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WHO MAKES BASEBALL CARDS IN 2023

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Topps has long been the dominant baseball card company and remains the industry leader. Founded in 1938, Topps is the official licensed card of Major League Baseball and is responsible for producing premier sets such as Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, Topps Update, and Topps High Tek. In recent years, Topps has extended its brand into online and digital platforms through apps, games, social media platforms, and innovative new card products. Some of their biggest and most popular releases of 2023 include the Dominators and Acuña Jr. Project 70 sets.

Panini America is generally considered the number two company behind Topps. Originally founded in Italy, Panini entered the U.S. sports card market in the late 1980s. They have grown significantly over the past few decades and now produce an extensive array of baseball card products under licenses with MLB, MLBPA, and individual players. Some of Panini’s top baseball sets for 2023 are Prizm, Donruss, Immaculate Collection, and Contenders. They have found success distributing exclusive hobby boxes and high-end parallels through Panini Certified.

The Upper Deck Company was one of the original “big three” card manufacturers along with Topps and Fleer. They entered the scene in 1989 and released innovative sets highlighted by holograms and redeemable coupons. While Upper Deck no longer has an MLB license, they still produce baseball cards centered around retired players through their independent “Exquisite” and “SP Authentic” brands. These ultra-premium releases cater to serious collectors and include 1/1 mem cards.

Leaf Trading Cards has been around since 1991 but remains a smaller player compared to the above giants. Leaf holds player and league licenses to create value and mid-range baseball sets. Their releases include Leaf Metal, Leaf Memorabilia, and various autographed and memorabilia inserts. Leaf finds distribution primarily in hobby shops rather than mainstream retail.

Starting in the late 2010s, Fanatics emerged as a force in the sports collectibles industry through acquisitions of established companies. In 2022, they reached a lucrative long-term deal to become MLB’s exclusive trading card licensee beginning in 2025. In the meantime, Fanatics already produces baseball cards under the Donruss, Bowman, and Topps brands via recent purchases. Their 2023 releases incorporate new technological elements through partnerships with Candy Digital.

While the major companies control most of the baseball card market, several independent publishers also offer alternative products. Some examples include Stadium Club from the National Sports Collectors Convention, Allen & Ginter from the makers of playing cards, and limited-edition releases from boutique companies like Topps Project 2020 and Topps Archives. Vintage reprint sets from The Cardboard Connection aim to recreate classic designs as well.

In summary, Topps remains the 800-pound gorilla as the official MLB licensee, yet competitors like Panini and Fanatics continually challenge Topps’ dominance through appealing new sets, inserts, parallels, and innovations. The baseball card collecting scene remains robust with a range of options for fans across all levels of interest and budgets. Even without an MLB agreement, companies are able to satisfy collectors by focusing on retired player and “unlicensed” markets. This competitive landscape helps ensure the long-term future and growth of baseball cards as both a commercial product and cherished collector’s item.

WHAT MAKES BASEBALL CARDS VALUABLE

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There are several main factors that determine the value of any given baseball card. The most important factors are the player featured on the card, the year and brand of the card, the card’s condition or grade, and the overall supply and demand economics. Let’s explore each of these factors in more detail:

Player – The specific player featured on the card has the biggest impact on its value. Cards of legendary players from baseball’s early eras as well as modern eras tend to be the most valuable. Examples include cards of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, and Mike Trout. All-time great players who had exceptionally good careers command higher prices because of their rarity, significance, and the nostalgia they evoke.

Year – The year the card was released matters greatly. Vintage cards from the early 20th century before mass production are extremely rare and valuable. For example, cards featuring common players from the 1950s in good condition can still sell for thousands due to their age and the scarce surviving population. Meanwhile, cards from the late 1980s through 1990s when production increased see lower values due to higher surviving quantities.

Brand – Major card companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer produced the bulk of modern cards. Within a given year, the brand that held the exclusive licensing rights tends to have the most valuable issues. For example, the very first cards of star rookies hold cachet and value due to being pioneering issues from that player’s career.

Condition/Grade – A key factor is how well-preserved or lightly played a card has been over the decades. Near perfect, collectible grades of high-end vintage cards realize values many multiples of lower grade copies. The industry-standard grading scales from professional services like PSA, BGS, SGC bring transparency to condition assessments.

