Big things going down in the world of baseball products

[studioclint]

Don't forget that Topps produced some of the greatest sets ever during its lengthy monopoly.

[quote="predatorkj":7n9o033g][quote="uniquebaseballcards":7n9o033g]Base Topps is geared towards the widest possible audience, not just for people like ourselves, the hobby "elite" LOL.

[quote="predatorkj":7n9o033g]Topps makes wonderful throwback sets.And their base sets(except for 2006) are great as well.I think topps is really geared more for the set builder than anyone.Though some of these super sp'd cards like the ones from heritage make me frustrated.

I think topps as a whole tries to fit the bill for as many different types of collectors as possible but I have noticed they have a knack for keeping set builders on their toes.Its a blessing and a curse.Base topps is a set I will get every year.I only dread having to build them though.I prefer factory set form.I am content to build things like heritage, turkey red, allen and ginter and also things like Mayo and whatnot.

simpler times and simpler products. I feel like topps does better in low end products, but it just hasn't kept pace in the high end market.

+1 and then some. Topps making great base cards doesn't mean a stack of crap to someone Like me who collects a player. A retired player who hasn't had much available since 2005 when DLP lost their license. So for me, Topps being the only company to get a license would suck, bigtime. :evil:[/quote:7n9o033g]

Wouldn't that give you the ultimate opportunity, though, to obtain a copy of every card ever produced of your player?
I understand where you would argue this, as it is more fun to chase after new cards of your player.

I agree with a poster a page back being that chrome is the ultimate set by topps. It gives everyone what they want, and it has everything from low to high end both in the boxes and in the secondary market. Most of their stuff will turn to crap if this happens, IMO, but they better keep all of the Bowman products..
..and get rid of those damned green bordered cards/futures game cards. lol.


Anthony[/quote:7n9o033g]

No...sorry.Bowman is only good for prospects.Always will be.Its a niche.Nobody buys bowman for the vets.They buy it for the prospects.So...with that said...how could it appeal to everyone?I would much rather a base card from regular topps or Upper Deck for a vet than I would out of Bowman and somehow I don't think I am alone.[/quote:7n9o033g]

I have to agree. Bowman products are nice, but base Topps is still king.

 

[aminors]

Don't forget that Topps produced some of the greatest sets ever during its lengthy monopoly.

[quote="predatorkj":34wzbicl][quote="uniquebaseballcards":34wzbicl]Base Topps is geared towards the widest possible audience, not just for people like ourselves, the hobby "elite" LOL.

[quote="predatorkj":34wzbicl]Topps makes wonderful throwback sets.And their base sets(except for 2006) are great as well.I think topps is really geared more for the set builder than anyone.Though some of these super sp'd cards like the ones from heritage make me frustrated.

I think topps as a whole tries to fit the bill for as many different types of collectors as possible but I have noticed they have a knack for keeping set builders on their toes.Its a blessing and a curse.Base topps is a set I will get every year.I only dread having to build them though.I prefer factory set form.I am content to build things like heritage, turkey red, allen and ginter and also things like Mayo and whatnot.

simpler times and simpler products. I feel like topps does better in low end products, but it just hasn't kept pace in the high end market.

+1 and then some. Topps making great base cards doesn't mean a stack of crap to someone Like me who collects a player. A retired player who hasn't had much available since 2005 when DLP lost their license. So for me, Topps being the only company to get a license would suck, bigtime. :evil:[/quote:34wzbicl]

Wouldn't that give you the ultimate opportunity, though, to obtain a copy of every card ever produced of your player?
I understand where you would argue this, as it is more fun to chase after new cards of your player.

I agree with a poster a page back being that chrome is the ultimate set by topps. It gives everyone what they want, and it has everything from low to high end both in the boxes and in the secondary market. Most of their stuff will turn to crap if this happens, IMO, but they better keep all of the Bowman products..
..and get rid of those damned green bordered cards/futures game cards. lol.


Anthony[/quote:34wzbicl]

No...sorry.Bowman is only good for prospects.Always will be.Its a niche.Nobody buys bowman for the vets.They buy it for the prospects.So...with that said...how could it appeal to everyone?I would much rather a base card from regular topps or Upper Deck for a vet than I would out of Bowman and somehow I don't think I am alone.[/quote:34wzbicl]

It doesn't really appeal to all collectors, but my point was it appeals to collectors from all price ranges. I didn't really make that very clear, sorry about that. ::facepalm:: Honestly, the vet stuff sucks from bowman products.
If they keep three things going I say they keep Bowman stuff, all base topps (series 1, 2, U&H, and Topps Chrome), and Allen & Ginter. They can do whatever with the rest, I don't really think any of the rest of it is worth buying anyway i.e. Topps Attax, Topps Total, Moments and Milestones and sometimes I even think that about Triple Threads.


