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WHAT IS THE BEST GRADING COMPANY FOR BASEBALL CARDS

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One of the most well-known and reputable grading companies is Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). They have been in business since 1991 and were one of the original pioneers that helped start the modern collectibles authentication and grading industry. PSA uses a numeric 1-10 scale to grade cards based on criteria like centering, corners, edges and surface defects. They have an in-house team of expert graders and a detailed guidelines and standards manual to promote consistency in grades between graders. Graded cards from PSA receive sturdy plastic slabs with a unique alphanumeric identifier to help prevent submisions from being tampered with. PSA also authenticates signatures to help combat potentially forged autographed cards from entering the market. Their strong reputation and brand recognition has helped set the industry standard and establish the resale value of PSA graded cards. The large volume of submissions can sometimes result in lengthy wait times.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is another highly-trusted name in the industry. Founded in 1992, they grade on a similar scale from 1-10 but assign qualitative labels instead of just the numeric score. For example, a 9 could receive a “Mint” label. Like PSA, they securely slab and authenticate cards but also offer more mid-tier affordable grading options. All slabs display the date of submission which provides additional history vs generic slabs from some other companies. BGS also pioneered pedigree labels that trace a card’s full journey through multiple submissions over time which some collectors value for provenance and extended documentation. They may be viewed as slightly more subjective and inconsistent in grading standards than PSA by some in the hobby.

Another large operation is Sportscard Guaranty (SGC). Established in 2000, they aim for more affordable services than PSA or BGS. SGC uses numeric scores from 1-8 and grades tend to be a half point lower on average than their competitors. Their slabs feature bright colorful labels designed to stand out while still encapsulating and protecting the card securely. One advantage is usually faster turnaround times for bulk submissions versus larger companies that are backlogged with work. This can appeal to collectors looking to move lower-grade cards or evaluate collections in a timely manner. Some question their ability to accurately authenticate autographs, and their grades may not carry as high resale values as top rivals.

There are also many smaller, regional grading companies that cater to niches. For example, AutoPro authenticates signed memorabilia and offers service targeted towards autograph collectors. Hobby Factory Grading grades unlicensed sports and non-sport cards in more affordable economy slabs marketed towards the startup collector. Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) provides authentication and encapsulation for vintage tobacco cards and similar non-sports cards. All serve their purpose but lack the brand recognition and established standards of the market leaders. Independent third party grading helps validate condition, screens for counterfeits, and provides impartial assessment – but all companies are fallible and reputation counts considerably.

In summary, PSA, BGS and SGC remain the dominant third-party authentication and grading service providers for the baseball card hobby. Collectors must consider factors like turnaround time, cost, reputation, desirable holders or labels, and effect on resale values to choose the best fit. Even experienced collectors can disagree on relative strengths between these top three options. Meanwhile many smaller operations serve important niche roles for specialized collectors within the industry. Authentication and grading adds objective analysis that builds collector confidence when want to buy, sell or invest in high-value vintage card assets.

WHAT COMPANY GRADES BASEBALL CARDS

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Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) – Considered the gold standard in third-party grading, PSA is arguably the most recognizable and trusted name in the business. Founded in 2000, PSA pioneered the modern sports card grading industry. They have graded billions of cards over the past two decades. Some key facts about PSA:

They are the largest and most mainstream grader. About 80% of professionally graded cards have come from PSA.

PSA grades on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the highest grade of “Gem Mint.” They are considered fairly strict graders and 10s are very rare.

Turnaround times can vary significantly depending on volume and service level selected, but usually range from a few weeks to several months.

PSA offers various membership and bulk submission discounts. They also have specialty services for vintage cards, autographs, and encapsulation only.

PSA slabs/holders are immediately recognizable to serious collectors and have the best resale/liquidation value. This provides a level of standardization that adds trust in the marketplace.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) – Formed in 1992, BGS is the second largest third-party grader after PSA. They are also considered a premier and trustworthy brand. Some key aspects of BGS:

Like PSA, BGS grades on a 1-10 scale in half point increments. However, BGS may be a slightly easier standard to achieve higher grades compared to PSA.

In addition to condition, BGS judges centering and assigns separate numerical grades for the front and back of each card. This extra data point is popular with registry set collectors.

BGS slabs have a colorful, modern design that distinguishes them from PSA holders. The brand has grown significantly in popularity and market share over the last decade.

