The 150-card Base Set, which includes 50 high-series Metalized cards, features designs by the team that created the original 1997-98 Metal Universe set! Collect up to eight parallel sets of the complete 150-card set, including six colorful and serially-numbered PMG parallels and two autograph parallels.
The Base Set Retro 1997-98 collection features the top athletes from the Base Set! Look for serially-numbered Red and Green PMG parallel cards.
Collect a wide variety of incredible insert sets, including, but not limited to, the following:
Fresh Foundation: The checklist consists of only up-and-coming phenoms. Collect up to eight parallel sets, including six colorful and serially-numbered PMG parallels (four of which are #'d to 75 or less) and two autograph parallels, including a Gold Auto parallel numbered to just 10!
Blast Furnace: The checklist features a mix of superstars and up-and-coming phenoms. Keep an eye out for low-numbered Gold and Gold Auto parallel cards.
Skybox Premium: Features the top athletes from the Base Set. Collect up to six serially-numbered parallel sets, highlighted by the 1-of-1 Star Diamonds parallel. There is also a low-numbered design variant set (with an autograph parallel) sporting the classic 1997-98 Skybox Premium Star Rubies design.
Reaching for the Stars & A Cut Above: Both are three-sided perimeter die-cut sets with Reaching for the Stars featuring up-and-coming phenoms - with a focus on football and basketball - and A Cut Above featuring the best athletes from the Base Set.
Jambalaya: These iconic insert cards with lenticular foil treatment feature the best athletes from the set and will be a welcome addition to any collection.
Platinum Portrait: Collectors will be chasing after these rare and iconic insert cards which also feature only the best athletes from the set!
2021 Skybox Metal Universe Champions is loaded with incredible athletes - from retired legends to current superstars to up-and-coming phenoms. Here are just a few of the names you'll find in this special product:
- Josh Giddey
- Wayne Gretzky
- Najee Harris
- Sabrina Ionescu
- Allen Iverson
- LeBron James
- Mac Jones
- Michael Jordan
- Trevor Lawrence
- Teofimo Lopez
- Conner McDavid
- Naomi Osaka
- Mikaela Shiffrin
- Zach Wilson
- Tiger Woods
- Shane Wright
PRODUCT BREAKDOWN:
Autograph Cards
- Base Set - Auto Parallel 1:50
- Base Set - Gold Auto Parallel #'d to 25
- Blast Furnace - Gold Auto Parallel 1:1680
- Fresh Foundation - Auto Parallel Varied #'ing
- Fresh Foundation - Gold Auto Parallel #'d to 10
- Intimidation Nation - Auto Parallel 1:960
- Metalized - Auto Parallel 1:240
- Metalized - Gold Auto Parallel #'d to 10
- Skybox Premium 1997-98 Retro Star Rubies - Auto Parallel 1:240
PMG Cards
- Base Set - Red PMG Parallel #'d to 150
- Base Set - Orange PMG Parallel #'d to 100
- Base Set - Pink PMG Parallel #'d to 75
- Base Set - Blue PMG Parallel #'d to 25
- Base Set - Green PMG Parallel #'d to 10
- Base Set - Purple PMG Parallel #'d 1-of-1
- Base Set Retro 1997-98 - Red PMG Parallel #'d to 100 (11-100)
- Base Set Retro 1997-98 - Green PMG Parallel #'d to 100 (1-10)
- Fresh Foundation - Red PMG Parallel #'d to 150
- Fresh Foundation - Orange PMG Parallel #'d to 100
- Fresh Foundation - Pink PMG Parallel #'d to 75
- Fresh Foundation - Blue PMG Parallel #'d to 25
- Fresh Foundation - Green PMG Parallel #'d to 10
- Fresh Foundation - Purple PMG Parallel #'d 1-of-1
- Metalized - Red PMG Parallel #'d to 150
- Metalized - Orange PMG Parallel #'d to 100
- Metalized - Pink PMG Parallel #'d to 75
- Metalized - Blue PMG Parallel #'d to 25
- Metalized - Green PMG Parallel #'d to 10
- Metalized - Purple PMG Parallel #'d 1-of-1
Non-Auto/PMG Insert Cards (w/ Parallels)
- A Cut Above 1:38
- Arc Weld 1:13
- Arc Weld - Gold Parallel #'d to 25
- Base Set Retro 1997-98 1:5
- Blast Furnace 1:6
- Blast Furnace - Gold Parallel #'d to 25
- Fresh Foundation 1:2
- Intimidation Nation 1:8
- Jambalaya 1:132
- Platinum Portrait 1:1200
- Reaching for the Stars 1:25
- Skybox Premium 1:5
- Skybox Premium - Star Topaz Parallel #'d to 150
- Skybox Premium - Star Rubies Parallel #'d to 100
- Skybox Premium - Star Sapphire Parallel #'d to 75
- Skybox Premium - Star Emerald Parallel #'d to 25
- Skybox Premium - Star Amethyst Parallel #'d to 10
- Skybox Premium - Star Diamonds Parallel #'d 1-of-1
- Skybox Premium 1997-98 Retro Star Rubies #'d to 50
Regular Base Set Cards
- Base Set (1-100) 4:1
- Metalized (101-150) 1:2
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2021 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions revisits the late ’90s, but it does so by moving forward in several regards. With inserts like Precious Metal Gems, Jambalaya and more, nostalgia is certainly part of the equation. But rather than simply repurposing classic designs, several are getting updated makeovers. And who better to do it than the creative minds who helped make the line what it is today?2021 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions Checklist OverviewThe base set features 150 cards covering a variety of sports and era. As far as players go, think Goodwin Champions but apply it to the more modern design aspects instead of vintage. That means fresh cards from Upper Deck spokesmen like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and LeBron James. There’s also Shane Wright, one of the top hockey prospects for the 2022 NHL Draft, who has signed a deal with the card maker. Other athletes in the product include Trevor Lawrence, Sabrina Ionescu and Collin Morikawa.
Upper Deck turned to Jean and Earle MacLeod of Arena Design to come up with the updated look. The couple were at Fleer/SkyBox in the late ’90s and were the visionaries behind 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball, a set that has gone on to become iconic for the era.Precious Metal Gems parallels are available in six colors. Two different base set autograph parallels are also available for select cards.InsertsThe 2021 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions checklist has lots of inserts.Among them is Jambalaya. Not only are these extremely tough like the original release, but they’re done with the same sort of printing technology. The die-cut cards are distinct with their lenticular backgrounds and use of foil.Platinum Portraits is another familiar name with tough odds.Both of these are among the cards with fresh makeovers from the design team.SkyBox Premium makes an appearance as an insert set. These can be found with a couple of Star Rubies offshoots and Star Diamonds, which are one-of-ones.Other inserts include Fresh Foundations, which highlights young athletes, and Blast Furnace.This is the third Metal Universe-branded set of 2021 following Marvel X-Men and hockey.2021 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions at a glance:Cards per pack: TBAPacks per box: TBABoxes per case: TBASet size: 150 cardsRelease date (subject to change): Fall, 2021
