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DOES HEB SELL BASEBALL CARDS

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HEB is a privately held grocery store chain with over 340 stores across Texas and Mexico. While HEB is primarily known for being a supermarket that sells groceries, household goods, and prepared foods, they do have a limited selection of other merchandise categories available in some stores as well. When it comes to whether HEB sells baseball cards specifically, the answer is that a few select HEB locations may carry a small assortment of packs and boxes of modern baseball cards near the front of the store, but HEB generally does not have a significant or dedicated baseball card section.

Baseball cards are a multi-billion dollar memorabilia and collector’s item industry. Their popularity has waxed and waned over the decades as interests and hobbies among consumers have changed. In the late 1980s and 1990s during the height of the baseball card bubble, just about every corner store, drug store, grocery store, and big box retailer had a sizable baseball card aisle filled with wax packs, boxes, and hobby supplies. As the baseball card craze cooled off in the early 2000s, most mass market retailers pulled back and eliminated their baseball card departments to free up valuable sales floor space for more consistently selling products.

HEB likely followed a similar strategy during this time period of scaling back their baseball card offerings as demand fell off. Currently it seems their approach is to only carry a token selection of the most current year’s flagship Topps packs and boxes near the front end of select stores rather than dedicating precious retail space to a full baseball card shop within their grocery format. This allows them to pay minor homage to card collecting as a popular hobby and pastime without over-indexing shelf space for a niche product category. Carrying only the current year’s Topps products ensures they have reasonably fresh and in-demand inventory while minimizing risk of getting stuck with out-of-date and harder to sell older stock.

There are a few specific HEB locations that seem to commonly have this token Topps baseball card presence according to anecdotal reports from customers. Stores in more affluent suburbs or towns with a strong baseball culture like Round Rock, Cedar Park, Flower Mound, and Southlake appear most likely to dedicate a small section to cards near checkout. The vast majority of HEBs reportedly do not bother with baseball cards at all since they have more consistent sellers they could feature instead. HEB also tends not to do online shopping or have a baseball card e-commerce selection, further limiting their involvement in the hobby.

While rare, some customers have reported seeing HEB grocery stores with larger and more varied baseball card aisles filled with various trading card products, supplies, and memorabilia in the past. This seems to have become exceptionally uncommon now across their Texas-based store network as their approach has migrated towards bare bones Topps packs only or no cards whatsoever depending on individual location. Card shops, specialty sports stores, and big box chains like Walmart with dedicated trading card sections have presumably replaced HEB as the go-to local brick and mortar retailers for most collectors and players.

In summary, HEB’s baseline position is not typically stocking baseball cards except for possibly just current year Topps packs near checkout at selective locations. But their approach appears flexible enough that a few stores with more local demand have experimented with or maintained larger dedicated baseball card aisles filled with a range of products in the past. Overall though, most HEB customers should not expect to find much if any baseball cards for sale throughout the majority of their grocery focused stores due to lack of consistent profitability and floor space constraints within their retail format. Specialty hobby shops, sport card websites, and occasional mass market alternatives tend to be the preferable brick and mortar or online options for HEB customers specifically seeking baseball cards and supplies instead.

DOES COSTCO HAVE BASEBALL CARDS

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Costco is a membership-only warehouse club known for offering goods in bulk quantities and often at lower prices than traditional retail stores. While their inventory primarily consists of everyday essentials like food, household items, clothes, and electronics, Costco also has a wide selection of other merchandise available at their warehouses. This includes sports collectibles like baseball cards.

Baseball cards have been popular collectibles for decades, allowing fans to build sets featuring their favorite players, teams, and seasons. With the rise of mass-produced trading cards beginning in the late 1800s, stores started carrying cards and related sporting goods accessories. Today, major retailers like Walmart and Target traditionally have a baseball card section, so many consumers naturally wonder if Costco participates in the baseball card market as well.

