In Conjunction with the settelement reached with MLB Properties, Upper Deck has cancelled the releases of the following 2010 Baseball Products:
2010 Goudey BB
2010 SP Authentic BB
2010 SPX BB
We will provide more info as we recieve it....DCS
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Upper Deck Settles Lawsuit with Major League Baseball
Upper Deck Settles Lawsuit with Major League Baseball
Sports card leader can continue selling recently released
baseball products as part of the mutually agreed-upon settlement
We also hear that 2010 Goudey and SP Authentic Baseball are cancelled, will confirm when we hear more.....DCS
Carlsbad, CA (March 3, 2010) – Today, the Upper Deck Company is pleased to announce that Upper Deck and Major League Baseball have mutually agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by Major League Baseball against Upper Deck. Per the terms of the settlement agreement, Upper Deck has agreed not to use MLB trademarks including team names and/or logos on its trading cards going forward. However, as part of the settlement, Upper Deck can and will continue to sell three recently released baseball products currently on store shelves: 2009 Signature Stars, 2009 Ultimate Collection and 2010 Upper Deck Series One.
“Upper Deck is pleased with the settlement including the amount the company paid as it relates to the trading cards released in 2010,” said Jason Masherah, Upper Deck’s director of Sports Brands. “As a company, we are changing the direction of Upper Deck’s baseball products going forward. We are looking forward to creating fresh and innovative set content that will continue to get collectors excited.”
Since its inception in 1989, Upper Deck has been the market leader for both its ability to create top-quality, super-premium products and for developing innovative programs that promoted baseball cards to kids.
"Great cards of great players have always been the cornerstone of Upper Deck products,” added Upper Deck Founder and CEO Richard McWilliam. “We’ll just have to see how innovative and creative we can become now.”
Sports card leader can continue selling recently released
baseball products as part of the mutually agreed-upon settlement
We also hear that 2010 Goudey and SP Authentic Baseball are cancelled, will confirm when we hear more.....DCS
Carlsbad, CA (March 3, 2010) – Today, the Upper Deck Company is pleased to announce that Upper Deck and Major League Baseball have mutually agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by Major League Baseball against Upper Deck. Per the terms of the settlement agreement, Upper Deck has agreed not to use MLB trademarks including team names and/or logos on its trading cards going forward. However, as part of the settlement, Upper Deck can and will continue to sell three recently released baseball products currently on store shelves: 2009 Signature Stars, 2009 Ultimate Collection and 2010 Upper Deck Series One.
“Upper Deck is pleased with the settlement including the amount the company paid as it relates to the trading cards released in 2010,” said Jason Masherah, Upper Deck’s director of Sports Brands. “As a company, we are changing the direction of Upper Deck’s baseball products going forward. We are looking forward to creating fresh and innovative set content that will continue to get collectors excited.”
Since its inception in 1989, Upper Deck has been the market leader for both its ability to create top-quality, super-premium products and for developing innovative programs that promoted baseball cards to kids.
"Great cards of great players have always been the cornerstone of Upper Deck products,” added Upper Deck Founder and CEO Richard McWilliam. “We’ll just have to see how innovative and creative we can become now.”
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
USA BASEBALL AND TOPPS ANNOUNCE DEAL MAKING TOPPS THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL CARD OF USA BASEBALL!!
USA BASEBALL AND TOPPS ANNOUNCE DEAL MAKING TOPPS
THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL CARD OF USA BASEBALL
Exclusive, multi-year agreement reunites former partners from 1984 - 1993
(DURHAM, N.C.) – USA Baseball and the Topps Company, the leading creator and marketer of sports cards, today announced an exclusive multi-year licensing deal to make Topps the Official Baseball Card of USA Baseball. Topps will have exclusivity on USA Baseball trademarks, logos and other intellectual property, for use on cards featuring USA Baseball players.
From 1984-1993 Topps was the exclusive card manufacturer for USA Baseball, producing cards for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team. The new agreement calls for cards, autographs and game-used equipment of USA Baseball’s Collegiate, 18U and 16U National Team players to be featured in a variety of Topps products each year.