Supply and Demand – Like any collectible asset, the basic economic forces of supply and demand greatly impact values. Scarcities create opportunities for value growth over time. Popular franchise stars whose rookie cards exist in limited surviving populations gain substantial value due to strong collector demand. Market trends and renewed collector interest can also spark value increases across certain subsets.

Specifications – Within a given player, year, and brand, subtler specifications like trading card design variations, serial numbers, autographs, memorabilia relics, and parallels command premium values. Error cards missing statistics or with typos also intrigue error collectors. Contemporary insert sets highlight short prints and parallels that hold long-term appeal.

Provenance and Notability – High-dollar record sale prices are usually reserved for verifiably historic specimens with a credible lineage and collectors tend to seek out unique examples with proven records of former prestigious collections. Celebrity collectors also drive interest that raises prices for iconic pieces in their portfolios.

While natural wear and random chance impact survivors, protectors took good care of valuable pieces, preserving condition. A century exposed many vintage cards to loss or ruin by uncaring hands. Survivors maintained allure with decades-old visuals provoking nostalgia. Each sale brings new record, motivation to safeguard history for future generations to admire legendary players from baseball’s early eras.

This covers the major factors that determine a baseball card’s value. In summary – player, year, brand, condition/grade, supply and demand forces, specifications, provenance, and notability all contribute greatly to assessing any given card’s worth to collectors. Vintage examples in top grades from the earliest years will always reign as the most valuable due to their increasing rarity and historical significance within the hobby.

WHO MAKES BASEBALL CARDS TODAY

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The modern baseball card industry is dominated by just a few major players. The largest and longest-operating card manufacturer is Topps, which has been in business since 1938 and remains the most prolific creator of baseball cards. Each year Topps produces flagship sets featuring the current season’s rookies and stars as well as numerous specialty subsets. Some of their most popular annual releases include Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, Topps Chrome, Topps Update, and Topps Allen & Ginter.

The second largest company is The Upper Deck Company, which first entered the baseball card market in 1989. Known for producing premium card products with higher end photography and materials, Upper Deck annually releases sets like Ultimate Collection, Exquisite Collection, and Sweet Spot. Their cards tend to carry a higher sticker price compared to Topps but are highly coveted by serious collectors.

In recent decades, two other manufacturers have emerged as serious competitors to Topps – Panini America and Leaf Trading Cards. Panini first issued MLB-licensed cards in 2008 and has since grown their offerings each year. Some of their notable sets include Panini Chronicles, Panini Donruss, and Panini Elite Extra Edition. Leaf Trading Cards, whose history in the industry dates back to 1981, also holds a MLB license and produces popular annual releases like Leaf Greatest of All Time and Leaf Metal Universe.

The modern baseball card market remains very healthy. According to industry sources, the current estimated size of the baseball card collecting hobby in North America is around $800 million annually. This can be attributed to many enduring factors that have sustained fan interest in cards since the late 19th century.

For one, the nostalgia and pop culture appeal of collecting cards featuring legendary players from the past continues to attract both new and lapsed collectors. Witnessing the evolution of the game through visual depictions on cards is part of what draws people into the hobby. Secondly, as new stars emerge and rookie cards are issued each season, there remains excitement around trying to acquire the next Babe Ruth or Mike Trout before they become iconic figures. The chance of potentially finding a valuable card that could someday be worth thousands also fuels the industry.

Technological advancements have helped engage new generations. Insert cards with swatches of game-worn memorabilia or autographs incorporate more interactivity for collectors. Digital platforms let users organize virtual collections and trade cards online. Streaming video highlights packaged with cards bring the on-field action directly onto the cardboard. An array of collector apps, social media groups, podcasts, blogs and YouTube channels have further expanded the community surrounding the hobby.

All of these factors have allowed today’s baseball card manufacturers like Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, and Leaf to successfully adapt to changes in pop culture and consumer trends. By continuing to innovate new products while tapping nostalgia, the companies have ensured the tradition of collecting cards lives on strongly into the 21st century. With the healthy participation of today’s youth and no signs of declining interest from longtime enthusiasts, the future remains bright for this classic American pastime hitting its 157th year in 2022.

