Topps to be replaced as the BB Card Manuracturer

[insidethewrapper]

Whoever makes baseball cards, I hope they once again are available to the general public. My grandsons have been unable to buy a pack of cards this year at any store. Collecting cards , not cash , may be a thing of the past if kids can't buy packs in the $ 1.00 range, and cross out checklist cards.

[53toppscollector]

my guess: Fanatics is going to buy both Topps and Panini, for pennies on the dollar, and then they will consolidate the products and create the best of the brands

[BearBailey]

Sad day for baseball card collectors.

[Schlesinj]

I assume Topps can make cards but they cannot include team names and logos.

[53toppscollector]

Originally Posted by Schlesinj

I assume Topps can make cards but they cannot include team names and logos.

Not in this case, the MLBPA rights are what allows companies to use player likeness

[Mungo Hungo]

Originally Posted by 53toppscollector

Not in this case, the MLBPA rights are what allows companies to use player likeness

So how is this going to work in 2023 to '25? There have been and continue to be plenty of cards made by companies with only an MLBPA license--but how will Topps make cards with only an MLB license? Or can they at all?

[Mungo Hungo]

Originally Posted by Mungo Hungo

So how is this going to work in 2023 to '25? There have been and continue to be plenty of cards made by companies with only an MLBPA license--but how will Topps make cards with only an MLB license? Or can they at all?

To answer my own question, Topps might be reduced to being what Fleer was in the 60s and 70s -- issuing cards of former players and logos without players. Would be a sad way to go out.

[Frank A]

Well one thing is for sure. If they are paying that kind of big money to take over a segment of the hobby, card prices will see a huge increase.

[Directly]

Originally Posted by Frank A

Well one thing is for sure. If they are paying that kind of big money to take over a segment of the hobby, card prices will see a huge increase.

2021 Topps chrome baseball blaster boxes sold through Walmart raised their retail price around 34 percent from 19.99 to 29.98

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Whoever makes baseball cards, I hope they once again are available to the general public. My grandsons have been unable to buy a pack of cards this year at any store. Collecting cards , not cash , may be a thing of the past if kids can't buy packs in the $ 1.00 range, and cross out checklist cards.

Those days are done with forever. You will never be able to buy current year products for around a dollar a pack, licensing fees prevents that.

[Schlesinj]

I think I read they got basketball and football too.

[Bigdaddy]

What's next?? Ford stop making cars? Levis not made in the US anymore? Chick Fil A not serving their chicken salad sammich?

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Seriously though, I feel like it's the end of an era. I don't understand why the trading card license has to be exclusive. Is there not room for multiple manufacturers? MLB does not limit manufacturing rights to jerseys, hats, t-shirts, etc to only one company.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Levis not made in the US anymore?

Levi’s outsourced most of their manufacturing in the 1990s.

[chalupacollects]

Well maybe Topps will empty the vault on the way out and put out some killer sets before the sun goes down...

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

What's next?? Ford stop making cars? Levis not made in the US anymore? Chick Fil A not serving their chicken salad sammich?



It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.



Seriously though, I feel like it's the end of an era. I don't understand why the trading card license has to be exclusive. Is there not room for multiple manufacturers? MLB does not limit manufacturing rights to jerseys, hats, t-shirts, etc to only one company.

Except for Mustang, Ford stopped making cars 2 years ago, they are a truck manufacturer now.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Whoever makes baseball cards, I hope they once again are available to the general public. My grandsons have been unable to buy a pack of cards this year at any store. Collecting cards , not cash , may be a thing of the past if kids can't buy packs in the $ 1.00 range, and cross out checklist cards.

This is what will happen:

Some entrepreneur with $100,000 in capital will go to amateur state championship tournaments in various states, and put together a nice 500 card set of 20 or 30 top amateur teams. They'll pay the teams a very nominal amount, plus give them free cards. No additional licenses needed.

Then they'll print the cards on standard stock and package them in wax packs for retail sale at maybe 50 cents for 10 cards.

They'll make a fortune, and collectors, especially kids, will be able to have fun playing with cards again.

[90feetaway]

1952 Andy Pafko's smile just turned to a frown.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Mark17

This is what will happen:

Some entrepreneur with $100,000 in capital will go to amateur state championship tournaments in various states, and put together a nice 500 card set of 20 or 30 top amateur teams. They'll pay the teams a very nominal amount, plus give them free cards. No additional licenses needed.

Then they'll print the cards on standard stock and package them in wax packs for retail sale at maybe 50 cents for 10 cards.

They'll make a fortune, and collectors, especially kids, will be able to have fun playing with cards again.