Turnaround times are usually comparable to PSA depending on service level selected. BGS also offers various membership and bulk submission discounts.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) – Primarily known for coin grading, PCGS entered the sports card market in the late 2000s. They offer a respected third-party authentication and encapsulation service:

PCGS uses a simple 1-70 numeric grading scale to judge cards. The numbers correspond to certain condition thresholds.

PCGS holders have a sleek, understated design that is easy to stack and file compared to PSA and BGS slabs.

Turnaround times are often quicker than PSA/BGS, sometimes even offering one-week grading options for higher prices.

PCGS caters to bulk submissions and auto/retail shops. They are a solid option for resellers and dealers moving large volumes of vintage commons and uncommons.

There are also some smaller, regional grading companies. In terms of nationwide reputations and resale/trade market acceptance, PSA, BGS and PCGS are considered the major third-party authentication/grading providers by serious sports card collectors and investors. Their slabbed/holdered cards have superior liquidity and bring trusted impartial analysis that reduces risks in an expensive hobby. Overall grading provides standardization that has helped modernize and professionalize the collectibles industry.

WHAT COMPANY MAKES BASEBALL CARDS

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Topps has been the dominant manufacturer and licensor of baseball cards in the United States for many decades. The Brooklyn-based company introduced the modern design of baseball cards in 1950 with its first full color and photo centric set. Since then, Topps has released annual baseball card sets each year covering both the current season as well as retro and specialty sets. Topps also holds the exclusive license to produce MLB branded cards in partnership with the league and players association. Some of Topps’ most iconic sets over the years include their 1952, 1954, 1988, 2019, and 2021 issues. While primarily known for standard size trading cards, Topps has also experimented with larger format cards, premium cardboard products, and digital collectibles.

Panini acquired the exclusive North American trading card license for Major League Baseball in 2020, replacing Topps after its 70 year run. Panini is the largest collector card manufacturer worldwide, holding licenses for the NFL, NBA, soccer, and other sports. For their first MLB season in 2021, Panini released a retro designed Prizm set that was very well received by collectors. They followed that up in 2022 with the Diamond Kings set, which spotlighted key players on specific teams. Panini’s MLB offerings have utilized popular technologies like prizm refractors, diamond parallels, and auto/memorabilia cards. They’ve also struck licensing deals with individual MLB teams and retired players to produce special parallel sets. Going forward, Panini will look to take market share from Topps and bring more innovation to the baseball card hobby.

Fleer was the number two baseball card producer behind Topps for many decades prior to losing their MLB license in 1981. Some iconic Fleer baseball sets included their 1960, 1963, and 1971 issues. Notable for having the first cards featuring MLB player photos, Fleer pushed Topps to improve their designs. After losing MLB, Fleer shifted to NFL and NBA properties and was eventually acquired by Skybox in 1992. The Fleer brand was later picked up by Upper Deck after Skybox’s bankruptcy and they released retro MLB sets without active player likenesses.

Donruss has had an on-again, off-again involvement in the baseball card business since releasing their inaugural self-produced set in 1981. Their early designs featured action photographs and a glossy stock that was distinct from Topps at the time. Donruss produced MLB cards continuously through the late 80s until losing the license. They would regain it a couple times after only to let it lapse again. More recently, Donruss signed a partnership with Panini to produce retro and insert style sets alongside their main soccer and basketball licenses.

Leaf was another 1980s/90s competitor to Topps that is still producing specialty baseball sets today. Focused more on chase inserts than base cards, Leaf featured signed memorabilia pieces, serial numbered parallels, and inserts featuring Hall of Famers. Their Metal Universe and Premium sets from the 90s are especially coveted by collectors. Leaf has maintained an MLBPA license allowing them to use retired player names and images without full league approval.

While the above companies have produced the majority of modern baseball cards over the last 50+ years, there have been many other smaller or short-lived manufacturers as well. Brands like Score, Stadium Club, Playoff, Pinnacle, and Bowman have all dabbled in the baseball card market at various points. Player collections and premium inserts remain an area ripe for newcomers to try and break into the already competitive baseball card industry. With the rising popularity of collecting, both established companies like Topps/Panini as well as prospective companies look for opportunities to capture collectors’ interest.