Anthony

 

[cgilmo]

I have to agree. Bowman products are nice, but base Topps is still king.

the most accurate statement in this thread

 

[predatorkj]

[quote="uniquebaseballcards":tlyly2m1]Don't forget that Topps produced some of the greatest sets ever during its lengthy monopoly.

[quote="predatorkj":tlyly2m1][quote="uniquebaseballcards":tlyly2m1]Base Topps is geared towards the widest possible audience, not just for people like ourselves, the hobby "elite" LOL.

[quote="predatorkj":tlyly2m1]Topps makes wonderful throwback sets.And their base sets(except for 2006) are great as well.I think topps is really geared more for the set builder than anyone.Though some of these super sp'd cards like the ones from heritage make me frustrated.

I think topps as a whole tries to fit the bill for as many different types of collectors as possible but I have noticed they have a knack for keeping set builders on their toes.Its a blessing and a curse.Base topps is a set I will get every year.I only dread having to build them though.I prefer factory set form.I am content to build things like heritage, turkey red, allen and ginter and also things like Mayo and whatnot.

simpler times and simpler products. I feel like topps does better in low end products, but it just hasn't kept pace in the high end market.

+1 and then some. Topps making great base cards doesn't mean a stack of crap to someone Like me who collects a player. A retired player who hasn't had much available since 2005 when DLP lost their license. So for me, Topps being the only company to get a license would suck, bigtime. :evil:[/quote:tlyly2m1]

Wouldn't that give you the ultimate opportunity, though, to obtain a copy of every card ever produced of your player?
I understand where you would argue this, as it is more fun to chase after new cards of your player.

I agree with a poster a page back being that chrome is the ultimate set by topps. It gives everyone what they want, and it has everything from low to high end both in the boxes and in the secondary market. Most of their stuff will turn to crap if this happens, IMO, but they better keep all of the Bowman products..
..and get rid of those damned green bordered cards/futures game cards. lol.


Anthony[/quote:tlyly2m1]

No...sorry.Bowman is only good for prospects.Always will be.Its a niche.Nobody buys bowman for the vets.They buy it for the prospects.So...with that said...how could it appeal to everyone?I would much rather a base card from regular topps or Upper Deck for a vet than I would out of Bowman and somehow I don't think I am alone.[/quote:tlyly2m1]

It doesn't really appeal to all collectors, but my point was it appeals to collectors from all price ranges. I didn't really make that very clear, sorry about that. ::facepalm:: Honestly, the vet stuff sucks from bowman products.
If they keep three things going I say they keep Bowman stuff, all base topps (series 1, 2, U&H, and Topps Chrome), and Allen & Ginter. They can do whatever with the rest, I don't really think any of the rest of it is worth buying anyway i.e. Topps Attax, Topps Total, Moments and Milestones and sometimes I even think that about Triple Threads.


Anthony[/quote:tlyly2m1]


That's the thing though.With Allen and Ginter you get the premier throwback set and its good for throwback lovers, set builders, and even the occasional pull of a worthwhile card.Topps Total allowed you to get cards of player that don't normally have a lot of cards floating around out there.Attax...well...uhmm...yeah...anyways ::facepalm:: .Topps Chrome is okay but I think its not all that.Its more of an opening day type product and there is not a whole lot of interest in it from what I can tell.

Bowman is for the prospectors.Upper Deck has always been about photography.Topps Triple Threads is about really nice looking GU.Exquisite is about nice looking GU.Donruss appealed to those who like challenging parallel sets.All of these things appeal to different people and to different collectors.Therefore they are almost all necessary because you think about it really hard and its not easy to find one set or even a combination of two that can appeal to even most collectors let alone all of them.That's why these products are even made.Topps, upper deck, and donruss realized the market for said stuff was out there.Its also why I said that Razor would never do jack unless they could find a way to compete.Brian tried hard and hopefully he understands that an exclusive deal does not merit success nor will it.Just because your printing minor league cards of guys does not qualify you to compete with Bowman.Its all about what you're doing better than Bowman.That's why Upper Deck and Donruss were good competitors.They were doing something for people that Topps was not.And Topps was doing something for people that they were not.