“Twenty-five years after collectors were first introduced to USA Baseball, our organization is pleased to have Topps, the industry leader, return as the exclusive home for USA Baseball trading cards,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “We look forward to working closely with Topps as together we provide collectors with a look at the future of America’s game on trading cards.”
“Now we’re the only trading card licensed by Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and USA Baseball,” said Warren Friss, Vice President – General Manager of Topps Sports and Entertainment. “We are covering the game of baseball at every level.”
Each year USA Baseball selects close to 60 of the best young baseball players in the country to its National Teams, giving collectors the first opportunity to see the future stars of baseball on cards. The first product release with USA Baseball content will be 2010 Bowman Baseball which will be released in May and feature cards of the 2009 Collegiate National Team and 2009 18U National Team.
In addition to the Topps sets featuring USA Baseball inserts, the annual USA Baseball National Teams Box Set will also be manufactured by Topps and will continue to be the exclusive place to get all members of the USA Baseball National Team in one set. The box set is scheduled for a December release in 2010 and in each of the remaining years of the agreement.
THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL CARD OF USA BASEBALL
Exclusive, multi-year agreement reunites former partners from 1984 - 1993
(DURHAM, N.C.) – USA Baseball and the Topps Company, the leading creator and marketer of sports cards, today announced an exclusive multi-year licensing deal to make Topps the Official Baseball Card of USA Baseball. Topps will have exclusivity on USA Baseball trademarks, logos and other intellectual property, for use on cards featuring USA Baseball players.
From 1984-1993 Topps was the exclusive card manufacturer for USA Baseball, producing cards for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team. The new agreement calls for cards, autographs and game-used equipment of USA Baseball’s Collegiate, 18U and 16U National Team players to be featured in a variety of Topps products each year.
“Twenty-five years after collectors were first introduced to USA Baseball, our organization is pleased to have Topps, the industry leader, return as the exclusive home for USA Baseball trading cards,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “We look forward to working closely with Topps as together we provide collectors with a look at the future of America’s game on trading cards.”
“Now we’re the only trading card licensed by Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and USA Baseball,” said Warren Friss, Vice President – General Manager of Topps Sports and Entertainment. “We are covering the game of baseball at every level.”
Each year USA Baseball selects close to 60 of the best young baseball players in the country to its National Teams, giving collectors the first opportunity to see the future stars of baseball on cards. The first product release with USA Baseball content will be 2010 Bowman Baseball which will be released in May and feature cards of the 2009 Collegiate National Team and 2009 18U National Team.
In addition to the Topps sets featuring USA Baseball inserts, the annual USA Baseball National Teams Box Set will also be manufactured by Topps and will continue to be the exclusive place to get all members of the USA Baseball National Team in one set. The box set is scheduled for a December release in 2010 and in each of the remaining years of the agreement.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tim Tebow Signs Exclusive with Press Pass
Tim Tebow Signs Draft Pick Exclusive with Press Pass®
March 1, 2010 - Charlotte, N.C:
Heisman Trophy winner and college legend, Tim Tebow has signed an exclusive agreement with Press Pass for trading cards. Under terms of the agreement, Press Pass Football and Press Pass Portrait Edition will be the only “draft pick” products to contain Authentic Autograph Cards and Trading Cards of the former Florida Gator Star!
2010 Press Pass Football provides collectors a great opportunity to obtain on-card autographs of Tebow and the other top stars of this year’s rookie crop, delivering 5 signatures per hobby box from seven distinct autograph levels. Press Pass Football is scheduled for a March 31st release. Press Pass Portrait Edition, new for 2010, will deliver an autograph card in every other pack and is slated for a May 6th release.
“We are thrilled to bring collectors the first Autograph Cards of Tim Tebow, who many consider to be the best college player of all time,” explained Nick Matijevich, Director of Product Development for Press Pass Inc. “Tim’s great attitude, unprecedented popularity and long list of collegiate accomplishments are certain to make him a collector favorite in addition to a fan favorite.”
