Fanatics to acquire Topps.

[Mike D.]

Made too much sense not to happen...Topps lost it's bread and butter, and Fanatics needed a bread and butter factory.

[Tao_Moko]

I hope this keeps the brand alive and throws additional resources behind it. Smart move.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

maybe Fanatics will be more interested in protecting their new IP than Topps ever was. Would be nice to see all of the counterfeit Topps, Bowman etc. come off of ebay.

Try listing a fake piece of Tiffany jewelry or Michael Kors Hand Bag and see how long it lasts.

[chalupacollects]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

I hope this keeps the brand alive and throws additional resources behind it. Smart move.

They had to buy Topps or one of the other brands. Really had no choice as they have no experience printing cards.


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[jiw98]

I wonder if Fanatics will also purchase Panini or will Panini just fade away. Not really much there for them if Fanatics holds all the rights for all the major sports.

[isiahfan]

I was thinking about posting something regarding this today.....along the lines of if those of you set run collectors/builders would continue in a couple years once Topps ceased production...+/- to both sides...but I think overall happy it will continue...even if it would have given the pocketbook a small break

[seanofjapan]

So it would seem that the MLBPA and MLB torpedoed Topps’ IPO for the sake of helping Fanatics take over Topps then.

Not sure what their motivation was, anyone know?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

So it would seem that the MLBPA and MLB torpedoed Topps’ IPO for the sake of helping Fanatics take over Topps then.

Not sure what their motivation was, anyone know?

It's been discussed quite a bit, the simplest reason is Fanatics is promising MLB and MLBPA (and the NBA/NBAPA and NFL/NFLPA) more $$$ then they are making in the current contract with Topps. Nothing more, nothing less

Rich

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

So it would seem that the MLBPA and MLB torpedoed Topps’ IPO for the sake of helping Fanatics take over Topps then.

Not sure what their motivation was, anyone know?

Motivation? They got a bunch of money, the IPO wasn't going to make them a bunch of money, at least not in the short term.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by jiw98

I wonder if Fanatics will also purchase Panini or will Panini just fade away. Not really much there for them if Fanatics holds all the rights for all the major sports.

It's certainly plausible, but now that they own Topps and the licenses for all major sports, I assume they could just start making Topps cards for NBA and NFL as soon as panini's contract expires. Panini would be far less valuable to them now that they own Topps.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

They had to buy Topps or one of the other brands. Really had no choice as they have no experience printing cards.


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Neither did upper deck in 1989

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Neither did upper deck in 1989

Yeah, printing cards isn't something that I see as being very complicated.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Yeah, printing cards isn't something that I see as being very complicated.

In today's world *unlike 1989 to a large extent* it's the prep not the printing. There was prep in 1989 but it was easier to create checklists, get photos, etc.

Nowadays you have to pay attention to autographs, Jerseys. relics, parallels, insert sets, etc and stay within a budget.

It is somewhere between 11-14 months depending on the product between OKing the product and having it go live.

[Frank A]

I can imagine the crazy prices that cards will go up to. Sad day for modern collectors.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

In today's world *unlike 1989 to a large extent* it's the prep not the printing. There was prep in 1989 but it was easier to create checklists, get photos, etc.

Nowadays you have to pay attention to autographs, Jerseys. relics, parallels, insert sets, etc and stay within a budget.

It is somewhere between 11-14 months depending on the product between OKing the product and having it go live.

But still nothing too complicated for the average business man (or woman for those of you younger than me, hahahaha). I could do it, if I had the budget. The most complicated part is the license. They have that.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Yeah, printing cards isn't something that I see as being very complicated.

It's not, but pretty much every company that's gotten started has made loads of mistakes, even if they're switching from small sets to larger sets.
Leaf.... kinda speaks for itself

Bowman- small 48 set, even then some cropping consistency issues. Bigger 49 set with still more problems that had to be fixed.

Topps- small 51, a couple variations because of trades. 52 large set, Loads of variations, like different backs on the first series

Fleer - a few things with the small sets, loads of problems with the first big set in 81

Donruss- Experienced with non sports, big baseball set in 81= problems.

Score- Lots of problems in 88.


UD - Oddly pretty good in 89. No more really than any other company at the time. But they probably only used one printer that they may have owned.

Pacific sort of eased into bigger sets from smaller ones and I think went into football first. and we know how that went.....

Who else? I sort of forget what was owned by who in the 90's.

Even with Topps, I expect big things on the variation front

[Tao_Moko]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Neither did upper deck in 1989

My thought too. And that created a new era of card designs and new standard of quality.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

My thought too. And that created a new era of card designs and new standard of quality.

I happened to speak to Bill Hemrick a few weeks back about it. Precisely the reason they were so good....no bad habits, not willing to cut quality

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[Tao_Moko]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I happened to speak to Bill Hemrick a few weeks back about it. Precisely the reason they were so good....no bad habits, not willing to cut quality

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That's great. Wasn't Bill's card shop the namesake? I wonder if he and Buice remained friends after Buice's suit against UpperDeck almost buried them.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

My thought too. And that created a new era of card designs and new standard of quality.

And invented the 'chase' card...