Big things going down in the world of baseball products

[200lbhockeyplayer]

So if this begins to occur, how do you think it will effect the Razor card's that are out now (negatively or positively)? Also, do you think Brian would immediately sell the contract's (or lease out the big name player's) to recuperate his investment before the bottom falls out? These are worrisome thoughts/question's, but if the rumor is true these are very real scenario's & need to be thought about/discussed!
I think this is terrible news & if they try to do this I think Brian should fight them in the court's as they are trying to strong-arm the non-licensed companies even though these companies (even though the MLBPA are the one's who have denied these companies access to thier license's)... :?

The interesting part is that the MLBP contends that they actually own the rights to the images of not only MLB players, but also the players on all of the affiliated minor league teams. And, if this is true, Razor's exclusive contracts will hold no value as the players were technically already under contract.

Razor's recourse would then be limited to go after the players for the exclusive bonus money, although considering that most would find that 80%+ of the value of those exclusive contracts was used in year one...they probably could only get 20% back based on perceived current value. Of course, Razor would have to claim that the players and agents knowingly signed an invalid contract. And if this falls on Razor...well...they'll get nothing.

And again...this is speculation at this point.

 

[bballcardkid]

Let me guess, Topps called up the MLBPA and wambulanced until the MLBPA listened because other low tier companies were stealing their exclusitivity to make prospect cards? Figures...

with the dollars at stake, they would be fools if they didn't

All I can say is that I wish I prospected cards from 2001-2004. Sucks to see one company making these prospect cards, and doing a half ass job at it. MLBPA if you read the board, reinvite UD back to the game please.

2001-2003 was basically just Topps because Upper Deck's Prospect Premieres products were not heavily considered by prospectors initially.

And don't assume that Donruss/Panini won't get in this mix for prospects.

They were still an option as well as the various Donruss/Leaf products. The only Panini that I will buy will be at Fazoli's unless they use the Donruss Brands that we all love and enjoy, LCM, , LCM Cuts, Limited, Contenders, Elite.

This whole situation blows donkey balls.

 

[Ari Gold]

Wake me when someone issues a press release.

 

[Kutzy]

Screw prospecting.

This means we will get to see Griffey and Jeter in Topps and A-Rod in UD.

What about retired players? Is their contracts open to all now? Mantle in UD and such?

 

[ru4scuba]

Wake me when someone issues a press release.

Agreed. I've heard some things but until there is an official release I'm not going to get in a huff about it.

 

[cgilmo]

Let me guess, Topps called up the MLBPA and wambulanced until the MLBPA listened because other low tier companies were stealing their exclusitivity to make prospect cards? Figures...

with the dollars at stake, they would be fools if they didn't

All I can say is that I wish I prospected cards from 2001-2004. Sucks to see one company making these prospect cards, and doing a half ass job at it. MLBPA if you read the board, reinvite UD back to the game please.

2001-2003 was basically just Topps because Upper Deck's Prospect Premieres products were not heavily considered by prospectors initially.

And don't assume that Donruss/Panini won't get in this mix for prospects.

panini does not make unlicensed product.

they never will

if they obtain a mlb license, they will be subject to players on the 40 man roster.

 

[ru4scuba]

panini does not make unlicensed product.

they never will

if they obtain a mlb license, they will be subject to players on the 40 man roster.

This is speculation at this point. We very well could see Panini EEE this year. It is licensed by the CLC after all, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

2001-2003 was basically just Topps because Upper Deck's Prospect Premieres products were not heavily considered by prospectors initially.

And don't assume that Donruss/Panini won't get in this mix for prospects.

panini does not make unlicensed product.

they never will

if they obtain a mlb license, they will be subject to players on the 40 man roster.

I understand that Chris. But I also expect Donruss/Panini to dazzle MLBP with positive cash flow (unlike Upper Deck) and get a license.

With the situation that Upper Deck is in...does anyone see them able to stick it out?

