TOPPS GETS EXCLUSIVE MLB LICENSE STARTING IN 2010

[Codasco07]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

 

[phillyfan0417]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth

And until I hear Elvis himself refute he's alive, I will continue to believe he is.


Sorry, but I'm pretty sure Topps will never refute that because to do so would be silly and makes no sense. But hey, at least you'll never be proven wrong.

 

[Jaypers]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

For "glorifying", read "stating the truth".

My focus of sportscards are within the niche of prospect related products, and so that is what I based my previous post on.

And these types of products are on the shelves at Target, at least in my city.

 

[Jaypers]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth

And until I hear Elvis himself refute he's alive, I will continue to believe he is.


Sorry, but I'm pretty sure Topps will never refute that because to do so would be silly and makes no sense. But hey, at least you'll never be proven wrong.

Come buy from my fruitstand. Get your apples! Get your oranges!

I happen to know there are people at Topps who do in fact read these very boards, and could either confirm or deny this whenever they wanted to.

 

[George_Calfas]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

For "glorifying", read "stating the truth".

My focus of sportscards are within the niche of prospect related products, and so that is what I based my previous post on.

And these types of products are on the shelves at Target, at least in my city.

You have seen Razor sold at Target?

For as much crap that people give UD about their CS and products the up roar here is amazing. Personally, knocking them off for 2010 makes Panini a possibility is 2011 does it not?

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I actually like this statement: “This is redirecting the entire category toward kids”.

I also think the MLB *AND* MLBPA license together is what matters most for pro baseball. Maybe minor league licensing will become important again.

 

[Codasco07]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

For "glorifying", read "stating the truth".

My focus of sportscards are within the niche of prospect related products, and so that is what I based my previous post on.

And these types of products are on the shelves at Target, at least in my city.

Razor is?

 

[Jaypers]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

For "glorifying", read "stating the truth".

My focus of sportscards are within the niche of prospect related products, and so that is what I based my previous post on.

And these types of products are on the shelves at Target, at least in my city.

Razor is?

BDP "and other rc centered products" are. I didn't say Razor specifically.

 

[Phishmon23]

This is exactly where I stand. For the past couple years I only build a set or two a year, I guess now I can starts catching up on some old sets!

All these moves are making me grow tired of the hobby. If it sucks I can catch up on some old sets.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

I actually like this statement: “This is redirecting the entire category toward kids”.

I also think the MLB *AND* MLBPA license together is what matters most for pro baseball. Maybe minor league licensing will become important again.

It will become far more important when it ends up in proper hands...starting in 2010.

Tristar has done nothing to further the MiLB brand...a one-legged donkey could have promoted the MiLB better than Tristar.

Tristar should stick to what they're best at...promoting card shows, insane autograph prices and silly "chase" products that are 'huge' with the mentally ill.

 

[onehrk]

Guess it's a good thing I collect Zito in an A's uni. None of this really effects me. Long live Donruss!

 

[Codasco07]

Anyone who thinks this move wasn't in direct response to Razor throwing down the gauntlet with their exclusives last year is out of their mind.

Until an official representative of Topps refutes this, I will continue to believe it to be the Gospel truth.

please stop over glorifying whatever razor did. The Razor, BDP and other rc centered products are a niche market. Mlbpa is much more concerned about what people see on the shelves at target, much less hobby shops and online distribution. Yes for prospecting, Razor looks like a watershed, but in the general sportscard market, I doubt most people even knew/cared.

For "glorifying", read "stating the truth".

My focus of sportscards are within the niche of prospect related products, and so that is what I based my previous post on.

And these types of products are on the shelves at Target, at least in my city.

Razor is?

BDP "and other rc centered products" are. I didn't say Razor specifically.

that's my point. razor doesn't/didn't play a major role in the hobby. Diehard hobbyists and prospectors are the least of mlbpa's concerns. The groups they are focused on didn't even know razor existed. BDP is on the shelves of target, but did the typical targe sports card buyer hold off purchasing bdp because razor had exclusive clients? No. Razor appealed to an incredibly small niche, heck most prospectors didn't care for it. To think that Razor was the main factor or played any sort of contributing role in this decision is misguided and clouded by personal bias towards razor.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

that's my point. razor doesn't/didn't play a major role in the hobby. Diehard hobbyists and prospectors are the least of mlbpa's concerns. The groups they are focused on didn't even know razor existed. BDP is on the shelves of target, but did the typical targe sports card buyer hold off purchasing bdp because razor had exclusive clients? No. Razor appealed to an incredibly small niche, heck most prospectors didn't care for it. To think that Razor was the main factor or played any sort of contributing role in this decision is misguided and clouded by personal bias towards razor.