In summary, Topps dominated the mass-produced baseball card market for decades with Fleer and Donruss being their largest competitors historically. Panini now holds the exclusive MLB license going forward. While Topps set the standard, all companies have looked to innovate on card design, materials, and insert sets to entice collectors. Franchise and player licensing also allow firms like Leaf and Donruss to continue having a presence. As one of the oldest American hobbies, baseball cards remain a widely collected sport memorabilia category thanks to the enduring legacy of companies introducing new products and the nostalgia fans have for classic sets.

BASEBALL CARDS COMPANY

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The baseball card collecting hobby has been around since the late 1880s and has grown into a billion dollar industry. Some of the most well-known companies that have produced baseball cards over the years include:

American Tobacco Company (ATC) – One of the earliest manufacturers of baseball cards, ATC inserted cards into cigarettes starting in 1886 with the Goodwin & Company set. In 1909, they launched the T206 set which is one of the most valuable vintage card sets today. ATC produced cards until 1952 when health concerns about tobacco led to the end of their card division.

Bowman Gum – Founded in 1929, Bowman Gum quickly became a leader in the baseball card market. Some of their most iconic sets include the 1948 and 1949 issues. In 1956, Topps bought out Bowman and acquired the rights to their players, effectively ending Bowman’s run as a card maker.

Topps – Formed in 1938, Topps entered the baseball card market in 1951 and has been the dominant force ever since. Some of their landmark sets include the 1952, 1954, and 1957 issues. In 2007, The Topps Company merged with candy maker Bazooka Brands and spun off their non-sports assets. Topps remains the exclusive MLB license holder.

Fleer – Founded in 1881, Fleer got into the baseball card business in 1956. They were the first competitor to Topps and produced innovative sets like the 1960 and 1961 issues that featured player profiles on the back. In 1981, Fleer lost its MLB license and left the baseball card market. They returned in 1988 but were bought out by Topps in 1992.

Donruss – Donruss launched its baseball card line in 1981, becoming the first competitor to Topps in 25 years. Some of their notable early sets included the 1981, 1983, and 1985 issues. In the late 1980s, Donruss gained popularity with inserts and parallels. They lost MLB rights in 1992 and were acquired by Playoff Corporation in 1996.

Upper Deck – Founded in 1988, Upper Deck revolutionized the industry by using cutting edge graphics and premium card stock quality. Their highly successful 1989 baseball card issue helped spark the early 1990s card boom. Upper Deck held the MLB license from 1989-1995 and produced some of the most valuable modern rookie cards. They remain a force in sports and entertainment cards.

Score – Score entered the baseball card market in 1989, becoming the third modern competitor to Topps. They gained notoriety for innovative sets featuring on-card autographs in the early 1990s before losing MLB rights in 1995. Score continued producing regional sets into the 2000s before leaving the baseball card industry.

Leaf – Leaf debuted in 1991 with a license from the MLB Players Association for retired players. They produced some popular sets in the early 1990s before gaining an MLB license from 1996-2000. Leaf focused on parallels, memorabilia cards, and inserts during their run before losing baseball rights. They continue producing other sports cards.

Pacific – Pacific held the MLBPA license from 1992-1996 and produced affordable, mass-produced sets. They gained notoriety in the mid-1990s for innovative inserts before losing their licensing deal. Pacific has since focused on other sports and non-sports trading cards.

In the modern era, Topps remains the exclusive MLB license holder since losing competition in the late 1990s. Companies like Panini America have gained popularity producing regional and collegiate sets without MLB rights since 2008. The billion dollar baseball card industry continues to evolve with inserts, parallels, and new technologies – but it all started with those early tobacco companies over 130 years ago.

TOPPS A COMPANY THAT PRODUCES BASEBALL CARDS

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Topps Company, Inc. is an American confectionery and baseball card company. It is best known as the foremost producer of baseball cards, but also produces cards and collectibles for other sports and pop culture franchises. Topps was founded in 1938 in Brooklyn, New York by four brothers, Joseph, Abraham, Izzy, and Elliot Shorin.

Topps began as a chewing gum company that packaged baseball cards as a promotional item with their gum. In 1952, Topps secured the exclusive rights to produce Major League Baseball cards, finally surpassing their previous competitors like Bowman Gum. For decades, Topps baseball cards defined the baseball card industry and became an important part of baseball fandom and culture in America.

While still headquartered in New York City, today Topps is a publicly traded company owned by The Tornante Company and Michael Eisner. Although baseball cards remain a core product, Topps has significantly diversified its business over the years. It produces trading cards and collectibles related to other sports like football, basketball, soccer and WWE wrestling. Topps also holds licenses for entertainment properties like Star Wars, Disney animations, Game of Thrones, and Garbage Pail Kids.

