Topps & MLB: Columnists Weigh In

It's taken a few days for columnists in the mainstream media or non-collecting blogs to digest--or at least take notice of the deal between Major League Baseball and Topps.

The common theme throughout those opinion pieces seems to be that the baseball card industry is struggling. The question is whether one licensed manufacturer is a good idea.

Slate.com's Dave Jamieson is writing a history on how baseball cards became an American institution. He weighed in on last week's news with skepticism about whether having one approved card producer is a good thing for the industry.

Like one legal observation we shared yesterday, he's thinking Upper Deck may be willing to challenge the contract in court .

Steve Rosen in the Kansas City Star is a little harsh, but likes the idea if it leads to less confusion.