I agree, but I think it's more to the point to speculate that part of the unwritten reasoning behind this decision is MLB wanting to punish UD for funding Razor, thereby circumventing rules established for them by MLB.

I predicted almost a year ago that we would see Weiters autos in UD products when he made the roster. That was actually pretty obvious to many hobby insiders; UD went around MLB's established guidelines to compete with Topps, and they are sowing those seeds right now.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Personally, I do not think that Razor had too much to do with Topps' exclusivity, but I do think that it will have a lot to do with the MiLB license.

Topps was definitely annoyed that they could not release cards of many of the top draft picks from 2008, but licensing is a business deal and if there is one company that sums up "baseball cards" it's Topps. It was a no-brainer.

Now we are just waiting for the next gauntlet to fall...NFL cards. Logic dictates that Upper Deck would get the exclusive should the NFL pursue it but will Upper Deck be financially viable at that point?

 

[Jaypers]

that's my point. razor doesn't/didn't play a major role in the hobby. Diehard hobbyists and prospectors are the least of mlbpa's concerns. The groups they are focused on didn't even know razor existed. BDP is on the shelves of target, but did the typical targe sports card buyer hold off purchasing bdp because razor had exclusive clients? No. Razor appealed to an incredibly small niche, heck most prospectors didn't care for it. To think that Razor was the main factor or played any sort of contributing role in this decision is misguided and clouded by personal bias towards razor.

I'd like to direct your attention to last year's BDP product. Until Razor was in the picture, Topps was content to put out a substandard product, checklist-wise. After Razor, they "suddenly" included a better course of players, plus the AFLAC autographs. I doubt that to be a coincidence.

As for who knows about Razor's existence within the mainstream, neither of us can really prove whether or not kids knew (or currently know) about them for certain. I think they are much more savvy than you are giving them credit for.

All I know is, the timing of Topps' newest "exclusive" news, which was preceded by Topps' announcement of their "exclusive" deal with the WBC franchise a few months ago, screams volumes to me.

 

[jimmyjam1973]

If they want to get the "kids" back into collecting, they need to stop making packs that cost $300. When was the last time you saw a "kid" at a card shop or show. I set up at all the local shows here in the ATL, and there are very few kids that attend.

I was never one to collect prospects, but in the last couple of years, that seems to be all that I go after. Chrome, BCDP, etc, seems to be all that I've opened lately. I got tired of opening stuff like Legendary Cuts, and Greats of the Game and pulling "legends" like Steve Garvey (who by the way is my all time favorite player, just wouldn't call him a legend), Bill Madlock, and Jack Clark.

Razor really screwed up this business last year, and I can tell you I have never and will never EVER, open a single pack of their garbage. To me it's no better that Just Minors, Sage, Press Pass, etc.

I think now that UD has lost their NBA, and MLB licenses, they're really going to rethink about all their exclusive deals with Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, Ichiro, etc.

I wish this wasn't going to happen, because last time I checked this was the United States of America where competition was welcomed, but I guess someone in his/her corporate office decided a monopoly was the way to go.

end rant!

 

[gracecollector]

Voice your displeasure!

Write an email to Tim Brosnan, executive vice president for business at Major League Baseball, the man behind this decision.

[email protected]

The best way to let these guys know what you think is to write them direct. If enough people voice their displeasure, change can happen.

I'm pissed and I'm letting Tim know what I think of this monopoly!

email sent! good idea!

edit: nvm - address was rejected by my mailer daemon :evil:

Looks like after the frack he caught after the DirectTV / MLB deal, he no longer has open email. May have to send snail mail:

Tim Bronan
MLB Executive Vice President for Business
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167

 

[beefycheddar]

I actually like this statement: “This is redirecting the entire category toward kids”.

I also think the MLB *AND* MLBPA license together is what matters most for pro baseball. Maybe minor league licensing will become important again.

It will become far more important when it ends up in proper hands...starting in 2010.

Tristar has done nothing to further the MiLB brand...a one-legged donkey could have promoted the MiLB better than Tristar.

Tristar should stick to what they're best at...promoting card shows, insane autograph prices and silly "chase" products that are 'huge' with the mentally ill.

You mean wrestling fans?

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

I love all of the anti-monopoly talk here, when MLB itself is a government-sponsored monopoly.

 

[Rudzud]

i'm liking the news to a point - UD can hopefully produce old timers sets without the MLBPA/MLB license restriction on oldtimers.

The Topps exclusivity will save me some money - of Topps, all I collect are ATFF (if they'd bring it back), Topps Total (if they would bring it back) and base topps and bowman.

Once you leave, it'll never be the same as it was before. ATFF will never be as good as those early releases if the bring it back. I'm so thrilled to have pulled my Carlton and Bo.