The short answer is that while availability may vary somewhat by location, most Costco warehouses do stock at least a limited assortment of baseball cards from time to time. Cards are usually found mixed in with other sports and non-sports collectibles in the main aisles, rather than having their own dedicated display. Customers shouldn’t expect to find the largest selection of individual packs, boxes, and sets at Costco compared to a specialty card shop. They do offer decent value on multi-packs of recent season cards and older vintage packs.

Some of the baseball card products that Costco periodically gets deliveries of include:

Jumbo packs containing 30-50 cards each from the latest MLB season from companies like Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini. These usually retail for $15-20 each.

Multi-pack boxes with 10-12 regular sized packs grouped together. Brands carried might be Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Stadium Club, and Topps Tribute among others. These boxes run $30-50.

Vintage or retro-themed packs and boxes reprinting sets from the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s. Examples could be a 36-pack box of 1991 Topps for $50.

Specialty products such as complete playsets from recent All-Star Games or postseason runs for $20-30.

Memorabilia card boxes with autographed pieces or game-used swatches in each pack. Prices range from $75-150 depending on the player profile.

Customers shouldn’t expect a huge diversity of baseball cards for sale at any given time. Inventory tends to be limited based on what the warehouse receives from distributors. Cards also may sell out quickly depending on local collector demand. Periodic restocks do occur throughout the MLB season and during the peak collecting months of late winter/early spring. Being a Costco member provides a convenient chance to potentially find decently priced assortments for building a collection.

Some key factors that determine whether a particular Costco location has cards in stock on a given day include:

Geographic region – Stores near major league cities naturally see higher baseball card sales and keep inventory more consistently.

Store size – Larger flagship locations have more available space to carry assortments of specialty items like cards compared to smaller warehouses.

Day of the week – Shipments tend to arrive mid-week, so later in the week offers the best chances to find newly stocked products.

Time of year – As mentioned, winter/spring aligns with when most new releases come out and demand peaks before the season begins.

While selection may not rival dedicated sports card retailers, Costco provides casual collectors an affordable way to add to their collections every once in a while. Membership discounts make multi-packs more cost-effective. And anyone searching for an impulse buy stands a decent chance of finding something of interest if checking locations in baseball-centric cities throughout the season cycle. So in summary – yes, many though not all Costco warehouses do offer at least a periodic supply of assorted baseball cards.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET YOUR BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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The three largest and most reputable card grading services are Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), and Huggins & Scott (H&S). Each company has different pricing tiers based on the type of service (regular vs express) and turnaround times.

For a standard grading submission to BGS, the basic fees are as follows:
-$10 per card for a regular return time of approximately 45-90 business days.
-Cards are shipped back in a BGS plastic graded card holder.
-Shipping costs to send cards to BGS are not included in the fee and must be paid separately. Estimated shipping costs start at around $20-30 depending on package weight and speed.

For express grading services at BGS to get cards back faster, the fees are higher:
-$20 per card for approximately a 2-4 week return
-$30 per card for approximately a 1 week return

At PSA, their standard non-express card grading service fees are similar:
-$10 per card for their Economy service level with a return time of approximately 90-120 business days.
-$20 per card for their Standard service level with a return time of approximately 30-45 days.

Moving up to PSA’s express upgrade options, the pricing increases substantially:
-$30 per card for their Express service promising a 15 business day return.
-$50 per card for their 10-Day service level.
-$75 per card for their highest end 5-Day grading service.

For Huggins & Scott grading service, their costs are:
-$12 per card for their standard 30-45 day return service
-$25 per card for their 14 day Express option
-$40 per card for their fastest 5 day Graded Express service

In addition to the per card grading fees for each company, there are also bundle discounts available. BGS, PSA and H&S all offer reduced rates if you are submitting larger quantities of cards together, with the discounts kicking in at various submission levels such as 5 cards, 10 cards, 25 cards and 50+ cards.

For example, at BGS if you submit 50 or more cards together the fee drops to only $8 per card compared to $10 each for smaller submissions. PSA offers bundles starting at only $7 per card for orders of 250 cards or more graded together.