 

[ru4scuba]

2001-2003 was basically just Topps because Upper Deck's Prospect Premieres products were not heavily considered by prospectors initially.

And don't assume that Donruss/Panini won't get in this mix for prospects.

panini does not make unlicensed product.

they never will

if they obtain a mlb license, they will be subject to players on the 40 man roster.

I understand that Chris. But I also expect Donruss/Panini to dazzle MLBP with positive cash flow (unlike Upper Deck) and get a license.

With the situation that Upper Deck is in...does anyone see them able to stick it out?

Upper Deck should be able to stick it out if they trim enough fat from their company. I can see them being around for a while even if they lose the MLB license.

 

[vetsgt02]

justinmandawg was telling us something big would be going on next year... One company to rule them all...

One company to find them

 

[predatorkj]

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.

Is this what you heard? Because its very similar to what I am talking about.

and rickzcards, if it true it isn't a good thing.

Competition is always good.

Not a good thing for Razor or the industry, as Chris stated, competition, regardless of what you think of it, is a good thing.

Okay...this is getting weird.While I like competition because for me as a customer it means I get more cards...competition is only good if the quality is amped up.So far to my knowledge...it has not been.

Now if what the rumor is about means that there will be no exclusives...how does that not make for more competition?I mean...all the companies will be able to go on is pure quality.If Razor or UD is better than topps then you will see a sway in their sales.The only real reason Razor has been paid attention to since day one was the fact that they had exclusives.And while that words definition has been undefinable because of all of the blurred uses of it since day one, its still the only thing they had that separated them from Tristar.And even Tristar was able to make the cards.Sure if you read every Razor thread ever written you can eventually figure it out but the more you read the less it sounds good and the more it sounds kinda lame.Not Razor but just the supposed exclusivity.I like Razor but I want to see them leave the nest.I want to see something worth my time.I have purchased some of their cards and hopefully they will be looked at as a good competitor in the years to come.

But what nobody has been able to man up and say is that they really have done nothing to be better.I don't see having exclusives as being better.My point is...can you make a better product.That's all I care about.All anyone here can say is that you're beating a dead horse or that if you don't like it don't buy it.That would be like a car dealer making a really ugly car.And then everyone saying...if you don't like it don't buy it.The fact still remains...why be there if you can't really BE THERE?

All I am saying is I think that if there are no exclusives...that makes for better competition.Especially when you have a couple of companies who are barely hanging on because of the exclusive bit.Let them earn their stripes through good quality.

 

[predatorkj]

2001-2003 was basically just Topps because Upper Deck's Prospect Premieres products were not heavily considered by prospectors initially.

And don't assume that Donruss/Panini won't get in this mix for prospects.

panini does not make unlicensed product.

they never will

if they obtain a mlb license, they will be subject to players on the 40 man roster.

I understand that Chris. But I also expect Donruss/Panini to dazzle MLBP with positive cash flow (unlike Upper Deck) and get a license.

With the situation that Upper Deck is in...does anyone see them able to stick it out?

Upper Deck should be able to stick it out if they trim enough fat from their company. I can see them being around for a while even if they lose the MLB license.

Well Upper Deck makes some of the best high end products.Sure you have Topps Sterling and Triple Threads as well as Prime Cuts but UD has some nice stuff too.Plus their base set every year isn't half bad.In my mind they are in the game just as much as topps.A bunch of bad redemptions does not make or break the company as a whole.It hasn't yet anyways.Besides...if they are going out of baseball...they will still be highly coveted in Football and Basketball so they will always be around.

 

[ru4scuba]

Upper Deck should be able to stick it out if they trim enough fat from their company. I can see them being around for a while even if they lose the MLB license.

Well Upper Deck makes some of the best high end products.Sure you have Topps Sterling and Triple Threads as well as Prime Cuts but UD has some nice stuff too.Plus their base set every year isn't half bad.In my mind they are in the game just as much as topps.A bunch of bad redemptions does not make or break the company as a whole.It hasn't yet anyways.Besides...if they are going out of baseball...they will still be highly coveted in Football and Basketball so they will always be around.

