David Leiner, global general manager of sports and entertainment for Topps, says baseball card collecting is “probably the strongest we’ve seen the business in at least 20 years.” Part of a big Topps Company contingent on hand for the “Million Card Rip Party” for Series 1 last week, Leiner talked with Jeff Wilson of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram about the state of the … [Read more...]
Topps News: Astros Manager Hinch Visits Office; New On-Demand Sets
From the time he was a kid until he left home to start his pro career, Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch was an avid card collector. With the MLB interleague schedule putting the Astros in New York City last week, he stopped by the Topps offices for a segment that appeared on MLB Network and MLB.com. You can watch it below. Topps has released a couple of new … [Read more...]
Notes: SGC Program Will Give Ready-to-Use Images to Customers; Finals Jerseys, More
SGC is launching a pilot program that will enable customers to receive and utilize high resolution images of the trading cards they submit, enabling them to immediately use those photos to showcase those cards on eBay, Amazon or Facebook. It saves customers the job of scanning the newly graded cards they’re planning to sell online. The company has made its … [Read more...]
Notes: MHCC Auction; PSA 9 E98s Bring Big $; Topps Hires PR Firm, Launches AAF NOW Cards
Mile High Card Company's big catalog auction is still a few weeks away but the company's first Extra Innings Auction of 2019 kicked off on Monday. Over 400 lots are included in sale, headlined by several vintage complete sets including 1955 Bowman, 1968 Topps and 1948 Bowman football. There is also a partial 1951 Bowman baseball set and mid-to-upper grade 1952 Topps … [Read more...]
Topps, WWE Extend Partnership
The Topps Company has reached a multi-year agreement that extends its global partnership with WWE for licensed trading cards. Topps has featured WWE Superstars since 2005. “We’re excited to see how far we can push the WWE license to bring new and exciting products to fans around the world,” said Topps General Manager and Vice President David Leiner. Specific … [Read more...]
Topps, MLBPA Extend Trading Card License
Four months after announcing an extension of its partnership with Major League Baseball, Topps did the same with the league’s players. The MLBPA and Topps will continue their global trading card partnership. A timeframe wasn’t offered but Topps’ new deal with MLB runs through 2025. “Topps has been a great longtime partner of the MLB Players Association,” said Evan … [Read more...]
Notes: NPR Segment on MLB Authentication; Topps Talk on Squawk Box; Topps & Fallon?
With the World Series opening up Tuesday night, MLB authenticators will get busy tagging anything and everything that's game-used. Even the champagne bottles from the winning team's locker room. The magnitude of the games means there will be heightened interest--and value--in what's used. What happens to most of it is up to the teams. Authenticators generally have a … [Read more...]
Topps: Card Business Not For Sale
Topps officials say the sports and entertainment portion of its business isn’t for sale. At a Q&A session with collectors and dealers Friday evening in Cleveland, David Leiner, the company’s Global General Manager of Sports and Entertainment, said the Topps trading cards we’ve come to know aren’t going anywhere. “The Topps Sports and Entertainment Division is not for … [Read more...]
Topps, MLB Extend Exclusive License Through 2025
A partnership that launched when Mickey Mantle was still an unproven youngster from Commerce, OK will continue for at least seven more years. Major League Baseball and The Topps Company announced what most had expected: an extension of their exclusive global partnership for MLB-licensed trading cards. The new deal will run through 2025. There was no word on … [Read more...]
Notes: Once Unloved, Ruth Ball Will Fetch Big Bucks; Ex-Bills Coach’s Playbooks on eBay
Ignored for decades after being acquired by a 1920s youngster, a Babe Ruth autographed ball is now getting its just due. The signed ball, barely handled since it was acquired in Los Angeles more than 90 years ago, sat in a dingy basement for much of its life, still inside the original box. Now it’s the pick of a litter of Ruth signed balls in the current … [Read more...]