Professional golfer Annika Sorenstam yesterday became the first female athlete to sign a licensing deal with sports memorabilia conglomerate The Upper Deck Co. She will also act as a spokersperson.
Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
The agreement gives Upper Deck exclusive rights to market and distribute Sorenstam autographed cards and collectibles. The company said it plans to introduce a line that captures Sorenstam in action to include autographed equipment and pin flags as well as unsigned framed pictures and golf products and accessories featuring the golfer.
Sorenstam will also have her own product line, Upper Deck spokesman Don Williams said.
Williams added that Upper Deck will also produce trading cards that include a piece of the shirt she wore last year when she became the first female golfer in more than a half a century to compete in a PGA Tour event (Bank of America Colonial).
Sorenstam joins Tiger Woods, who signed on in May 2001.
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