TOPPS GETS EXCLUSIVE MLB LICENSE STARTING IN 2010

[bigalexx]

Being reported by NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/sport ... .html?_r=1

 

[Philip J. Fry]

I wondered when this would happen. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[bigalexx]

Edited original post, its now being reported as a done deal by the NY Times.

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

Interesting. I wonder if Topps sacrificed anything to get this license...like perhaps their grandfathered right to produce cards of players not on the 40 man roster. I hope not. That would suck.

 

[bballcardkid]

Hopefully UD can now product a product much like 07 EEE, and not have to worry about potential "sanctions" from the MLBPA.

 

[soccerman034]

End of Upper Deck?

 

[A_Pharis]

Welp -- get ready for crappy products that lack the drive of beating competition. Enjoy 2010 Topps Opening Day Series 1 through 10.

 

[bouwob]

2 thumbs down. I am honestly starting to miss the mid 90s when there were 15 different companies producing cards. It was nice when the companies had to compete to sell products instead of producing crap because there is no one trying to out sell you.

 

[Rickzcards]

Well this should be interesting. UD is in a world of hurt now.

 

[A_Pharis]

Oh, and it's a pretty obvious shot at UD/Razor's use of exclusivity.
Maybe we'll see a scenario of UD/Razor being the minor/prospect line and Topps being Vet.

 

[Philip J. Fry]

Welp -- get ready for crappy products that lack the drive of beating competition. Enjoy 2010 Topps Opening Day Series 1 through 10.

But Mr. Eisner knows how to cater to kids. I mean, he did run Disney for awhile!

/sarcasm

 

[ChasHawk]

Welp -- get ready for crappy products that lack the drive of beating competition. Enjoy 2010 Topps Opening Day Series 1 through 10.

This.

 

[bballcardkid]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/sport ... cards.html

Upper Deck refused to address the Topps deal, which is to be announced Thursday. A spokesman for Upper Deck, based in Carlsbad, Calif., said only that it renewed its trading card license with the Major League Baseball Players Association last month and would keep producing cards. While the union license gives Upper Deck the right to use player likenesses, it will no longer have the rights to team logos and trademarks.

 

[Codasco07]

If it had to be one, I'm glad it was Topps.

 

[blanning71]

Is it just me or are the nuts of this hobby being squeezed a little too hard? It pisses me off if this is the case. I may be in the minority but I think variety is a GOOD thing. I don't like the fact that UD and Topps are shoveling useless products down our throats but I think that if they could refocus their target groups, that could all change.

Oh well. Now it makes me wonder how UD is going to handle all of this? I know they still have hockey and football but geez, how much more can they be cut before they pack up their tent and go home?

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Topps dominates low end and UD dominates high end. Why can't they let each just do what they do well.

 

[ChasHawk]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/sports/baseball/06cards.html

Upper Deck refused to address the Topps deal, which is to be announced Thursday. A spokesman for Upper Deck, based in Carlsbad, Calif., said only that it renewed its trading card license with the Major League Baseball Players Association last month and would keep producing cards. While the union license gives Upper Deck the right to use player likenesses, it will no longer have the rights to team logos and trademarks.

This is the part of this I don't get. They just signed this deal.

 

[A_Pharis]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/sports/baseball/06cards.html

Upper Deck refused to address the Topps deal, which is to be announced Thursday. A spokesman for Upper Deck, based in Carlsbad, Calif., said only that it renewed its trading card license with the Major League Baseball Players Association last month and would keep producing cards. While the union license gives Upper Deck the right to use player likenesses, it will no longer have the rights to team logos and trademarks.

Which has been the bane of every product besides EEE (and maybe SK). I'm all for UD just going ahead and absorbing Razor to just land every prospect they can to exclusivity deals that stretch past "Rookie Rule" determination.

 

[ChasHawk]

Topps dominates low end and UD dominates high end. Why can't they let each just do what they do well.

Be prepared for all high-end products from next year forward to suck.

Hopefully UD unloads the store like DLP did in 05, and just blows Topps'
doors off for the rest of 09.

 

[Billy Packer]

I don't know how this can possibly be good for the marketplace. Even crappy competition is better than no competition at all.