The core of Topps’ business model involves securing exclusive multi-year licenses from sports leagues, entertainment companies, media properties and colleges to produce cards, stickers, banners and other physical and digital collectibles featuring their logos, photos and other intellectual property. While competitors like Panini have emerged, Topps remains the dominant force in American sports card publishing and one of the largest confectionery companies in the U.S.

In addition to physical card packs distributed globally, Topps has innovated with fan engagement through digital platforms. Topps BUNT and Topps NOW allow fans to collect and trade virtual cards on iOS and Android devices. Topps has also ventured into NFTs, selling exclusive digital baseball cards as non-fungible tokens on platforms like Wax and Candy Digital. These digital offerings are helping Topps attract younger generations of fans in an increasingly tech-centric collectibles industry.

Over the years, Topps baseball cards in particular have featured legendary players like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and more modern stars like Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. Iconic rookie cards of players like Mantle, Griffey Jr. and Tatis Jr. routinely sell for six or even seven figures at auction. The historic significance and financial value of vintage Topps cards demonstrate their success in cultivating a multi-generational community passionate about sports collectibles and memorabilia.

While demand for physical cards remains strong thanks to nostalgia and dedication from lifelong collectors, Topps recognizes digital avenues represent the future. It seeks to maintain relevance among younger collectors by embracing emerging technologies. Still headquartered in New York City, Topps employs approximately 1,000 people globally and generated over $575 million in annual revenue from physical and digital sports and entertainment products as of 2020. Topps’ 80+ year legacy as an industry leader defined by innovative licensing, marketing savvy and quality products endures in the modern marketplace.

AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY BASEBALL CARDS

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The American Tobacco Company produced some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards in the early 20th century. Founded in 1890, American Tobacco quickly became one of the largest tobacco companies in the world by the turn of the century. Seeking creative marketing strategies, the company began inserting small promotional cards into their most popular cigarette brands starting in 1909. These cards featured photos and stats of popular major league players.

American Tobacco issued cards in their most popular brands like Sweet Caporal, Piedmont, and Old Mill. The cards came one per pack and included the brand logo and information on the reverse. The earliest issues from 1909-1911 featured multicolored lithographic images with basic player details. Some of the most notable early stars included on American Tobacco cards were Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, and Cy Young. These early issues are now extremely rare and valuable, often fetching six figures at auction when graded high.

In 1913, American Tobacco issued their most famous and iconic set. Known as the “T206” set for the year and company code, these cards had single color photogravure images on the front and back. Considered the finest and most collected vintage set, the T206 cards elevated the visual quality and included more in-depth player stats and biographies. Superstars of the era like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson were all prominently featured. The most coveted and valuable card of the set is the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, which has sold for over $3 million.

During World War I from 1915-1917, American Tobacco suspended production of baseball cards due to wartime paper shortages. They resumed in 1918 with the high-quality “T207” set featuring single color photogravure images. Another iconic set, the T207s ran through 1920 and included future Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth in his playing days with the Red Sox. The 1920 season was the last that American Tobacco issued cards for, as the post-war collectibles boom faded. Their cards from this era are highly prized by collectors.

In the 1930s, American Tobacco made one final run of baseball cards during the Great Depression era. Known as the “T206 Style” cards for mimicking the design of their most famous set, these 1933 and 1934 Goudey issues had color photos and were aimed at a new generation of fans. Rookies like Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, and Jimmie Foxx gained wider exposure through these cards at the dawn of their careers. The 1933 Goudey set is considered one of the most visually appealing vintage issues.

While American Tobacco stopped including baseball cards in cigarettes after 1934, their earlier issues from 1909-1920 established the tradition and helped popularize the hobby. Cards from “America’s Pastime” were a natural fit for the leading tobacco company’s marketing. The T206 Honus Wagner remains the most iconic and valuable trading card ever produced due to its rarity, historical significance, and association with the golden age of tobacco cards issued by American Tobacco. Their high-quality photogravure images set the standard that later card manufacturers aspired to as well. For collectors and fans alike, American Tobacco’s baseball cards from the early 20th century represent the true beginning of the modern trading card era in America.