Mark, I can see something like this happening, but with college teams, and with all the major sports, not just baseball. I think this would take much more initial capital, say $25M or more, as the NCAA would demand a huge fee for an exclusive deal and college athletes can now be compensated.

[JustinD]

Topps has had the exclusive license since 2010 and there has not been one year without unlicensed logo competition. The Panini releases are always unlicensed and honestly the donruss diamond kings have consistently beat the Topps design in my mind.

They won’t have team logos but this is certainly not closing Topps doors, it won’t slow the release schedules at all.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Topps has had the exclusive license since 2010 and there has not been one year without unlicensed logo competition. The Panini releases are always unlicensed and honestly the donruss diamond kings have consistently beat the Topps design in my mind.

They won’t have team logos but this is certainly not closing Topps doors, it won’t slow the release schedules at all.

Without permission to use the players' pictures, what can they do on the Major League level without being sued? Even if they could produce a set, how ugly would it be with every player wearing a generic air brushed hat and uniform?

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Without permission to use the players' pictures, what can they do on the Major League level without being sued? Even if they could produce a set, how ugly would it be with every player wearing a generic air brushed hat and uniform?

I understand you are likely strictly a vintage collector but as was stated topps has had the exclusive license since 2010. For an example of how it can be done, just google any non-topps mlb release for the past 11 years. The mlb license is for logos not players.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I understand you are likely strictly a vintage collector but as was stated topps has had the exclusive license since 2010. For an example of how it can be done, just google any non-topps mlb release for the past 11 years. The mlb license is for logos not players.

Understood, but this deal also includes the Players' Association.

"That longevity was threatened Thursday, as The Action Network confirmed that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have given their exclusive licenses to Fanatics."

[ZenPop]

Okay... Little League teams, then.

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Mark, I can see something like this happening, but with college teams, and with all the major sports, not just baseball. I think this would take much more initial capital, say $25M or more, as the NCAA would demand a huge fee for an exclusive deal and college athletes can now be compensated.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Whoever makes baseball cards, I hope they once again are available to the general public. My grandsons have been unable to buy a pack of cards this year at any store. Collecting cards , not cash , may be a thing of the past if kids can't buy packs in the $ 1.00 range, and cross out checklist cards.

If you break the spirit of young collectors early enough they will never come back to the hobby 30 years later when they have real money to spend. It's the difference between old school brand building and new school short sighted profit taking. The hobby will be the victim and guys like Rubin and his Cronies will suffer no consequences.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

If you break the spirit of young collectors early enough they will never come back to the hobby 30 years later when they have real money to spend. It's the difference between old school brand building and new school short sighted profit taking. The hobby will be the victim and guys like Rubin and his Cronies will suffer no consequences.

It's not just the hobby, it's the game itself that could lose some interest. I assume for most of us baseball made us want to collect cards but at the same time collecting cards to some extent kept us watching and following baseball. I'm not sure I would have been such a huge fan if I couldn't buy cards. It was all part of one big thing.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's not just the hobby, it's the game itself that could lose some interest. I assume for most of us baseball made us want to collect cards but at the same time collecting cards to some extent kept us watching and following baseball. I'm not sure I would have been such a huge fan if I couldn't buy cards. It was all part of one big thing.

I had a great connection with collecting as a kid of 10 which brought me back as a young man at 21, silent for 21 years but still a positive feeling so I was fortunate enough to find this place and have the resources build a respectable collection. If I couldn't experience that as a 10 year old I wouldn't be here now.

To be very clear, Rubin, Goldin, and all the other "Elites" in this business don't give a shit about random 10y old kids discovering this hobby.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I had a great connection with collecting as a kid of 10 which brought me back as a young man at 21, silent for 21 years but still a positive feeling so I was fortunate enough to find this place and have the resources build a respectable collection. If I couldn't experience that as a 10 year old I wouldn't be here now.

To be very clear, Rubin, Goldin, and all the other "Elites" in this business don't give a shit about random 10y old kids discovering this hobby.

Yeah nothing like riding your bike to the 7 11 or walking to the variety store or marveling at the cards your friend got from his older brother to lay the foundation. I'm sure I've lost most of my purity as with age the cards inevitably become assets too, but I'd like to think I still have some of that kid's residual love.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Yeah nothing like riding your bike to the 7 11 or walking to the variety store or marveling at the cards your friend got from his older brother to lay the foundation. I'm sure I've lost most of my purity as with age the cards inevitably become assets too, but I'd like to think I still have some of that kid's residual love.

Every once in a while I will open a box of 80s or 90s cards for just that reason. It reminds me of the fun I had collecting as a kid.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Every once in a while I will open a box of 80s or 90s cards for just that reason. It reminds me of the fun I had collecting as a kid.

I would have to buy 60s boxes LOL.