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NEW YORK — Topps has created lasting memories for baseball fans over the last seven decades and that tradition will continue as Major League Baseball and The Topps Company announced that they have extended their exclusive global partnership for MLB-licensed trading cards through 2025.
“Baseball and trading cards go hand-in-hand, eliciting memories of the legends of our game and showcasing the stars of today and tomorrow,” said Noah Garden, MLB Executive vice president, commerce. “Topps vibrantly remains a part of the baseball lexicon that conjures images so many of us have cherished. They have re-invigorated the trading card business with innovative products such as Topps NOW, which offers our fans the opportunity to memorialize great moments throughout the season. It’s with great pleasure that we continue this long-term partnership.”
For more than 65 years, Topps has provided fan experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. Since 1952, the long-standing partnership between Major League Baseball and Topps has allowed Topps to create iconic trading cards that have become engrained in baseball culture with collectibles such as the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente, and the 2011 Topps Mike Trout and 2017 Topps Aaron Judge rookie cards.
Topps brings fans closer to the game through unique card designs, creating cards out of plastic, wood and leather and including pieces of players’ game-used jerseys, bats, helmets and other items. In addition, many of Topps’ baseball cards are autographed by MLB’s top stars and rookies, such as the Los Angeles Angels new addition, Shohei Ohtani, whose autographed cards are available in 2018 Topps products. Topps works directly with more players and features autographs of more stars and rookies than it ever has before. Topps cutting edge products have led to explosive category growth and drawn in many new collectors.
“Topps has always strived to be at the forefront of innovation,” said David Leiner, Topps global general manager of sports & entertainment. “We constantly look for new ways to bring joy and excitement to baseball fans whether they have been collecting for decades or just starting out. Our exclusive MLB license gives us the opportunity to continue as the category leader.”
With the exclusive global license, Topps energized the trading card world with TOPPS NOW, the first on-demand trading card that captures the best baseball moments on a nightly basis. These cards are only available for 24 hours exclusively on Topps.com. Additionally, Topps launched The Living Set also available only on Topps.com, which is the first cross-generational set featuring lifelike artwork and leveraging Topps iconic 1953 design.
Even though opening a pack of cards is a thrilling experience, Topps doesn’t stop there. Topps has provided amazing opportunities for fans, including the Topps Make Your Pro Debut contest, where a lucky fan becomes a Minor League baseball player for a day, trips to the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, and private dinners with some of baseball’s greatest players and legends, such as Cubs superstar Kris Bryant and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, through its Transcendent Collection experience.
“Collecting baseball cards is such a personal experience for so many and we look for ways to enhance those moments, whether it’s through opening a pack of cards with your friends or winning a contest to throw out a first pitch,” Leiner said. “MLB and Topps aim to be a part of baseball fans’ lives from their childhood and this partnership will allow that to continue for years to come.”