The announcement comes on the heels of Tebow blowing teams away at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis over the weekend. While he didn’t throw in drills, opting to wait for his pro-day as he re-tools his throwing motion for the next level, he wowed scouts with a QB record-tying 38.5” vertical leap, a 40 yard-dash of 4.72 seconds, a 9’7” broad jump, and a 6.66 second three-cone drill, which placed him 4th among all skill position players working out. However, the area in which Tim truly separated himself from the pack was the one-on-one interviews. According to Gil Brandt, the legendary former VP of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys and current contributor to NFL.com, “In talking with several team representatives Sunday, I was told that Tebow conducted some of the best interviews of all time.”
“Any time you have the opportunity to work with a player of Tim’s stature, you have to be excited,” said Tom Farrell, VP of Brand Management. “As evidenced by the record number of fans that attended his Senior Bowl practices, and the fact he had a Super Bowl commercial before taking his first NFL snap, there is an unprecedented level of excitement around him that we fully expect to continue throughout his career.”
Topps Heritage Short Prints and variations
Collectors of 2010 Topps Heritage Baseball are noticing some interesting short printed variations throughout the product. Topps is confirming the following:
1961 HR Chase Insert
2010 Topps Heritage commemorates the 1961 Topps design, so Topps saw it fitting to celebrate the famous 1961 HR chase with a special 45-card insert…
Babe Ruth (15 cards)
Roger Maris (15 cards)
Mickey Mantle (15 cards)
Each of these inserts also has a Relic Parallel that’s sequentially numbered to the player’s jersey number …Ruth (#’d to 3), Maris (#’d to 9) and Mantle (#’d to 7). In addition, there are short printed variations in the base set featuring Ruth (#60), Maris (#61) and Mantle (#56).
Dice Game Variations
In 1961, Topps issued an obscure 18-card dice game as a test. The following players in 2010 Heritage have short printed variations with dice game backs:
Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez, Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Grady Sizemore, Justin Upton, Adam Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Matt Kemp, Ichiro, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Lincecum, Chase Utley, Ian Kinsler, Derek Jeter, Hanley Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones.
Color Variations
There are 10 extremely short printed color variations. The color changes appear on the player and team name plates at the bottom of the card.
Albert Pujols Black-Black
Joe Mauer Black-Black
CC Sabathia Green-Yellow
Derek Jeter Red-Yellow
Grady Sizemore Green-Red
J.A. Happ Orange-Blue
Zack Greinke Yellow-Blue
Ryan Braun Blue-Orange
David Wright Green-Yellow
Pablo Sandoval Yellow-Green
Juan Marichal Autographs
All of Juan Marichal’s Real One autographs were signed in red ink and none are sequentially numbered unlike the other Red Ink autographs in the product.
Short Printed Base Cards
Base cards 426-500 are short printed and can be found 1:3 packs.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
2009 SP Authentic Football is Live!
Sports card leader unveils latest gridiron collection;
once again, autographs are all hard-signed on cards!
Carlsbad, CA (February 12, 2010) – Just one week after the New Orleans Saints upset the favored Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV, the Upper Deck Company is launching its latest gridiron card set: 2009 SP Authentic Football. Chock full of autographed memorabilia cards (one per hobby box), SP Authentic kicks off today in hobby shops across the nation.
“Football card collectors look forward to Upper Deck’s SP Authentic release every year,” said Brandon Miller, Upper Deck’s Football brand manager. “As always, what’s extremely cool about SPA is that every autographed card is hard-signed. And the SP Authentic Dynasties cards include autographed manufactured patches featuring some of the game’s greatest juggernauts like the Packers of the ‘60s, Steelers of the ‘70s, Niners of the ‘80s and Cowboys of the ‘90s!”
At just over 400 cards, easily the largest SP Authentic regular set ever produced by Upper Deck, this year’s release boasts all the bells and whistles that hard-core football fans crave. The autographed card lineup includes: “Rookie Authentics Patch” cards (numbered to 999 or less including Matthew Stafford, Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez); “Rookie Authentics Patch Parallel” cards (numbered to 25 including Knowshon Moreno, Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin); and super-rare “Rookie Authentics Patch NFL Logo Parallel” 1-of-1 cards from the likes of Stafford, Sanchez, Maclin and more). In addition, collectors can expect to pull one autographed memorabilia card and two more autographed cards per every hobby box, on average.