There are also other miscellaneous costs on top of just the grading fees that are good to be aware of. Each company charges additional fees per graded card for special services like reholdering (transferring a card from one slab to a new one), updating a grade, early breakouts of submissions before full grading is complete and more. BGS, PSA and H&S all have their own detailed fee structures listed openly on their websites.

In total, when factoring in all costs like grading fees, bundle/volume discounts, shipping costs and potential add-on services – getting a single baseball card professionally graded by one of the major third party authenticators and encapsulated will generally range between $10-30+ per card depending on company, turnaround time desired and order size. For collectors looking to get larger collections graded together, per card costs tend to decrease significantly the more are submitted in one bulk order taking advantage of bundling specials. Proper research of each grading company’s policies and price points is recommended to find the best solution and value for an individual collector’s budget and needs.

WHAT DOES HOF MEAN IN BASEBALL CARDS

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The Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York and was founded in 1936 to honor the legends of the game. Every year, veterans of the sport who have been retired for at least five seasons are eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame by baseball writers. To gain induction, a player needs to appear on at least 75% of the ballots. Those who are voted in then have their plaque hung among the other greats in the Hall’s grand building.

Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is considered one of the greatest honors a baseball player can receive for their career accomplishments. Having the designation of “Hall of Famer” or “HOF” next to a player’s name on their baseball card signifies that they have achieved baseball immortality for their elite skill and contributions to the game throughout their career. See being enshrined in the Hall of Fame as the crowning achievement to cap off a player’s time in Major League Baseball.

Some key statistics writers look at for Hall of Fame consideration include career batting average, home runs, RBIs, wins for pitchers, ERA and career impact. Hall of Famers nearly always have some combination of high career stats plus multiple All-Star appearances and individual awards like MVPs or Cy Youngs. Longevity in terms of seasons and atypical milestones like 3,000 hits also help a player’s case for Cooperstown induction. Winning championships and clutch playoff performances may provide an extra boost for Hall of Fame votes as well.

Several players, managers, executives and other baseball veterans have gained baseball immortality despite passing away before their era of baseball was eligible for Hall of Fame voting. In these cases, special Hall of Fame committees consider these players’ careers and vote them into the Hall of Fame based on their estimated place in history. Having “HOF” next to their name on older baseball cards recognizes the posthumous honors these legends received for revolutionizing or excelling in their own era before standards changed.

Seeing HOF on any baseball card should immediately spark pride and intrigue given the immense challenges of gaining Cooperstown enshrinement through on-field expertise and longevity. Collectors place high value on Hall of Famer cards, as they showcase the true diamond kings of the sport. While statistics and awards help, ultimately gaining election to the Hall of Fame represents the highest form of recognition a ballplayer or baseball pioneer can achieve for their incredible skills and contributions witnessed on the field. That’s why seeing HOF permanently on their baseball card cement’s one’s legendary status forever.

DOES 5 BELOW SELL BASEBALL CARDS

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5 Below is a national retail chain known for selling a wide variety of merchandise that is all priced at $5 or below. Their product assortment ranges from toys, games, candy, electronics, home goods, and seasonal items. While their locations offer a very diverse selection of affordable items, baseball cards have not historically been a major part of their inventory.

In recent years 5 Below has expanded what trading card games and collectibles they stock on their shelves. This is likely in response to the continued growth and popularity of the trading card hobby, especially among younger audiences. They want to capture this market by having a selection of more niche products like sport trading cards. But baseball cards specifically make up a small portion of the overall trading cards carried.

Football and basketball trading cards dominate the limited card selection found at 5 Below. This reflects the broader popularity of the NFL and NBA among younger demographics compared to MLB. Sets from the past couple seasons from popular sports brands like Panini, Topps, and Upper Deck can be found. These are usually the value packs and blind packs priced around $1-3 rather than high-end boxes.