GOUDEY GUM COMPANY BASEBALL CARDS

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The Goudey Gum Company began producing some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards in the early 20th century. Founded by pharmacist Benjamin Goudey in 1884, the company grew to become one of the leading chewing gum manufacturers in the United States. In the 1930s, Goudey sought new ways to promote its gum products and decided to include collectible baseball cards as incentives inside gum and candy packages.

From 1933 to 1941, Goudey released five distinct sets of baseball cards as promotional items. These early releases helped popularize baseball cards as a mainstream collecting hobby. The 1933 Goudey gum cards were the first mass-produced set of modern baseball cards. Each pack of gum contained a single card with photographic images of current Major League players on the front and their stats printed on the back. A total of 81 cards were released in the 1933 set, highlighting stars from both the American and National Leagues.

Notably, the 1933 Goudey issue introduced the first “action shot” cards that depicted players in action poses rather than stiff formal portraits. This set is also unique in featuring one of the rarest and most iconic cards in the hobby – the Babe Ruth card, of which only 12 examples are known to exist in mint condition. Due to its superb condition and historical significance, one of these Ruth cards sold at auction in 2016 for over $5 million, setting a new record as the highest price ever paid for a baseball card. The 1933 Goudey issue laid the foundation for the baseball card collecting industry and remains one of the most pursued sets by serious vintage enthusiasts.

Following the success of that first release, Goudey went on to produce cards in 1936, 1938, 1939, and 1940. The 1934 and 1935 issues were not true “sets” and instead consisted of assorted single cards inserted individually into gum packs. The 1936 set expanded to include all teams from that season and featured additional photographic action shots on a thick, glossy stock that has held up remarkably well over the decades. Rated a 7.5 on the standard 10 point quality scale due to the set’s above average centering and clarity, high-grade 1936 Goudey cards command top dollar from vintage collectors.

In 1938, Goudey went through a major design change, shifting from green-bordered portrait cards to a larger golden yellow landscape format with statistics printed directly on the images. The 1938 set also saw the first “rookie cards” produced for future Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Ted Williams and others. Perhaps the most renowned cards issued during this later period were the 1940s, known both for their artistic dual image “double folded” design as well as the inclusion of several true “superstars” in the early stages of their careers, including Joe DiMaggio and Satchel Paige.

While production of Goudey baseball cards ceased after 1941 due to the onset of US involvement in World War II, the company left an indelible mark on the emerging market it helped create. Today, collectors remain passionate about acquiring high-quality specimens from each of the five original Goudey sets released in the 1930s-40s golden era. With sharp images, historical significance, and scarcity enhancing their value, Goudey cards routinely appear as centerpiece attractions at major card shows and auctions. Particularly coveted by investors are pristine conditioned examples likely to still garner strong prices decades from now. As one of the true pioneer forces behind baseball cards, Benjamin Goudey’s company ensured its place in sports collecting lore by introducing America’s national pastime on inexpensive packs of chewing gum nearly a century ago.

ACME TOY COMPANY PRINTS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Acme Toy Company has a long history of producing quality toys and novelties for children. Founded in 1910 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Acme began as a small operation producing wooden toys, dolls, and board games. Over the next few decades, they grew to become one of the largest toy manufacturers in America.

In the 1930s, Acme saw an opportunity in the growing market for sports cards and memorabilia. Baseball was hugely popular at the time, especially among children and young adults. Recognizing this, Acme began producing low-cost packs of baseball cards as a side business. Their inaugural 1933 card set featured photos and stats of players from the previous season. Packs sold for a nickel and contained around a dozen randomly inserted cards.

The 1933 Acme baseball card set was a big success, selling out its initial print run of 500,000 packs within a few months. This proved there was strong demand among kids for affordable trading cards featuring their favorite ballplayers. In subsequent years, Acme greatly expanded their card offerings. They issued full-season sets chronicling the National and American Leagues in 1934 and 1935. Color photos were added in 1936.

By the late 1930s, Acme had become the largest publisher of baseball cards in the country. They outsold all competitors thanks to savvy marketing, attractive packaging, and reasonable prices that kids could afford from their weekly allowances. Acme also pioneered the concept of including special “premium” cards in random packs that were rarer and more highly sought after. This fueled trading and collecting among children.

During World War II, Acme shifted most of its toy production towards war materials to support the American effort. They kept printing baseball cards as a morale booster on the home front. The 1942-1945 sets featured many ballplayers who had joined the armed forces. Photos in uniform became quite popular for soldiers overseas. Acme played a role in keeping baseball’s human interest stories in the news to lift spirits.