Beyond its top-flight assortment of star rookies from the 2009 NFL campaign, SP Authentic also pays homage to some of the game’s greatest players by including them in such sought-after autographed inserts as “SP Immortal Signatures” (numbered to 25) including Hall-of-Famers like Franco Harris, Barry Sanders, Terry Bradshaw and Steve Young; and SP “Immortal Quad Signatures” (numbered to five) paying homage to standout receivers like Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Fred Biletnikoff and Don Maynard all on one card!
Upper Deck’s 2009 SP Authentic Football (five cards per pack, 24 packs per hobby box) is currently on store shelves.
once again, autographs are all hard-signed on cards!
Carlsbad, CA (February 12, 2010) – Just one week after the New Orleans Saints upset the favored Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV, the Upper Deck Company is launching its latest gridiron card set: 2009 SP Authentic Football. Chock full of autographed memorabilia cards (one per hobby box), SP Authentic kicks off today in hobby shops across the nation.
“Football card collectors look forward to Upper Deck’s SP Authentic release every year,” said Brandon Miller, Upper Deck’s Football brand manager. “As always, what’s extremely cool about SPA is that every autographed card is hard-signed. And the SP Authentic Dynasties cards include autographed manufactured patches featuring some of the game’s greatest juggernauts like the Packers of the ‘60s, Steelers of the ‘70s, Niners of the ‘80s and Cowboys of the ‘90s!”
At just over 400 cards, easily the largest SP Authentic regular set ever produced by Upper Deck, this year’s release boasts all the bells and whistles that hard-core football fans crave. The autographed card lineup includes: “Rookie Authentics Patch” cards (numbered to 999 or less including Matthew Stafford, Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez); “Rookie Authentics Patch Parallel” cards (numbered to 25 including Knowshon Moreno, Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin); and super-rare “Rookie Authentics Patch NFL Logo Parallel” 1-of-1 cards from the likes of Stafford, Sanchez, Maclin and more). In addition, collectors can expect to pull one autographed memorabilia card and two more autographed cards per every hobby box, on average.
Beyond its top-flight assortment of star rookies from the 2009 NFL campaign, SP Authentic also pays homage to some of the game’s greatest players by including them in such sought-after autographed inserts as “SP Immortal Signatures” (numbered to 25) including Hall-of-Famers like Franco Harris, Barry Sanders, Terry Bradshaw and Steve Young; and SP “Immortal Quad Signatures” (numbered to five) paying homage to standout receivers like Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Fred Biletnikoff and Don Maynard all on one card!
Upper Deck’s 2009 SP Authentic Football (five cards per pack, 24 packs per hobby box) is currently on store shelves.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Topps Appoints TV Guide’s Ryan O’Hara as CEO
Topps Appoints TV Guide’s Ryan O’Hara as CEO
Leadership Experience in Media, Sports and Confections Key for Evolving Topps Company
February 09, 2010 03:09 PM Eastern Time
NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Topps Company, the leading creator and marketer of sports cards, entertainment products and distinctive confectionery items for over half a century, today announced the appointment of Ryan O’Hara as president and chief executive officer. O’Hara, the president of TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com, will assume the new role on March 1.
“We are extremely grateful for his outstanding leadership having successfully helped steer the company through the recent recession that proved so challenging for many companies. Topps has rebounded very strongly under Scott, and we appreciate his contributions.”
.“Ryan is an outstanding leader with a strong track record in media, sports, entertainment and confections,” said Michael D. Eisner, Chairman of Topps, who purchased the company with Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007. “That unique combination will help him drive growth in media and with interactive initiatives as well as continue to strengthen Topps’ core businesses. Ryan’s appointment will help Topps capture a greater share of consumers’ leisure time.”
