Topps is going to be a public company once again. The iconic trading card and candy maker announced early Tuesday that it had entered into a deal for with Mudrick Capital Acquisition that’s expected to close in late second or early third quarter. The deal values Topps at $1.3 billion. Topps had been publicly owned until 2007 when Madison Dearborn Partners and … [Read more...]
The Model of Consistency: A Freddie Freeman Rookie Card Review
Freddie Freeman was a dual threat on the diamond as a star third baseman and star pitcher at El Modena High School in Orange, California.He signed a letter of intent to play college ball for Cal State Fullerton but when the Atlanta Braves drafted him 78th overall in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft, Freeman passed on the college experience to make his way up through the … [Read more...]
Scott Elarton Recalls His First Cards, Making Trades as a Youth, TTM Signing
Six-foot-seven righthander Scott Elarton was a first round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 1994. As an 18-year-old, he passed on the college experience and headed straight to the minors. In 1997 he went all the way from Single A ball the Triple A and in 1998 he made his Major League debut for the Astros. The Lamar, Colorado native spent a decade in the bigs, playing for … [Read more...]
Jeff Juden Q&A: Signing Autographs in High School; Memorable MLB Debut; Collecting Cards
By the end of his senior season, big, poweful righty Jeff Juden was a high school pitching phenom in Salem, MA. He was a high school All-American and was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year. The Houston Astros snapped him up with the 12th overall pick in the 1991 MLB Draft. Juden's major league career spanned eight seasons--and eight … [Read more...]
All Aboard the Cole Train: A Gerrit Cole Rookie Card Guide
Never mind, the mind-boggling contract, as soon as collectors learned that he was on his way to the Big Apple, collectors wondered what the impact would be on Gerrit Cole rookie cards. Playing in the biggest media market for the sport's most popular franchise can definitely have an impact, but savvy buyers have been picking up his cards for a long time. While … [Read more...]
Former Big Leaguer Kelly Stinnett on Visiting Card Shops, Collecting Mickey Mantle, Dmitri Young Maildays
Kelly Stinnett played the better part of fourteen seasons in the big leagues. The Lawton, Oklahoma native suited up behind the plate for eight different teams during his MLB career, having his best year in 1999 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Stinnett transitioned from player to the manager role shortly after his retirement in 2007. He became the skipper of a number of minor … [Read more...]
Topps Remains MLBPA’s Top Licensee as Union Stockpiles Cash
Topps paid the MLB Players Association $18,768,721 in licensing fees in 2019. That’s according to the union’s annual report with the U.S. Labor Department. The figure represents a $5.6 million increase from 2018 and more than $7 million more than in 2017. The MLBPA receives more money from Topps than any other licensee. While Topps continues its longstanding … [Read more...]
What Qualifies as a Vintage Baseball Card?
So, just what is a vintage baseball card, anyway? The idea came to me recently, though it certainly wasn't on my own. See, a baseball card group to which I belong, Old Baseball Cards, debated the topic a week or so ago. As you can imagine, answers were sort of all over the place because getting a consensus on something like that is basically impossible. To find a … [Read more...]
Topps Returns To The Ice With 2019-2020 NHL Sticker Collection
Topps is returning to the ice, and the company is ready to get physical. Topps, which has operated the NHL Skate app that offers digital hockey cards, has returned with something collectors can touch. The 2019-2020 Topps NHL Sticker Collection will be available the week of Nov. 15, with 629 total stickers available to chase. Panini has produced NHL stickers in the … [Read more...]
Topps Baseball Cards of the 1950s Extended Beyond Their Base Sets
While there are baseball players in the 1948 Topps Magic set, most collectors consider the 1952 set as their first 'standard' issue. The company was new to the baseball card world and quickly competed with Bowman for top billing in the industry. Topps quickly won that battle, ultimately buying Bowman. As they navigated the new landscape of post-war bubble gum cards, the New … [Read more...]