Baseball cards do occasionally show up but availability is inconsistent and limited to just a handful of recent release products or value packs at any given time. Stores likely only keep small quantities on hand since baseball does not sell as quickly as other sports. Some examples of baseball card items that may sporadically be in stock include:

Topps 2020 Base Series 1 value packs with 10 random cards for $1.25

Topps 2021 Allen & Ginter blind jumbo packs with 6 cards including baseball stars and obscure non-sports personalities from $1.50

Topps 2021 Gypsy Queen mini box with 12 cards and chances for parallels/autos priced around $3

Donruss 2020 Optic retro design blaster box containing 36 cards for $4.95

Panini Prizm draft picks & prospects blasters with 2018/19 rookies priced at $4

Vintage or high-end retro products are never seen for sale. The selection clearly aims to offer the most current and accessible baseball card items possible at those affordable price points. Beyond a handful of popular brands and basic sets, collectors would be hard-pressed to find many specialty inserts, parallels or box toppers either.

In addition to the product selection limitations, the condition and organization of the 5 Below trading card sections leaves much to be desired. Cards are often scattered, damaged or incomplete due to lack of organization, subpar storage and casual browsing/handling. This deters serious collectors but satisfies impulse buyers.

While 5 Below has made an effort to grow their trading card offerings – baseball cards specifically hold a very minor and inconsistent presence compared to other sports. Avid baseball card collectors would be disappointed by the lack of selection, higher-end products and disheveled condition of what little is stocked. It works better satisfying newcomers seeking an inexpensive intro into the hobby rather than serving more dedicated enthusiasts. Other big box stores, local card shops or online retailers offer a superior baseball card shopping experience.

So in summary – yes 5 Below does carry a small amount of recent MLB card releases and value packs priced at $5 or under. But their extremely limited selections, inconsistent availability, poor merchandising and focus on other sports means it should not be viewed as a primary destination nor relied upon for serious baseball card collectors. Casual fans may occasionally find an affordable blaster box or pack but will be underwhelmed overall by the retailer’s offering in this niche collectible category.

DOES PAWN SHOPS BUY BASEBALL CARDS

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Pawn shops are businesses that offer loans to customers who use valuable assets as collateral. Some pawn shops will buy certain valuable items outright instead of loaning money against them. When it comes to buying baseball cards, there is a bit of variability between different pawn shops, but many will purchase cards under the right circumstances.

The first thing to understand is what types of baseball cards pawn shops are interested in. They are only going to buy higher value vintage cards from the late 19th century up through the 1980s-1990s. Commons and more modern cards usually have very little secondary market value. Pawn shops need to feel confident they can resell cards for a profit, so vintage stars in good condition are ideal. Rarity also matters – rare rookie cards, unique league leader cards, etc. will attract more interest.

In terms of condition, pawn shops typically demand excellent centering, sharp corners, and no creases, stains or other flaws for vintage cards they buy. Even minor imperfections can significantly impact a card’s value. They may still take more worn cards, but the offer will be incredibly low. Presentation is important too – cards should be stored safely in sleeves, toploaders or magnetic holders to keep them protected. Loose, damaged cards in a box earn less consideration from pawn shops.

When taking cards into a pawn shop, research the estimated values beforehand using sites like PSA SMR Price Guide or eBay’s recently sold listings. Note the grade you believe a card warrants. Pawn shops have to account for flaws and make a profit, so realistic expectations are key. They also need to be able to resell quickly, so sealed vintage wax boxes are usually not a good fit compared to single cards. Provide all relevant information like print runs as some short print cards hold far greater value.

Consider as well that like any collectible business, individual pawn shops will have preferred categories and players they specialize in and sell best. For example, a shop near Fenway Park likely focuses more on Red Sox legends versus 1960s Dodgers. Knowing a shop’s customer base helps you pick appropriate cards to offer them first. Be prepared to negotiate in person as well – multiple shops competing for cards mean you can get a better price.

If the pawn shop is interested in your cards, they’ll make a cash offer after inspecting condition. Acceptance means the cards are sold then and there in exchange for payment. Keep in mind they are a business and need to turn a profit, so offers will typically be below true market value depending on the grade and demand for that specific card. Still, in many cases pawn shops provide a convenient immediate cash option versus waiting weeks or months to sell online. Just be sure any offer you accept makes financial sense for the cards in question.

