TCMA past and present...

[clydepepper]

TCMA products have always caught my attention. I'm not sure exactly how many I personally own right now, but I consider them some of my favorites.

In reading the exchanges in this thread, it does my heart good to see someone who has been so very entrenched in the hobby and has kept their passion for both the hobby and the game. Bravo.

I have never understood how companies like yours survive with all the licensing restrictions involved with marketing any professionally-based sports products. It must be frustrating, but I am glad to see you still pushing forward.

I look forward to any new product you decide to create.

[DaClyde]

Given the current state of the various licenses for producing products featuring MLB or MiLB players and team logos, what was the licensing environment like in the 1970s and 1980s with regard to both the minor league sets TCMA produced, as well as the various historical sets?

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Given the current state of the various licenses for producing products featuring MLB or MiLB players and team logos, what was the licensing environment like in the 1970s and 1980s with regard to both the minor league sets TCMA produced, as well as the various historical sets?

Well, Topps had a license from MLB and TCMA did not, which is why they filed a lawsuit against TCMA in 1975/76 when the SSPC set was released.

Deals with the Minor League teams were reached individually. This generally consisted of providing the teams with half the print run of their team's card sets so they could be given away or sold at the games.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Well, Topps had a license from MLB and TCMA did not, which is why they filed a lawsuit against TCMA in 1975/76 when the SSPC set was released.

Deals with the Minor League teams were reached individually. This generally consisted of providing the teams with half the print run of their team's card sets so they could be given away or sold at the games.

Thank you for the response! What about the historical sets? Did Topps just look the other way because they weren't producing anything similar or was there some sort of exemption related to producing sets using the images older than a certain date? I don't recall ever seeing any airbrushing or hiding of team emblems on hats and jerseys for any of the various team sets and all time greats sets.

And on a slightly different topic, what led to TCMA producing the one team set in 1985 for the Tigres de Mexico? Where there any plans to do more Mexican sets?

[Rich Klein]

i wonder if that was because of the active player issue. After all in 1975, with a couple of exceptions, who cared about usage of a 1930's player in any sets.

But the MLBPA sure cared about the active players

Rich

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

i wonder if that was because of the active player issue. After all in 1975, with a couple of exceptions, who cared about usage of a 1930's player in any sets.

But the MLBPA sure cared about the active players

Rich

You're probably right, especially given that upon retirement, players basically were out of the MLBPA and thus their likenesses were no longer the concern of the MLBPA.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Thank you for the response! What about the historical sets? Did Topps just look the other way because they weren't producing anything similar

Correct, Topps really didn't seem to care until SSPC directly challenged them.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

And on a slightly different topic, what led to TCMA producing the one team set in 1985 for the Tigres de Mexico? Where there any plans to do more Mexican sets?

We were asked by the team to do it . That was the only Mexican set IIRC but there were Japanese sets.

[PSACJ]

Here is a 1972 TCMA (1915) Cracker Jack Set still in its original bag. I have this as part of my my 1915 Master Cracker Jack collection. I also have "Bullet Joe Wood and Harry Hooper autographed PSA DNA 9 of these cards in my collection as well. They are super cool!!!

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by PSACJ

Here is a 1972 TCMA (1915) Cracker Jack Set still in its original bag. I have this as part of my my 1915 Master Cracker Jack collection. I also have "Bullet Joe Wood and Harry Hooper autographed PSA DNA 9 of these cards in my collection as well. They are super cool!!!

Very nice . You know, I bet there are still some of those floating around Baseball Nostalgia in Cooperstown. I know for a fact there are still several reprint sets there from the early days.

Lately I've been trying to get my hands on one of the uncut sheets of the Cracker Jack reprint cards but no luck.