Topps signs Bryce Harper to exclusive autograph & memorabilia deal

By Chris Olds | Editor

The long-awaited, but expected, news that Topps has signed No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Harper to an exclusive deal is now here.

The company confirmed on Wednesday morning that it signed a multi-year exclusive deal for autographed cards, game-used memorabilia cards and the use of Harper’s image on packaging and advertising.

“Growing up a huge baseball fan, it will be surreal to see myself on a Topps card with a Nationals jersey on,” Harper said.  “I’m excited to team up with Topps and take one of the first steps to realizing my Major League dreams.”

The teenager was the top pick of the Washington Nationals after playing a season of junior college baseball and leaving high school two years early. His USA Baseball SuperFractor card from 2010 Bowman (above) recently sold for $12,500. That trails only that of future teammate Stephen Strasburg, who Topps signed as an exclusive last fall,  in the top sales record book for an unsigned SuperFractor.

Harper, who would have been a junior in high school this past season,  hit .443 with 31 home runs and 98 RBIs in 66 games for College of Southern Nevada en route to Golden Spikes Award honors.

Strasburg’s first MLB autographs and MLB cards found in 2010 Bowman were the talk of the hobby for the first half of the 2010 season with the next prospect with more mainstream appeal being Harper, who was tabbed as “Baseball’s Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated in June 2009.

“Bryce is a once-in-a-generation kind of player,” said Warren Friss, GM, Topps Sports & Entertainment.  “When someone like him comes along, you try to make him a big part of your team and we’re thrilled to have him join the Topps roster.”

Topps is the lone licensee of baseball cards for Major League Baseball.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.