While pawn shops don’t handle cards as core inventory like online shops focused on sports memorabilia, with the proper vintage cards in excellent condition, many will purchase them outright for their collectibles clientele. The key is understanding their preferences and pitch cards that fit their business needs and regular customer profiles. With research, the right items, and proper negotiations, selling baseball cards to pawn shops represents a plausible resale option worth considering.

DOES BEST BUY SELL BASEBALL CARDS

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Yes, Best Buy does sell baseball cards though their selection may vary by location. Baseball cards can be found in the toys and games section of many Best Buy stores across the United States. Here are some more details on Best Buy’s baseball card offerings:

History of Baseball Cards at Best Buy: Best Buy first started carrying baseball cards in their stores in the late 1990s as the hobby of collecting sports cards experienced a resurgence in popularity. Initially just a small endcap section was devoted to cards but by the early 2000s it had grown to become a prominent part of the toys and games area. Best Buy saw baseball and football cards as a natural product fit within their selection of family entertainment items. It was an easy category for them to add that many customers were already familiar with.

Current Card Selection: Today at Best Buy you can expect to find the most popular and recently released baseball card products from the major manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck. This includes both rack packs containing 10-12 random cards as well as specialty items like autograph or memorabilia card boxes and sets. Best Buy stocks the current year’s base Topps and Bowman baseball card releases along with insert sets from those brands. They may also have some older vintage-style releases available. The specific selection can fluctuate based on what warehouses are able to keep in stock at any given time.

Store Placement: Within each Best Buy location, look for the baseball cards on shelving units in the main toys and games area. This is typically towards the back of the store near video games and board games but the layout varies. Cards will share shelf space with sports-themed toys, non-sports trading cards like Pokemon, and other memorabilia products. Signage above the shelves is used to denote the baseball and football card section. Stock levels range from just a handful of options up to a large dedicated multi-shelf display depending on individual store size and sales volumes.

Product Displays: Product packaging for baseball cards at Best Buy resembles how they would appear in a hobby shop or major retailer. Rack packs are arranged facing outwards in their full color packaging to showcase the featured players and photo variations found within. Specialty boxes have window displays showing included relic cards, autographs, or other bonuses. Pricing is clearly marked and inventory is replenished regularly from central warehouses to keep shelves fully stocked. Fixtures are designed to highlight popular brands and set releases.

Customer Demographics: The target customer for baseball cards at Best Buy is families, specifically male sports fans aged 8-40 looking for an affordable way to collect new cards of their favorite players and teams. Best Buy aims to attract more casual collectors not dedicated enough to shop specialty card shops. Parents purchase cards as gifts alongside video games. Teenagers and older collectors appreciate the convenience of finding cards alongside electronics and media purchases during shopping trips.

Obtaining Expertise: While Best Buy sales associates may not possess the card collecting expertise of hobby shop employees, many locations do employ product “experts” well-versed in the basics of the current baseball, football, and basketball card markets. Customers are encouraged to ask these knowledgeable staff questions about sets, particular chase cards, or recent notable rookie autographs when browsing the shelves. Brand representatives also occasionally visit stores for product showcases and demonstrations.

Online Availability: In addition to physical store inventory, BestBuy.com allows users to view available baseball card products for in-store pickup or home delivery. This provides another convenient access point, especially for those seeking out-of-print or harder to find vintage items their local branch may not carry regularly. Online shoppers can also read reviews from other collectors and be notified of upcoming release dates/pre-orders.

So in summary – while Best Buy’s baseball card selection may not rival specialty hobby shops in terms of depth and rarity, it does fulfill an important niche role by offering the mainstream customer an accessible browsing and purchase environment intermixed with other family entertainment options. Their scale and logistics network allows frequent replenishing of the most popular new releases so casual collectors have an alternative locally based source.

