Topps Officially Secures Exclusive Minor League Card License

[19braves77]

I wonder if they would just make a 600 card set similiar to Topps Total and load it it was extremely limited autographs with all the shiny stuff to build up value. Thats the only way I think a card company is using the license correctly.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Apparently these first MiLB rookie cards will still have this logo on them:

I'd think the first bowman cards will still have the first year/first bowman card designation. I'm guessing they won't be allowed to have either the Pro-Debut or RC logos on them.

The MLB rookies would have the rookie card logo.

However you define rookie is up to you.

So will a first year players card such as players drafted in 2005 being in topps update and bowman chrome draft be considered true rookies again? For example Mike Trout is in Bowman Chrome Draft, now would that be considered his true rookie card again?

 

[brouthercard]

This is going to end up hurting topps' bowman mlb line.

So which card is more desirable, a 2011 topps minor league bryce harper, a 2012 bowman bryce harper insert/"first year" card, or a 2013 bowman bryce harper rookie card?

 

[Jaypers]

UPDATE.

Just found this followup story on Beckett. Check out the bolded sentence.




Topps official: Minor League deal will not affect Bowman lines
By Chris Olds
11/30/2009 5:07:45 PM

With Topps‘ announcement earlier today that it will be the exclusive licensee of cards for Minor League Baseball beginning in 2010, there’s a common question brewing among many prospectors.

What does this mean for Bowman? Could Topps entering the MiLB card market impact the prospect-packed Bowman lines?

Nope, according to Topps’ Clay Luraschi.

“Business as usual with Bowman,” Luraschi told Beckett Media on Monday afternoon.

Luraschi did offer more details for Topps’ inaugural release, 2010 Topps Pro Debut Series 1, which will arrive in March.

Luraschi confirmed that the MiLB products from Topps will include autograph and memorabilia cards (something a Minor League release quite possibly could have gone without) and that a second series for Topps Pro Debut will arrive sometime in the summer.

The MiLB deal, which operates under a blanket agreement, allows Topps to make cards of any player — so those looking for the first fully licensed cards of No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg just might find him there.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at [email protected].

 

[011873]

I like what Ive read so far.

Eventhough its not Smoak's first card, collectors will go for his 2010 card because of the Topps name regardless of the minor league uniform.

Now, this will flop though if they treat it like a $1 pack with hard to get autos and gu.

The way to make it work is to appeal to Chromies. In other words, make it "Bowman Chrome" without it being "Bowman Chrome" by making a bunch of refs and 1-2 autos per box.

Left up to me Id go with a modern basic cardboard stock, throw in 2 "Chrome like" cards a pack for $3. That would make MILB IP auto hounds happy while making Chromies happy. Thats what works in BCDP.

I know its a long way off, but there is a chance this could actually be Stras only 2010 card.

 

[brouthercard]

I like what Ive read so far.

Eventhough its not Smoak's first card, collectors will go for his 2010 card because of the Topps name regardless of the minor league uniform.

Now, this will flop though if they treat it like a $1 pack with hard to get autos and gu.

The way to make it work is to appeal to Chromies. In other words, make it "Bowman Chrome" without it being "Bowman Chrome" by making a bunch of refs and 1-2 autos per box.

Left up to me Id go with a modern basic cardboard stock, throw in 2 "Chrome like" cards a pack for $3. That would make MILB IP auto hounds happy while making Chromies happy. Thats what works in BCDP.

I know its a long way off, but there is a chance this could actually be Stras only 2010 card.

So the big question is, which card are collectors going to clamor over- a stras 2010 minor league "first" card, or a 2011 "rookie" card? I feel purists may pursue the 2010 card since Topps will be making it, and if they do a good job with great appeal, it'll be his most wanted card- the essence of the "rookie card".

 

[011873]

ASSUMING Stras only card is 2010 Topps MILB and he gets to the Majors in September (and had a pretty good 2010 MILB season), I think his 2010 MILB card will be very very hot, regardless of the uniform.

BUT, in true MILB card fashion, once he gets a MLB card in 2011, his 2010 card will be an afterthought.

Think back to 2006 Tri Star Lincecum and Joba. Those were their first cards and autos and they were blazing hot parts of the first half of 2007. But once BC came out, the TS cards dropped big time.

Its what would happen with Razor. Say Smoak makes the team out of Spring Training, hits 10 HRs in April. His Razor autos would be blazing but then tank when UD and Topps make MLB logo autos of him.

 

[brouthercard]

ASSUMING Stras only card is 2010 Topps MILB and he gets to the Majors in September (and had a pretty good 2010 MILB season), I think his 2010 MILB card will be very very hot, regardless of the uniform.

BUT, in true MILB card fashion, once he gets a MLB card in 2011, his 2010 card will be an afterthought.