 

[predatorkj]

I have to agree. Bowman products are nice, but base Topps is still king.

the most accurate statement in this thread

If anyone does only one set a year with the thought in mind of having some worthwhile rookies and all the vets...I always recommend Topps factory sets and the U&H set.This is the premier base set.Always has been and always will be.Upper Deck really gave them hell for the first 3 or 4 years of their existence but it finally leveled off.

 

[19braves77]

If you think about it, simple is what Topps does best: Bowman Draft, a regular Topps set, and the Topps Total set that is greatly missed....

 

[MacK]

Sweet, I think exclusivity is retarded

 

[darocker80]

Players will not be allowed to sign exclusive contracts with specific companies, therefore allowing all companies access to all players under the protection of MLBP (major and minor league players).

Therefore not allowing companies like Razor come in and "block" established companies with a license.

If this is the truth i dont see Razor lasting much longer.

Addtionally all this thread was saying to me was

"Hey everyone i have a secret and guess what? I cant tell you."

+1

and i also agree on base topps, will always be number 1, Topps > UD

 

[wideright]

I think taking the hobby back to more simple times would be the best thing to happen to it. Feel bad for Razor, but if this is true, they shoulda seen this coming. You can't mess with the big dogs too long before you get bit.

 

[ChasHawk]

I think taking the hobby back to more simple times would be the best thing to happen to it. Feel bad for Razor, but if this is true, they shoulda seen this coming. You can't mess with the big dogs too long before you get bit.

For set collectors.

For player/auto/patch collectors, Topps exclusivity would suck unless they step up their game BIG-time. If they have the only license however, why would they?

All I know is, my collection would be nothing without DLP.

 

[thefasterblade]

Well Razor, it was fun while it lasted...sort of.

 

[cgilmo]

Well Razor, it was fun while it lasted...sort of.

not enough info to determine anything yet.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Razor could still sign this guys to exclusive autograph contracts, right? So yes you can get a base bowman chrome rookie of top guys, but the only place to get an auto for 2-3 years would be Razor products.

 

[i43770]

Is the talk about exclusive contracts for likeness only or for autos/GU ect? If it is for likeness, it is only really screwing Razor. If it is for autos, ie Griffey in Topps. How are they, and who is, going to make a player like Griffey sign for Topps? Can manufactures can't get players to sign all the time now, even after the player agrees.

 

[abe1]

Just for kicks- and a better understanding of the process- check out this sample Topps "memorandum of agreement"- a summary of the contract process (which sadly gets cut off because the site only offers previews)

http://www.techagreements.com/agreement ... 0duringE!Z!

If you look at the bottom, there's also sample agreements for Topps football products. The contracts on display are obviously outdated, but they make for interesting reading nonetheless?

 

[Penno]

But what is funny is that the MLBPA didn't want Minor League players in sets. All of a sudden, they are worried about the money they are losing from competitors getting exclusive contracts of the players they wanted out of their sets to begin with. Hypocrites.

 

[The_ReverendAct2]

I think that MLB wants to make their "RC" logo the real rookie card and going forward if 1 manufacturer is going to be used they can accomplish this. the question I have is are the products approved by MLB before they are released to the public? I also hope that they end the practice of putting redemption cards in products that they never make. This is "false" advertising at it's worse. I could go on about topps Mayo "bait-and-switch" practice, but I won't. that was a product that should have been the bomb, but it turned into a firecracker. glad I pulled the liberty dime card, rich eisen and Eli Manning Autos in my couple of boxes.

 

[i43770]

But what is funny is that the MLBPA didn't want Minor League players in sets. All of a sudden, they are worried about the money they are losing from competitors getting exclusive contracts of the players they wanted out of their sets to begin with. Hypocrites.

I think they are more concerned about the Wieters contract and if Razor goes after Strasburg. Or what if they would have been around for the 07 Draft and signed the top people out of that draft like they signed Wieters. Think of how many rookie cards wouldn't have come out or be coming out; Price, LaPorta, or anyone else who gets called up this year.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

But what is funny is that the MLBPA didn't want Minor League players in sets. All of a sudden, they are worried about the money they are losing from competitors getting exclusive contracts of the players they wanted out of their sets to begin with. Hypocrites.

There is absolutely nothing hypocritical about wanting to protect your own investments - all players in MLB and MiLB.

MLBP also has to protect their relationship with Tristar (even though it has done nothing to grow the MiLB brand) by squashing the unlicensed companies.

 

[Jaypers]

F the MLBPA.