DOES GOODWILL HAVE BASEBALL CARDS

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The answer is that sometimes Goodwill stores will have baseball cards, but it varies significantly by location and what type of donations each individual store receives. Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates over 3,000 stores nationwide, so the inventory in each store will be different based on what community members donate. There are a few factors that determine the likelihood of any given Goodwill having baseball cards for sale:

Goodwill accepts donations of used and unwanted household items from community members. This includes clothing, books, electronics, sporting goods, toys, and more. When people clean out their attics, basements, or move homes, they will often donate entire boxes or collections of baseball cards that have been accumulated over many years but are no longer wanted. Baseball card collecting was hugely popular from the 1950s through the 1990s, so there are countless boxes of cards floating around in used goods that end up at Goodwill.

The likelihood of finding baseball cards at Goodwill depends on the demographics and interests of the local community. Stores located in areas that have historically had large populations of baseball fans from that eras are more apt to receive box loads of donated cards. For example, a Goodwill store near a neighborhood known for its Little League baseball programs from the 1970s would stand a better chance than a store in an area without such recreational sports history. Regional differences also play a role, as certain areas of the country engage with baseball as a pastime more so than others.

Store size is another factor – larger Goodwill locations with more retail space available will be more likely to unpack and sort through boxes of donations looking for valuable items to put out for sale. Smaller stores may just quickly process donations and not discover an intact baseball card collection. The timing of donations also matters – a store that just received a big donation of unsorted memorabilia right before a shopper’s visit has better odds of finding cards than one that hasn’t had such a donation in months.

It also depends on if the Goodwill has employees or volunteers who are personally interested in baseball cards and know what to look for. Someone familiar with vintage cards may better recognize the potential value in sorting through a disorganized box of old cardboard and plastic versus just assuming it’s meaningless junk. Not all Goodwills can rely on staff with specialist knowledge areas.

Some Goodwill locations have realized baseball cards can be aconsistently good seller and make more of an effort to actively seek them out. An individual store’s business model and profit priorities also factor in – a for-profit Goodwill style store may give cards more priority than a nonprofit focused on job training services. Stores located in areas with many retro toy and memorabilia resellers know cards can attract commercial buyers as well as fans.

Once found, how cards are priced also varies. Pricing inaccurately too high could mean they languish, but too low risks leaving money on the table. The ideal scenario is partnering with a local collector volunteered to help value selections. In the absence of expertise, selling by the pound is common but less profitable. Factors like year, player, and condition are ignored.

While individual donations are unpredictable, Goodwill remains a very worthwhile place for baseball card collectors and investors to regularly check. With a little luck, patience, and the right local circumstances, it’s certainly possible to find forgotten stashes of vintage cardboard treasures or feed new collections at bargain prices. The secondary market has only increased demand and made cards more valuable in recent years. With so much variance between locations, treasure hunters just need to discover which of their local Goodwills provide the most fun and profitable hunting grounds.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO GET BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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There are several professional grading services that baseball card collectors can use to get their cards professionally graded, including PSA, BGS, SGC, and HGA. The costs for grading can vary depending on the specific company, type of grade, turnaround time, and number of cards being submitted.

One of the largest and most established companies is Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Their standard grading service has four tiered pricing structures based on turnaround times: economy ($12-$15 per card depending on volume), value ($20-$25 per card), standard ($30-$35 per card), and express ($50-$100 per card). For a single card submitted in the economy queue, the cost would be $15. If submitting 50 cards at once, the cost drops to $12 per card for economy. Submitting a card in the express queue for the fastest possible turnaround would cost $100 or more.

In addition to standard service grades, PSA also offers special designations like autographed cards, rookie autograph cards, and special “gem mint” grades of 10 that have extra fees. For example, an autographed card submitted for a standard grade would cost an additional $20, bringing the total cost to around $50-$55 for a typical submission. Cards receiving the rare and valuable PSA Gem Mint 10 grade also have an extra $20 authentication fee on top of regular grading costs.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) charges similar pricing structures to PSA. For a single card submitted in their value tier, which promises a 30 day turnaround, costs $20 per card. If submitting 25 cards or more in value tier, the cost drops to $17 per card. BGS also has an Express tier for 5 day turnaround costing $50 per card for singles or $40 per card if submitting 10 or more. Like PSA, they add additional charges for autographs, rookie autographs, and special designations like BGS 9.5 or 10 Gem Mint grades.