In the post-war boom years of the late 1940s-1950s, Acme thrived along with the rest of the toy industry. Their baseball cards grew more elaborate with intricate color designs, biographies on the backs, and special subsets highlighting rookie and star players. The 1950s brought the start of the modern era of elaborate photography, statistics, and extensive career records on cards. Teenagers and adults also increasingly joined children in the hobby.

The rise of television in the 1950s impacted Acme’s business model. They began producing cards under licenses from the major sports leagues, including the first official NFL and NBA issues in the mid-1950s. This dealt a blow to competitors that had relied on unauthorized images. Acme also started branching out beyond baseball with sets chronicling other sports to appeal to male fans of all ages.

In the turbulent 1960s, Acme had to adapt to new challenges. Increased competition came from rival card manufacturers like Topps, who were aggressive with licensing deals. Younger people also had less disposable income and more entertainment options due to social changes. To stay relevant, Acme introduced oddball promotions and unconventional subsets highlighting unique stats and feats. Their “Turn Back the Clock” cards recreating vintage uniforms were especially popular.

Through the 1970s, Acme remained a major force in the trading card industry. Rising costs, production issues, and market saturation took their toll. In 1979, the once-mighty Acme Toy Company was acquired by a larger conglomerate. They continued producing cards under the Acme name into the 1980s before the brand was phased out. By that point, the baseball card craze was waning among younger generations.

While no longer an independent company, Acme’s pioneering contributions to the early development of baseball cards cannot be overstated. They helped launch the modern sports collecting phenomenon among children and amassed one of the most extensive photographic archives of 20th century ballplayers. Even after being absorbed by other interests, the Acme name retains a special nostalgia for those who grew up with their affordable packs in the 1930s-1950s heyday. The company leaves a legacy as one of the true founding fathers of the baseball card industry.

1990 UPPER DECK COMPANY BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1990 Upper Deck baseball card set was truly revolutionary and signaled major changes in the baseball card industry. Issued by the then fledgling Upper Deck Company, the 1990 set shattered long-held beliefs about what a modern baseball card could be and marked the beginning of Upper Deck’s ascendance to becoming the dominant force in sports cards over the next decade.

Up until 1990, the main baseball card manufacturers like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss had maintained a steady, formulaic approach to their annual releases that emphasized quantity over quality. Cards were small, flimsy, and mass produced on cheap paper stock. Photos were often recycled from prior years. Overall production values were kept low to maximize profits. While collectors eagerly snapped up each new annual release, the stale status quo left much to be desired.

Into this environment stepped the Upper Deck Company, founded in 1988 by entrepreneurs Richard McWilliam and David Becker. Their wholly unique approach to baseball cards embraced previously untapped production methods that emphasized premium quality, original photography, and limited print runs. For their inaugural 1990 set, Upper Deck meticulously shot over 200 custom photos across Major League spring training camps. Every image was specially commissioned just for the set rather than being repurposed from other sources.

Upper Deck’s cards were also vastly larger in size than competitors at 2 5/8 inches by 3 5/8 inches, nearly 50% bigger than a standard card. But what truly set 1990 Upper Deck cards apart was their paper stock—a unique and durable plastic laminate coating that was several times thicker than the flimsy paper and cardboard other companies used. This allowed for stunningly detailed, vibrant photography free of the fuzziness that plagued images on thinner cardboard. Scuffs and bends that ruined other cards were much less likely on the tough, slick-surfaced Upper Deck plastic.

All of these groundbreaking changes sparked immense collector interest and demand upon the 1990 Upper Deck release. The large card sizes and durable plastic coating made for a true premium product experience. Pulling a beautifully photographed star from a pack was like nothing baseball card fans had seen before. Mint condition 1990 Upper Deck rookies and stars would grade and preserve incredibly well long-term in a way paper issues never could. The unprecedented limited print runs of only about 100 million cards compared to the billions churned out by competitors added tangible scarcity value as well.

Within just a few short years, Upper Deck had blown past all entrenched competitors to become the dominant manufacturer due to their innovative, quality-first approach. By 1992 they were producing more than 500 million cards annually across baseball, football, and basketball licenses versus Topps’ roughly 2 billion multi-sport output. The original 1990 baseball release proved there was deep collector desire for something more than the subpar status quo. By showing what a modern card could truly be, it sparked a revolution in the industry.

