Bryce Harper signs extension to exclusive Topps autograph deal

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

It’s business as usual for Bryce Harper.

Topps announced on Wednesday that it has extended its exclusive autograph and packaging rights deal with the 21-year-old Washington Nationals outfielder for an undisclosed number of years.

He made his Bowman autograph debut back in 2011 and will be starting his third season in the majors this year after hitting .274 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI last summer.

“I am happy to be a part of the Topps family,” Harper said in a prepared statement. “I still get excited when I see my Topps cards and I am glad to hear that fans are excited about them, too.”

In all, Harper appears on 1,630 different cards — 402 of those certified autographs — valued at more than $57,200 excluding cards too rare to price. (Click here for an OPG or checklist.)

Topps VP of Product Development Clay Luraschi said Topps knows how vital Harper’s place is in today’s MLB landscape.

“Bryce has quickly become one of the biggest names in Major League Baseball,” Luraschi said, “at the age of 21, Harper is leading baseball’s emergence of young, extremely talented stars and collectors can’t get enough of him.”

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.