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Post by Chris on May 4, 2009 14:10:50 GMT -5
That was Ted Williams' kid - a true class act.
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Post by Lindsey on May 4, 2009 14:12:51 GMT -5
MY birthday is in August, I want autographed baseballs and cards.
durham bulls / Rays. hook it up =P
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Post by nobeernofun on May 5, 2009 21:00:29 GMT -5
Yea Ted Williams' kid wanted to get a heads up on the others & Ice them out.
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Post by Chris on May 6, 2009 0:35:56 GMT -5
Straight out of the MetsSuckBalls jokebook
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Post by Lindsey on Aug 6, 2009 13:12:33 GMT -5
MLB and Topps announce exclusive deal making Topps the official baseball card of Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball Properties (MLBP) and the Topps Company, the leading creator and marketer of sports cards, today announced an exclusive multi-year licensing deal to make Topps the Official Baseball Card of Major League Baseball. Topps will have exclusivity on MLB, Jewel Event and Club trademarks, logos and other intellectual property, for use on baseball cards, stickers and certain other product categories featuring MLB players. Topps' exclusivity begins on January 1, 2010.
Topps will become the first exclusive baseball card company of MLB in nearly 30 years, as the company looks to expand its ongoing efforts to invigorate the category, continue launching ground-breaking products, improve the retail and collecting experience and make cards more relevant to children. Topps' first exclusive product will be its 2010 Topps Baseball Series 1 to be unveiled next February.
"Generations of baseball fans have grown more connected to the game through collecting baseball cards," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "We look forward to partnering with Topps to restore baseball cards as the game's premiere collectable."
"Topps has over the years clearly distinguished itself as the leader in the industry and the best brand in the business," said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball Properties. "This exclusive agreement with Topps follows similar arrangements in other categories that have resulted in superior products for fans and in turn unprecedented business success."
Michael Eisner and The Tornante Company, a private investment company he founded in 2005, acquired The Topps Company, Inc. in 2007 along with Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC.
"We are looking forward to working closely with MLB Properties and its Clubs to invest in innovation and creativity to bring baseball cards and other collectible items to new audiences for many years to come," said Eisner.
"Topps has been making baseball cards for over 50 years and signed our first agreement with Major League Baseball Properties in 1969," said Topps CEO and President Scott Silverstein. "Now, 40 years later, we are delighted to be taking this relationship to new heights."
As part of the iconic company's plans to expand into the digital space, and to strengthen its connection with kids, Topps unveiled a multitude of new and innovative products over the past two years including ToppsTown.com, an online sports community developed just for kids and Topps 3D Live trading cards, the first augmented reality consumer product that brings your favorite MLB players to digital life, offering an unprecedented level of interactivity for kids, fans and collectors.
About Major League Baseball Properties The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the Club's agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rightsholders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full-service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to www.MLB.com.
About The Topps Company, Inc. Founded in 1938, Topps is a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include "Bazooka" bubble gum, "Ring Pop," "Push Pop," "Baby Bottle Pop" and "Juicy Drop Pop" lollipops. For additional information, visit www.topps.com.
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MSBNYY
Administrator
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Post by MSBNYY on Aug 6, 2009 13:17:42 GMT -5
If they have exclusive rights to the logos/uniforms, etc., wouldn't that effectively put all other companies out of business? Every uniform has some sort of MLB related logo on it.
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Post by Lindsey on Aug 6, 2009 13:24:33 GMT -5
basically!
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Post by nobeernofun on Aug 9, 2009 21:00:35 GMT -5
Wow So the other card's will look like those old Post Raisin brain cards that had any thing team related blacked out ? I picked up a seat 1-100 of last years upper deck Yankee stadium cards. but not the same as the Insert cards? And I got a set of this years Yankee cards that did not have a Pettitte card, but did come with a Mickey Mantel card.That had to be worth the $6 alone.
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Post by nobeernofun on Aug 11, 2009 22:52:47 GMT -5
The Capt. Crunch card's team logos where blacked out. And those cards sucked. That was also the last time they had them. They did have a Mattinly card.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 12, 2009 12:58:42 GMT -5
I actually read a story where people from Upper Deck were implying they would actually make cards like one featuring A-Rod posed on a rock at Central Park. Maybe also postgame interview cards with a guy in a sweaty blank blue t-shirt and a random locker behind him.
I dont think they are going the airbrush route.
I think this whole thing sucks.
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Post by yanxchick on Aug 21, 2009 0:35:23 GMT -5
Upper Deck still has a license with the MLBPA, which means they can use faces and names of players. There are certianly ways around this and card companies have been doing that for years.
Donruss had done it recently with success by producing baseball cards of retired players.
I think it's going to take some creativity on the part of Upper Deck to get this done.
In addition, there aren't just baseball cards out there. Upper Deck has an exclusive with hockey and college sports. Panini has an exclusive for the NBA.
And, football cards are arguably just as popular as baseball cards.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Aug 21, 2009 6:22:02 GMT -5
I would think that the other companies would always have been able to use players' names and faces. But I could be wrong on that.
I would think the MLB licenses are team names, logos, uniforms, etc.
Thinking about it, a Derek Jeter card could not only be forced to airbrush out the logos, but they would have to say, NEW YORK on the front instead of YANKEES.
Also, retired players would still have pictures with uniforms in them.
If football cards are as popular as baseball cards, then the popularity of baseball cards must have really declined since I was collecting them.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 21, 2009 8:29:12 GMT -5
And, football cards are arguably just as popular as baseball cards.
Absolutely not.
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Post by yanxchick on Aug 26, 2009 0:07:13 GMT -5
Mark, the other companies couldn't just use the players because they didn't have the MLBPA license. Any players that is in the union can be put in a card as long as they have that license. Only UD and Topps had that this year. And, will have it next year.
Upper Deck is now missing the MLB license, which is the logos and team names and such.
Donruss did it this year with prospect cards. So instead of saying Cubs, the card would just read Chicago, like you stated.
And, Tom, I wrote arguably. It wasn't a fact. However, football cards have an extremely high following. It's probably a slightly less than a 2:1 ratio in favor of baseball.
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Post by yanksgooner on Aug 27, 2009 9:19:22 GMT -5
football cards suck
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Aug 27, 2009 9:35:13 GMT -5
So if you can only use players automatically when you have the license, would the companies be able to negotiate deals with players individually, or would say a company like Donruss, essentially be out of business?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 27, 2009 17:51:12 GMT -5
By poking around online, I am seeing its more like 8-1. Ill post some links on that, when I get one I trust.
I dont think its nowhere near 2-1, no way.
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