(03-22-2015, 04:42 PM)jaredhuizenga Wrote: Photos don't come cheap. To get in-game shots, you either have to have enough staff photographers to cover all of the teams (expensive) or you have to hire it out freelance, which wouldn't be bad except for the fact that MLB doesn't hand out media credentials very easily. So you're stuck wtih Getty Images or the AP ... and most of the photographers that shoot for those services charge a ton for commercial work.
I thought he was referring to why photos are reused for older players in the relics and high end base cards. He said he believed it was a licensing issue, which wouldn't make sense. If they have to pay to use a players likeness, it wouldn't matter what image they used. The fact of the matter is that Topps owns the rights to a great deal of former mlbers (Mantle and Williams are 2 major stars they do not), and can use whatever image they choose.
As far as the modern guys, there's really no reason to reuse images. While photos may not come cheap, Topps has an archive that would give the Library if Congress a run for their money.