Autograph and serially numbered parallel inserts like Gold parallels quickly became standard chase aspects of modern sets after their introduction by 1990 Upper Deck. The original Ken Griffey Jr. rookie remains one of the most iconic and valuable cards ever due to unprecedented demand and preservation attributes on indestructible plastic versus cardboard. Pristine specimens still regularly grade perfect Gem Mint 10 condition after 30 years.

By choosing to focus first on superior artistic quality over mass volume plays, Upper Deck proved collectors would flock to a premium product experience and pay higher prices. This business model shift away from the “cigar box” approach of prior decades allowed them to surge past long entrenched but stagnant competitors. 1990 Upper Deck cards marked a true “before and after” watershed moment that changed the sports card landscape forever. Their innovations in photography, card stock durability, and limited print runs are still widely emulated today across the entire industry they shook up. Three decades later, the 1990 Upper Deck baseball release remains singularly revolutionary and one of the most important sets in the modern card-collecting era.

TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS COMPANY

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Topps Company, Inc.: A Brief History of an American Icon

The Topps Company is one of the most iconic and enduring companies in American history. Founded in 1938 as The Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., Topps revolutionized the baseball card industry and went on to dominate the market for decades. Today, Topps remains the largest and most successful manufacturer and distributor of sports and entertainment trading cards and collectibles in the world. Let’s take a deeper look at the illustrious history of this true American success story.

Topps was founded in Brooklyn, New York by four brothers – Ira, Morris, Philip, and Israel Goodman. Originally producing chewing gum, the company got its start in the fledgling baseball card industry in 1938 when their marketing director Sy Berger conceived the idea of including a baseball card photo and stats in their popular “Bazooka” bubble gum packs. These early cardboard sized tobacco style cards were a huge success and kicked off what would become a multi-billion dollar sports card industry.

In the 1950s, Topps achieved undisputed dominance as the main issuer of non-tobacco sized baseball cards. In a strategic business move that would forever change the industry, Topps signed exclusive contracts with both Major League Baseball and with the players union in 1952, locking up licensing rights for visual likeness, stats and team logos. No other card company could use official MLB marks, imagery or player names. This monopoly allowed Topps to design superior quality cards and fueled unprecedented growth and popularity of their flagship baseball card lines.

Several key card sets defined Topps’ golden era in the mid-20th century. The iconic 1953 Topps set marked the first transition to the modern standard size card format. In 1957, Topps debuted the first modern era color baseball card set. Their 1960 Topps design with black borders is considered one of the most sought-after and aesthetically pleasing sets of all time. Topps also expanded their offerings beyond baseball, releasing some of the earliest high quality NBA, NFL and NHL card sets in the late 1950s and 60s.

The 1960s and 70s brought additional innovations from Topps. They were the first company to introduce the “ Bazooka,” “ Ring Pop,” and “ Juicy Fruit” bubble gum card accessories. Popular subsets including Traded sets and All-Star cards boosted collector excitement. Topps even experimented with non-sports releases like 1968 Wacky Packages parody sticker cards. Throughout it all, Topps baseball reigned supreme due to strict MLB licensing control.

In the 1980s, the sports card bubble started to inflate as investors and speculators entered the newly lucrative market. Topps capitalized with highly anticipated releases like the iconic 1987 set which featured the debut rookie cards of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Benito Santiago. The overproduction of certain releases devalued some cards and led to an industry crash. Topps regained footing and stability through the 1990s with innovations like Prestige, Stadium Club, and printing techniques like refractor parallels.

The modern Topps era has seen both great success and new challenges. Some milestone releases include the rare 1992 Griffey rookie, the invaluable rookie cards of Derek Jeter in 1996, and licensed sets based on popular films like Star Wars. Competition intensified as rivals like Upper Deck and Panini gained ground. A bitter court battle ensued after MLB switched exclusive rights to Panini in 2020. Topps continued producing unlicensed baseball cards featuring photos of current players.

Now in its eighth decade, Topps remains a billion-dollar global trading card powerhouse. While baseball drove their initial growth, Topps has long since expanded into diverse properties across entertainment, sports, gaming, and beyond. Icons of pop culture like Star Wars, WWE, Garbage Pail Kids, and Marvel are just some of their massive licensed franchises. Topps also innovated new models including digital apps, original video content and unique physical collectibles. Through continuous evolution and resilience in the face of adversity, Topps has solidified its place as both an American business success story and a fondly remembered brand name for collectors around the world.