Think back to 2006 Tri Star Lincecum and Joba. Those were their first cards and autos and they were blazing hot parts of the first half of 2007. But once BC came out, the TS cards dropped big time.

Its what would happen with Razor. Say Smoak makes the team out of Spring Training, hits 10 HRs in April. His Razor autos would be blazing but then tank when UD and Topps make MLB logo autos of him.

But this situation is different. Topps, not razor and tristar, is making the stras card. And even though it is technically a "minor league" card, it will look, feel, and smell like an MLB quality release cause it's made by Topps and people will continue to buy it.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

ASSUMING Stras only card is 2010 Topps MILB and he gets to the Majors in September (and had a pretty good 2010 MILB season), I think his 2010 MILB card will be very very hot, regardless of the uniform.

BUT, in true MILB card fashion, once he gets a MLB card in 2011, his 2010 card will be an afterthought.

Think back to 2006 Tri Star Lincecum and Joba. Those were their first cards and autos and they were blazing hot parts of the first half of 2007. But once BC came out, the TS cards dropped big time.

Its what would happen with Razor. Say Smoak makes the team out of Spring Training, hits 10 HRs in April. His Razor autos would be blazing but then tank when UD and Topps make MLB logo autos of him.

But this situation is different. Topps, not razor and tristar, is making the stras card. And even though it is technically a "minor league" card, it will look, feel, and smell like an MLB quality release cause it's made by Topps and people will continue to buy it.

I agree with Brouthercard.

The 1995 SP Minor League product is the closest scenario we have. The autos from that product of the players when they were hot -- Rolen and VLad -- carried significant weight, despite the fact it was a minor league issue. Those autos far outshone the autos from the next best competing minor product, Just, because 1995 SP Minors was produced by Upper Deck.

Topps' name adds collectability immediately to these cards, as well as lasting value -- not the fleeting value that has been prevalent throughout the history of Tristar, Just, and most recently, Razor.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I like what Ive read so far.

Eventhough its not Smoak's first card, collectors will go for his 2010 card because of the Topps name regardless of the minor league uniform.

Now, this will flop though if they treat it like a $1 pack with hard to get autos and gu.

The way to make it work is to appeal to Chromies. In other words, make it "Bowman Chrome" without it being "Bowman Chrome" by making a bunch of refs and 1-2 autos per box.

Left up to me Id go with a modern basic cardboard stock, throw in 2 "Chrome like" cards a pack for $3. That would make MILB IP auto hounds happy while making Chromies happy. Thats what works in BCDP.

I know its a long way off, but there is a chance this could actually be Stras only 2010 card.

Topps is (was?) limited to produce a certain number of sets by MLB.

There is no such limit, as far as we know, with MiLB.

I would bet my JA Happ 2004 Bowman Chrome Draft Red Refractor 1/1 that you'll see a Topps Pro Debut Chrome edition a month or three after the original hits the market.

 

[Russ S.]

ASSUMING Stras only card is 2010 Topps MILB and he gets to the Majors in September (and had a pretty good 2010 MILB season), I think his 2010 MILB card will be very very hot, regardless of the uniform.

BUT, in true MILB card fashion, once he gets a MLB card in 2011, his 2010 card will be an afterthought.

Think back to 2006 Tri Star Lincecum and Joba. Those were their first cards and autos and they were blazing hot parts of the first half of 2007. But once BC came out, the TS cards dropped big time.

Its what would happen with Razor. Say Smoak makes the team out of Spring Training, hits 10 HRs in April. His Razor autos would be blazing but then tank when UD and Topps make MLB logo autos of him.

But this situation is different. Topps, not razor and tristar, is making the stras card. And even though it is technically a "minor league" card, it will look, feel, and smell like an MLB quality release cause it's made by Topps and people will continue to buy it.

Both situations are VERY different, as BOTH Stras & Smoak already have cards issues. USA
USA beats the hell out of Razor and Tristar any way you look at it.
Not to mention Stras' SP autos.

However you define rookie is up to you.

:lol: So Silly.

 

[brianga26]

Just sent Chris Olds an email about giving feedback from the hobby community to Topps.

As for the RC vs MILB issued card. I hope Topps doesn't drop the ball on this. What a great opportunity to show Minor League baseball to the collecting public. Upper Deck had a great product back in the 90s. I really loved seeing future stars in their minor league uniforms. (see Vladdy in the Albany Polecats uni!! Priceless). I think there is a significant part of the public that is accepting of MILB issued cards (Tristar has done too shabby!!).

I know we prostrate ourselves as the "hobby voice." But there are others out there that will buy this product, including myself. I am glad MILB cards are going to be produced by Topps,and I am hoping for a kick ass product!