03.31
By CHRIS OLDS | Beckett Media
The National Hockey League‘s new card licensing agreement announced last week that allows Panini America to produce hockey cards along with previous exclusive licensee Upper Deck prevents exclusive autograph deals and nullifies past exclusives that players may have signed previously, according to a letter sent to NHL players and agents by an NHLPA official.
In his letter, Adam Larry, the Director of Licensing and Associate Counsel for the NHLPA, noted that “both Upper Deck and Panini will be permitted to use images of ALL NHL players in their products” — but also that those two manufacturers “are the only trading card companies that players should sign autographs or appear on packaging for.”
The letter also notes that Upper Deck will not be producing as many NHL sets as it had in its previous five years as an exclusive but that the NHLPA expects “the shortfall to be more than made up for however by the new licensee Panini.”
The letter states that “Neither Upper Deck nor Panini can sign a player to an exclusive autograph deal” and that “Neither Panini nor Upper Deck can: (I) preclude a player’s image from appearing on trading cards made by the other company; or (II) prevent memorabilia (jerseys, equipment, etc.) of a player from being included in trading cards made by the other company.”
Interestingly, the only exclusives that can be signed are for packaging deals where the players can endorse a product by appearing on the boxes or wrappers of products.
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03.31
Years ago, one part of “The Price of Perfection” was established when former New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen sold his perfect game memorabilia at auction.
Next month, Grey Flannel will help memorabilia collectors determine the price of the other half.
The jersey that Yogi Berra wore during Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series is up for grabs from the Westhampton, N.Y.-based auction house.
Bidding sits at $241,577 with more than two weeks to go before the April 14 closing date.
According to Grey Flannel, the uniform had been tucked away for years after it was issued to prospect Ron Stevenot when he reported to camp in 1959. (Uniforms were commonly re-used in the past.) It had the year “1956” sewn onto the No. 8 jersey along with Berra’s name.
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03.30
It’s a busy time here at Beckett Media as we continue to prepare all of the sports card magazines and books you’ve come to expect — as well as a more than a few extra magazines here and there, too — but we’re not done there.
Beckett’s Tracy Hackler and Chris Olds have signed on to provide occasional sports card and memorabilia items to ESPN.com’s Page 2. So in case you haven’t bounced around online to see what’s going on in the hobby enough, now there’s another possible destination.
Why? It’s a chance to get the hobby some added widespread exposure, perhaps drawing back some of those collectors who’ve left cards behind and forgotten the likes of Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, Press Pass and others.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve done for Page 2 so far …
We’ll update this list every so often after additional items are published.
Dec. 29 — Justin Bieber featured in Donruss hockey set
Dec. 25 — Tebow, now starting, racking up football cards
Dec. 21 – Brett Favre’s memorabilia surely grabbing attention
Dec. 12 — Wonder Years‘ Jason Hervey is on wrestling cards
Dec. 1 — Unlike fakes, Derek Jeter already has Red Sox card
Nov. 30 — Leslie Nielsen appeared on 2009 Upper Deck card
Nov. 20 — Football pioneer has first memorabilia card made
Nov. 18 — Bryce Harper’s first pro jersey up for auction
Nov. 12 — Help Topps pick 60 greatest baseball cards
Nov. 4 — With passing of Andy Irons, interest in card rises
Oct. 30 — How about a Yankee Stadium office chair?
Oct. 27 — Collectors eye first LeBron James card with Heat
Oct. 19 — Rookies & legends set to appear on hockey cards
Oct. 9 — Bryce Harper card sells to investment banker
Oct. 3 — Topps to give away diamonds with baseball cards
Sept. 27 – Logan Morrison goes from card shop to majors
Sept. 26 — Topps readies for 60th anniversary
Sept. 11 — Robert Horry signs 1st NBA card
Sept. 5 – Yes, that Pamela Anderson has a baseball card
Aug. 31 – Tim Tebow, John Elway join up for trading card
Aug. 29 — Strasburg created buzz on cards
Aug. 27 — MMA announcer Bruce Buffer makes name for himself
Aug. 16 — New Obak set looks at game changers
Aug. 1 – Alex Rodriguez appears on nearly 18,000 cards
July 29 — Tim Tebow’s name is on everything
July 20 – LeBron James’ first Heat card
July 19 — “Major League” manager Lou Brown passes away
July 18 — James-Wade-Bosh card surges in value
July 11 – Even Bob Sheppard had a baseball card
July 10 – Jordin Sparks, Stuart Scott in card set
July 3 — Kobayashi beats Chestnut! — in trading cards
June 28 — Baseball fan cracks code, gets card
June 23 — Landon Donovan’s trading card value rises
June 22 — For Tim Tebow, it’s the sign of the times
June 16 — Strasburg card buyer is sold on pitcher
June 8 — Harper, Strasburg see cards rise
June 4 — Tim Tebow trading cards rise in value
May 31 — Pat Tillman’s football cards not forgotten
May 29 — Is this Stephen Strasburg card really worth it?
May 22 – Fans can draw their own trading cards
May 15 — Athletes marketing own memorabilia
May 8 — Tony Hawk jumps into the trading card game
May 5 — In NHRA, Forces to be Reckoned
May 2 — Even celebrities have trading cards
April 23 — Tim Tebow’s first “card” in NFL is valuable
April 21 — Hogan, Flair autograph cards for TRISTAR
April 16 — UFC interim champ Shane Carwin collects cards
April 12 — You can have a piece of Texas Stadium
April 6 — So glad Arena League has returned
March 29 – Cards correctly predicted WrestleMania winners
March 27 – Kobe loves trading cards … seriously
March 27 – WrestleMania winners in the cards
March 19 – Abraham Lincoln appears on a baseball card
March 17 — UFC cards are all the rage
March 9 — No bull here as you can get PBR trading cards
March 7 – “Blind Side” heats up Michael Oher’s cards
March 2 – Apolo Anton Ohno’s baseball card takes off
March 1 — You’ll be bugged by these baseball cards
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Tracy Hackler is the Editorial Director at Beckett Media, while Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to Hackler at thackler@beckett.com or Olds colds@beckett.com. Follow Olds on Twitter by clicking here. Follow Hackler on Twitter by clicking here.