SGC is generally considered the more budget-friendly option compared to PSA or BGS. Their standard service tier for a 30 day turnaround costs just $10 per card regardless of submission quantity. They also have a $25 express 7 day tier and bulk submission discounts for larger volumes. Special designations for autographs or gem mint grades add $15 each on top of regular fees.

The newest major grading company is HGA (Hobby Genius Authentic). Their fees fall somewhere in between PSA/BGS and SGC pricing. A standard grade is $15 per card with volume breaks, while an Express 5 day turnaround is $30 per card. Special designations like autographs or gem mint grades carry $10 surcharges each.

In total, when factoring in submission costs, insurance, and shipping fees, expect to pay a minimum of $10-15 per card for standard service through SGC, $15-20 per card through PSA/BGS value tiers, and $30-50 per card or more if using express options or special designations. For large bulk submissions of 100 cards or more, average costs per card continue dropping. Proper packaging and insurance during shipping is also critical to protect valuable investments.

DOES TOPPS STILL MAKE BASEBALL CARDS

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Topps was founded in 1938 and began producing gum and candy in Brooklyn, New York. They began making baseball cards in 1951, using the relatively new format of the modern cardboard sticker card. Their iconic baseball card designs from the 1950s and 1960s helped fuel America’s baseball card collecting craze during that era. Some of their most famous early series included 1955 Topps, 1968 Topps, and the iconic 1973 Topps set featuring the design known as the “Amos Otis photo variation”. Topps maintained their leadership position as the maker of the “official” MLB baseball card throughout the mid-late 20th century.

Today, Topps is still headquartered in New York City and remains a family-owned business, now led by fourth-generation Topps executive Michael Eisner. While the gum and candy side of the business was spun off in the 1980s, Topps’ core focus now lies with their sports and entertainment collectibles division. They hold licensing contracts with MLB, NFL, UFC, Star Wars, Disney, Pokemon and many others to produce multi-million unit sets each year. Topps baseball cards specifically account for a significant portion of the company’s ongoing annual revenues.

Topps employs state-of-the-art printing technology at their factory in Dover, Kentucky which handles design, production, quality control and worldwide distribution. For baseball cards, Topps works closely each offseason with every MLB team and player agents to secure photo shoots, stats and biography blurbs to fully stock each new seasonal release. Their extensive MLBPA license allows them to use virtually any active player’s name and likeness across card variations, autographs and memorabilia products. They regularly produce around 700+ card baseball rookies in each year’s opening day set alone.

In addition to traditional trading cards and inserts, Topps offers in-depth subsets highlighting All-Stars, award winners, rookie sensations and milestone performers each year. They also market many parallel and premium versions signed by stars. Perhaps most notably, Topps is responsible for the iconic Topps Project 70 project that in 2021-2022 will feature cards depicting each living Hall of Famer in honor of Cooperstown’s platinum anniversary. Beyond physical cards, Topps has also pioneered digital expansions like Topps BUNT and other apps allowing fans to collect and build teams virtually. Their branded memorabilia division likewise sells signed baseballs, jerseys and more featuring current players.

Despite competition from Upper Deck, Panini and others in collectibles, Topps has remained the steady industry leader through the decades thanks to their exclusive MLB connection, massive distribution platform and tradition of innovative new products. With legions of collectors still seeking out their classic designs and an expected wave of new fans entering the hobby, Topps figures to remain a dominant force as they head toward their centennial producing America’s pastime on cardboard for future generations to enjoy. Their dedication to quality, exclusive licensed content and evolution with trends ensures Topps baseball cards will likely be collected and cherished for many years to come.