We’ve come a long way from the days when multiple companies each produced multiple baseball and other sports card brands each year. A lot of card shops were happy to always have something new to sell. It didn’t do the hobby any favors, though.
There was confusion in the market. Collectors used to having a puncher’s chance to chase down every card of a certain player or every set issued each year became overwhelmed. 
A lot of them left the hobby for good.
Still, there are plenty of others who don’t let the card companies or their partners at the leagues and players’ associations dictate how they collect. Those people are keeping the modern trading card era alive.
It’s a lot of wo
rk–and it’s a work in progress.
Topps is using its status as the exclusive licensee to launch new promotions and the major manufacturers are dipping a toe into the digital/interactive age in an attempt to lure and keep collectors of all ages.
Get perspective from all sides here.
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