If they lose baseball they'll only have football. Panini has the exclusive NBA contract.

 

[Lars]

Agreed in all the points stated...

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.

Is this what you heard? Because its very similar to what I am talking about.

and rickzcards, if it true it isn't a good thing.

Competition is always good.

Not a good thing for Razor or the industry, as Chris stated, competition, regardless of what you think of it, is a good thing.

Okay...this is getting weird.While I like competition because for me as a customer it means I get more cards...competition is only good if the quality is amped up.So far to my knowledge...it has not been.

Now if what the rumor is about means that there will be no exclusives...how does that not make for more competition?I mean...all the companies will be able to go on is pure quality.If Razor or UD is better than topps then you will see a sway in their sales.The only real reason Razor has been paid attention to since day one was the fact that they had exclusives.And while that words definition has been undefinable because of all of the blurred uses of it since day one, its still the only thing they had that separated them from Tristar.And even Tristar was able to make the cards.Sure if you read every Razor thread ever written you can eventually figure it out but the more you read the less it sounds good and the more it sounds kinda lame.Not Razor but just the supposed exclusivity.I like Razor but I want to see them leave the nest.I want to see something worth my time.I have purchased some of their cards and hopefully they will be looked at as a good competitor in the years to come.

But what nobody has been able to man up and say is that they really have done nothing to be better.I don't see having exclusives as being better.My point is...can you make a better product.That's all I care about.All anyone here can say is that you're beating a dead horse or that if you don't like it don't buy it.That would be like a car dealer making a really ugly car.And then everyone saying...if you don't like it don't buy it.The fact still remains...why be there if you can't really BE THERE?

All I am saying is I think that if there are no exclusives...that makes for better competition.Especially when you have a couple of companies who are barely hanging on because of the exclusive bit.Let them earn their stripes through good quality.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

LOL, there's always good drama in prospecting. :lol: Sigh.

Screw prospecting.

This means we will get to see Griffey and Jeter in Topps and A-Rod in UD.

What about retired players? Is their contracts open to all now? Mantle in UD and such?

 

[predatorkj]

Upper Deck should be able to stick it out if they trim enough fat from their company. I can see them being around for a while even if they lose the MLB license.

Well Upper Deck makes some of the best high end products.Sure you have Topps Sterling and Triple Threads as well as Prime Cuts but UD has some nice stuff too.Plus their base set every year isn't half bad.In my mind they are in the game just as much as topps.A bunch of bad redemptions does not make or break the company as a whole.It hasn't yet anyways.Besides...if they are going out of baseball...they will still be highly coveted in Football and Basketball so they will always be around.

If they lose baseball they'll only have football. Panini has the exclusive NBA contract.

I stand corrected.I forgot about that.My bad.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I hope UD stays in the game. Just thinking about the products alone I think UD makes significantly better products at all price points. I know Topps is still allowed to make prospects and has better customer service, but their product line doesn't come close to UD's in my opinion.

Disclaimer: The above was written by a collector, not a prospector.

 

[predatorkj]

I hope UD stays in the game. Just thinking about the products alone I think UD makes significantly better products at all price points. I know Topps is still allowed to make prospects and has better customer service, but their product line doesn't come close to UD's in my opinion.

Disclaimer: The above was written by a collector, not a prospector.

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.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I hope UD stays in the game. Just thinking about the products alone I think UD makes significantly better products at all price points. I know Topps is still allowed to make prospects and has better customer service, but their product line doesn't come close to UD's in my opinion.

Disclaimer: The above was written by a collector, not a prospector.

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'm with you on that. I think they both have a place in the hobby and the idea that Topps would potentially get the only license really worries me.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Base Topps is geared towards the widest possible audience, not just for people like ourselves, the hobby "elite" LOL.

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.