“I am thrilled to take on this new role,” said O’Hara. “The ability to work with Michael Eisner and Madison Dearborn Partners on the evolution of Topps makes this an incredibly exciting opportunity. No brand had more of an impact on me when I was a kid than Topps, and I look forward to working with the entire Topps team to strengthen and grow this iconic company.”
O’Hara has led TV Guide’s business and growth strategy, overseeing all functional areas from programming to distribution to advertising sales. Under O’Hara’s leadership, TV Guide Network has become one of the most widely distributed cable networks reaching over 80 million households, and TVGuide.com has grown to 20 million monthly unique visitors. O’Hara previously led TV Guide-owned interactive horseracing network TVG, growing its revenue and distribution by a third.
Broadcasting & Cable magazine has called O’Hara “the consummate media executive,” pointing out that he has had “experience abroad, leadership roles in both programming and distribution, and a demonstrated devotion to both traditional and new media.”
Prior to TV Guide, O’Hara had experience across sports, confections and international – three key areas of Topps’ business – having served in various positions at BSkyB in London, Fox Sports Net and Nestle USA.
O’Hara, who has been based in Los Angeles, will relocate to New York with his wife, Victoria, and their twins.
Departing CEO Scott Silverstein, who remains on the Board, has led Topps since Eisner and Madison Dearborn Partners purchased the company in October 2007. “Scott has served The Topps Company tirelessly since joining as general counsel in 1993,” Eisner said. “We are extremely grateful for his outstanding leadership having successfully helped steer the company through the recent recession that proved so challenging for many companies. Topps has rebounded very strongly under Scott, and we appreciate his contributions.”
Leadership Experience in Media, Sports and Confections Key for Evolving Topps Company
February 09, 2010 03:09 PM Eastern Time
NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Topps Company, the leading creator and marketer of sports cards, entertainment products and distinctive confectionery items for over half a century, today announced the appointment of Ryan O’Hara as president and chief executive officer. O’Hara, the president of TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com, will assume the new role on March 1.
“We are extremely grateful for his outstanding leadership having successfully helped steer the company through the recent recession that proved so challenging for many companies. Topps has rebounded very strongly under Scott, and we appreciate his contributions.”
.“Ryan is an outstanding leader with a strong track record in media, sports, entertainment and confections,” said Michael D. Eisner, Chairman of Topps, who purchased the company with Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007. “That unique combination will help him drive growth in media and with interactive initiatives as well as continue to strengthen Topps’ core businesses. Ryan’s appointment will help Topps capture a greater share of consumers’ leisure time.”
“I am thrilled to take on this new role,” said O’Hara. “The ability to work with Michael Eisner and Madison Dearborn Partners on the evolution of Topps makes this an incredibly exciting opportunity. No brand had more of an impact on me when I was a kid than Topps, and I look forward to working with the entire Topps team to strengthen and grow this iconic company.”
O’Hara has led TV Guide’s business and growth strategy, overseeing all functional areas from programming to distribution to advertising sales. Under O’Hara’s leadership, TV Guide Network has become one of the most widely distributed cable networks reaching over 80 million households, and TVGuide.com has grown to 20 million monthly unique visitors. O’Hara previously led TV Guide-owned interactive horseracing network TVG, growing its revenue and distribution by a third.
Broadcasting & Cable magazine has called O’Hara “the consummate media executive,” pointing out that he has had “experience abroad, leadership roles in both programming and distribution, and a demonstrated devotion to both traditional and new media.”
Prior to TV Guide, O’Hara had experience across sports, confections and international – three key areas of Topps’ business – having served in various positions at BSkyB in London, Fox Sports Net and Nestle USA.
O’Hara, who has been based in Los Angeles, will relocate to New York with his wife, Victoria, and their twins.
Departing CEO Scott Silverstein, who remains on the Board, has led Topps since Eisner and Madison Dearborn Partners purchased the company in October 2007. “Scott has served The Topps Company tirelessly since joining as general counsel in 1993,” Eisner said. “We are extremely grateful for his outstanding leadership having successfully helped steer the company through the recent recession that proved so challenging for many companies. Topps has rebounded very strongly under Scott, and we appreciate his contributions.”
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