Breaking News: Panini America Inks Multi-Year Trading Card Deal with MLBPA

IRVING, Texas/NEW YORK CITY – Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced today a multi-year trading card agreement. The deal secures Panini’s presence in America’s Pastime and adds to its U.S. sports license roster, making Panini the only trading card company in the world with licenses in all four major sports.

Panini America will make its MLBPA-partnership debut with the December release of 2011 Elite Extra Edition, followed by 2011 Contenders Baseball, which will include the first Panini Autographs of All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player also will appear on packaging for future Panini products.


“We’re very pleased to be working with Panini America,” said Evan Kaplan, Director, Licensing & Business Development for the Major League Baseball Players Association. ”They have consistently developed innovative products that appeal to collectors of all ages both here in America and around the world. Panini’s MLBPA-licensed products will present Major League baseball players in a unique and exciting way.”

“The relationship with the MLBPA represents the culmination of a goal that we committed to when Panini entered the U.S. market just over two years ago, that of having a licensed presence in all four of the major sports in the U.S., and to utilize Panini’s creative approach to enhance the overall experience for collectors,” said Mark Warsop, CEO of Panini America. “We are excited to join as a partner of the MLBPA and look forward to working with the MLBPA to continue to raise the visibility of their players and engage new collectors.”

The company will formally announce the agreement this afternoon at a press conference featuring Warsop, Kaplan and Hamilton. Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for complete coverage of the event.

Panini America is the only company in the world that manufactures fully licensed trading cards and stickers for the NBA, NFL, NFL PLAYERS, NHL, NHLPA, MLBPA and FIFA World Cup. The company also owns exclusive entertainment licenses with Disney, Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson, and more than 600 global licenses with other sports and entertainment properties.

TOPPS AND THE “SAY HEY KID” BACK TOGETHER AGAIN

Topps announces it has signed a multi-year autograph deal with the legendary “Say Hey Kid”, Willie Mays.
The first offering of Mays’ Autograph will appear in the highly-anticipated 2012 Topps Baseball Series 1, which hits shelves early February. After that, collectors can expect to find the slugger’s autographed cards in products such as Topps Tribute (image attached), Gypsy Queen and much more. In addition, Topps will be issuing a variety of relic cards featuring the Hall of Famer.
The Topps and Mays relationship dates back to the beginning when Willie appeared in the company’s famed 1952 Topps Baseball set. Willie then went on to star on Topps cardboard for another 21 consecutive seasons.

TOPPS ANNOUNCES CARD # 8 OF PRIME 9 HOBBY STORE PROMOTION

The PRIME 9 subject redeemable for week 8 (Redemption card # 8) is Ichiro.
On a weekly basis, there will be a designated “Prime 9 Player of the Week”. Collectors holding the corresponding Prime 9 Redemption card for that week can bring the card to their participating local HTA store and redeem it for an exclusive limited edition Topps Chrome Refractor.
Redemption cards can be found in Series 2 Hobby packs (1:18) and Jumbo packs (1:5). Each card is denoted by a Week number (1, 2, 3, etc.).

The “PRIME 9” thus far…
Week 1 (July 19th) Johnny Bench, Catcher (redemption card #1)
Week 2 (July 26th) Albert Pujols, First Base (redemption card #2)
Week 3 (Aug. 5th) Jackie Robinson, Second Base (redemption card #3)
Week 4 (Aug. 12th) Derek Jeter, Shortstop (redemption card #4)
Week 5 (Aug. 19th) Mike Schmidt, Third Base (redemption # 5)
Week 6 (Aug. 26th) Hank Aaron, Left Field (redemption # 6)
Week 7 (Sept. 2nd) Mickey Mantle, Center Field (redemption # 7)
Week 8 (Sept. 9th) Ichiro, Left Field (redemption # 8)

Topps Chrome BB / USA Baseball Autographs Clarification

Topps is clarifying that the redemption card in the just-released 2011 Topps Chrome Baseball stating “ You have just received a set of 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Autograph Cards” is good for either a 5 or 6 card pack of USA Autographs and not all 22 subjects.

All USA Autographs are incremental hits on top of the 2 on-card Rookie Autographs guaranteed per hobby box.

USA Autographs are also featured on the following parallels:

Refractor
Blue Refractor
Gold Refractor
Atomic Refractor
Red Refractor
Superfractor
Printing Plates

STRASBURG AUTOGRAPHS AND MORE ADDED TO BOWMAN STERLING

To celebrate the return of Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, one of the brightest future stars in the game, Topps is adding his autograph card along with other items to 2011 Bowman Sterling Baseball.
Bowman Sterling, which is currently soliciting, will now include:

*25 Stephen Strasburg Autographs featuring photography from his return
*25 redemption cards for a Stephen Strasburg Autographed Baseball
*And a 1 of 1 Redemption Card good for a meet and greet with the pitcher himself

In 2010, Strasburg captivated fans and collectors alike with his blazing fastball. One year later, after recovering from Tommy John Surgery, Strasburg returns to the Majors with as much anticipation as the first time around…and he looks as ready as ever.

TOPPS ANNOUNCES CARD # 7 OF PRIME 9 HOBBY STORE PROMOTION

The PRIME 9 subject redeemable for week 7 (Redemption card # 7) is the famous # 7 Mickey Mantle.
On a weekly basis, there will be a designated “Prime 9 Player of the Week”. Collectors holding the corresponding Prime 9 Redemption card for that week can bring the card to their participating local HTA store and redeem it for an exclusive limited edition Topps Chrome Refractor.
Redemption cards can be found in Series 2 Hobby packs (1:18) and Jumbo packs (1:5). Each card is denoted by a Week number (1, 2, 3, etc.).

The “PRIME 9” thus far…
Week 1 (July 19th) Johnny Bench, Catcher (redemption card #1)
Week 2 (July 26th) Albert Pujols, First Base (redemption card #2)
Week 3 (Aug. 5th) Jackie Robinson, Second Base (redemption card #3)
Week 4 (Aug. 12th) Derek Jeter, Shortstop (redemption card #4)
Week 5 (Aug. 19th) Mike Schmidt, Third Base (redemption # 5)
Week 6 (Aug. 26th) Hank Aaron, Left Field (redemption # 6)
Week 7 (Sept. 2nd) Mickey Mantle. Center Field (redemption # 7)

TOPPS ANNOUNCES CARD # 6 OF PRIME 9 HOBBY STORE PROMOTION

The PRIME 9 subject redeemable for week 6 (Redemption card # 6) is the one and only Hammerin’ Hank Aaron!

On a weekly basis, there will be a designated “Prime 9 Player of the Week”. Collectors holding the corresponding Prime 9 Redemption card for that week can bring the card to their participating local HTA store and redeem it for an exclusive limited edition Topps Chrome Refractor.

Redemption cards can be found in Series 2 Hobby packs (1:18) and Jumbo packs (1:5). Each card is denoted by a Week number (1, 2, 3, etc.).



The “PRIME 9” thus far…

Week 1 (July 19th) Johnny Bench, Catcher (redemption card #1)

Week 2 (July 26th) Albert Pujols, First Base (redemption card #2)

Week 3 (Aug. 5th) Jackie Robinson, Second Base (redemption card #3)

Week 4 (Aug. 12th) Derek Jeter, Shortstop (redemption card #4)

Week 5 (Aug. 19th) Mike Schmidt, Third Base (redemption # 5)

Week 6 (Aug. 26th) Hank Aaron, Left Field (redemption # 6)