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03.29
Panini America officials today released images and preliminary product information on 2010 Donruss Elite Football, a longtime portfolio staple slated to release in June 16 packing four hits (with at least one autograph guaranteed), four Rookies and 10 other inserts or parallels per box.
Elite loyalists can rest easy knowing that the product’s calling cards — Throwback Threads memorabilia cards and Passing the Torch Autographs — return in full force. The company also has secured autographs and memorabilia from some of the key contributors of New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Each case of the product should deliver at least one autograph from a group that includes Peyton Manning, Joe Namath, Brett Favre, Emmitt Smith, Drew Brees, Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews and Jonathan Dwyer.
Check out the preview images after the jump.
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03.26
Topps unveiled on Friday its plans for 2010 Topps Tribute Dynasties & Rivalries Edition baseball, which will include six autographed or Relic cards in every box (one per pack) as it focuses on some of the stories teams and showdowns in MLB.
There also will be six parallel cards in every box of the hobby-exclusive product when it arrives in late July (“the week of July 19″ for you who want something more specific).
What’s the big, big, big card unveiled so far? Try a multi-card cut autograph booklet with autographs for the lineup of the 1927 New York Yankees. See it after the jump.
Among the autograph lineups are the Legendary Lineups booklet cards, Rivalries Revisited cuts — which will even include political foes such as John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro — Franchise Cuts, Tribute Cuts, and three types of autographed Relic cards (single, double and triple).
Among the Relic lineups are Franchise Feats Relics (booklet cards), Franchise Feats BuyBack Relics (past Tribute cards) as well as standard, dual and triple Relics.
All autographs and Relics have parallels — Red (1/1), Gold (1/1), Black (50) and Blue (75).
Read more and see a full batch of preview images after the jump.
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03.26
Topps Vice President Chris Rodman (left) with IPL Chief Executive Sundar Raman (center) and Topps CEO Ryan O'Hara celebrate the Topps-IPL deal.
Topps is taking yet another step in establishing its presence globally.
Its next venture? Professional cricket collectibles.
Topps announced Friday that it joined forces with the Indian Premier League to launch a range of new products for the IPL beginning in 2011.
Topps will produce stickers, albums and trading cards that will be sold both at retail and online. A substantial marketing campaign is planned that includes television and sampling initiatives as well as a nationwide “Game Play demonstration tour” to help children learn how to play and swap their IPL collectibles.
“This alliance with Topps – the world leader in collectibles, is part of our effort to actively engage IPL fans across multiple platforms,” said Sundar Raman the IPL’s Chief Operating Officer. “Collectable trading cards are an integral part of any fan experience globally and through this partnership we are happy to introduce Indian fans to this unique and exciting global concept.”
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03.25
Classically trained box busters Tracy Hackler and Keith Hower get cozy with a box of 2009-10 Panini Classics Basketball.
What did they pull? What can you wn? Watch right now and find out.
03.25
Not even a freak March Texas snowstorm could freeze the spirits of 14-year-old Dallas collector Ryan Wolfson last Saturday. Not with 15 of his closest buddies around to keep him warm until Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton arrived at his front door.
Indeed, that’s how last weekend started for Wolfson, the grand prize winner in the 2009 NFL Players Player of the Day contest. Following an informal shindig with Crayton, Wolfson and his buddies at the Wolfson family home, the party moved – via limousine – to Nick and Debbie Redwine’s Dallas-based Nick’s Sports Cards.
Once there, the party grew to more than 200 guests, all of whom received free autographs from Crayton and otherwise made themselves comfortable with hobby heat while Wolfson received a $250 shopping spree.
“I am thrilled for Ryan and his family,” said namesake owner Nick Redwine. “He is a regular customer at my shop and a big football card collector and Cowboys fan. I’m glad to be a part of his special day.”
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03.24
By TRACY HACKLER | BECKETT MEDIA EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
While the move may have lacked the controversy and surprise of other trading card announcements in recent months, the NHL’s decision to add Panini as a second licensee beginning with the 2010-11 season was a headline-maker.
Today’s news signaled the effective end to Upper Deck’s five-year exclusive on the category and turned Panini into a three-sport manufacturer.
In this exclusive interview, Dave McCarthy, NHL Enterprises’ Vice President of Integrated Marketing, addresses, among other things, Upper Deck’s exclusivity, Panini’s potential and the 10 things that helped shape the decision.
Beckett Media: What does adding a second manufacturer say about the vibrancy or popularity of the NHL as a “trading card sport?”
Dave McCarthy: The NHL brand has tremendous momentum behind it, and all of our vital signs are good – attendance, TV ratings, web traffic to the NHL.com network, corporate sponsor appeal and, ultimately, consumer product sales. This decision will allow two companies the opportunity to put their resources to work to fully capitalize on this momentum while offering both passionate and new collectors products that appeal to them.
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03.24
We’ve gotten a sneak peek at more of the 2009 Goodwin Champions Entomology cards from Upper Deck – and the Beckett Baseball Best Gimmick Set of 2009 winner definitely delivers the weird.
While we’re saving the nastiest of the creepy crawlers for the next issue of Beckett Baseball, here are a few more to check out. Learn more about the cards here and here.
See them all after the jump …
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