch and Tag versions as well.
Ultimate Introductions (1:3) and Showcase (1:80) feature top rookies with Gold (/49), Black (/25), and Purple (/5) parallels. ere are also Autographs (1:4, Showcase 1:96) that have further Gold, Black (/10 or /5), and Purple (1/1) versions.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?: Unlike SPGU, Ultimate is a product that lacks a clear identity. ere are plenty of interesting pulls to be had, but remove the brand logo and it’s impossible to tell what separates them from similar concepts in other UD releases. e one obvious exception is Victory Retro Autos, but why is a throwback from a bargain brand offered in an ultra-premium release? Ultimate might be better pursued on the secondary market as singles but, as the internet reminds us, your mileage may vary.