WHAT MAKES BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MONEY

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While collecting baseball cards is a fun hobby for many, certain cards can be quite valuable depending on supply and demand factors in the rare coin and collectibles marketplace. Card condition, player performance, and era all play an important role in assigning value. The most valuable baseball cards were produced decades ago when the hobby first began, as only a limited number survive in top condition today.

One of the most important determining factors of a card’s value is its condition, referred to as the card’s grade. Grading considers centering, edges, corners and surface for any defects or signs of wear that may have occurred over the years. Near perfect centering with sharp corners and no creases, bends or scratches would garner the highest possible grade of Mint 10 or Gem Mint 10 from professional third party grading services. The condition of the card is paramount, as even minor flaws can decrease its value significantly. Cards preserved in sleeves and holders right from the moment they were removed from packs tend to maintain the best state of preservation over decades.

Player performance also heavily influences baseball card prices. Stars who went on to have statistically dominant careers in Major League Baseball command higher values for their rookie cards and vintage cards featuring their early years in the sport. Legendary players with sustained excellence like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and more from the earliest decades of organized professional baseball have exponentially risen in value in recent years due to their enduring popularity and fame. While talented players who never quite lived up to expectations or had career-ending injuries see more moderate valuations.

The era in which a card was produced is another essential aspect of its collecting landscape value today. The early 20th century is when baseball cards truly began, starting with the famous T206 tobacco card series from 1909-11. With their aged, nostalgic designs along with the limited surviving population, cards from this “tobacco era” period that includes other iconic early 20th century issues like the E90, E95 and Goudey sets can fetch six figures or more in top condition. Demand remains high for these rarity antiquities of cardboard collecting. 1950s Topps, Bowman and Fleer issues hold significant value as well since far fewer collectors hung onto and preserved their cards from that Golden Age time compared to later decades of mass production.

Beyond the inherent qualities of condition, player and era there are certain unique variations and one-of-a-kind specimens that can make individual baseball cards astonishingly valuable. Error cards containing mistakes, missing statistics, swapped photos etc. that were never intended to reach the masses have sold at auction for over $1 million. Autographed memorabilia cards directly signed by the featured athlete in modern times have reached the million-dollar threshold too with in-person authentication. The monetary pinnacle however resides in the legendary 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card, of which fewer than 50 are known to exist in all grades. In recent years, specimens in lower states of preservation have exceeded previous record prices of over $3 million at auction.

While the aforementioned premium collectibles represent the rarefied air and long-held cream of the hobby, there exist countless other valuable cards across every player, team, issue and grade that capture imaginations and tell cherished stories from baseball’s rich history. Whether in mint condition rookie cards of present-day superstars, complete vintage sets in lower grades, or unusual specialty releases it’s the allure and nostalgia of the cardboard that keep collectors coming back year after year in search of treasures from the pastime’s memorable yesteryears. Whether displayed proudly in protective holders or tucked safely away in storage, a finely preserved baseball card truly is a window transporting us back to fond remembered summers at the ballpark in years gone by.

The condition, performance history of the featured player, era of production and any unique distinguishing characteristics are what drive the collectible and often significant monetary value of the rarest and most desirable baseball cards across more than a century of the American pastime’s dedicated card-collecting community. While the majority of issues hold value primarily for fans rather than financial investment, the perfect storm of factors surrounding the highest echelon rarities have secured their place in sport card collecting lore and cemented multi-million dollar price tags.

WHO MAKES BASEBALL CARDS NOW

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Topps is arguably still the most prominent and largest producer of baseball cards today. They have been making baseball cards since the late 1930s and were the dominant brand for much of the 20th century. In the mid-1980s, Topps was challenged by new competitor Fleer. Fleer produced popular sets in the 1980s and remained one of the major producers into the 1990s before ultimately leaving the baseball card market.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Upper Deck emerged as another major competitor to Topps. Upper Deck made a name for themselves by securing high-profile licenses and innovating card designs. Some of their sets, like Upper Deck SP Authentic and Ultimate Collection, became highly coveted among collectors. Production issues and financial troubles led Upper Deck to sell their sports division in 2007. They no longer make baseball cards on a large scale.

Despite competitors entering and exiting the market over the decades, Topps has endured as the longest-running and largest baseball card company still in operation today. Some key Topps sets include their annual Series 1, 2, and Update issues as well as high-end releases like Topps Chrome, Allen & Ginter, and Stadium Club. In recent years, Topps has expanded into digital card applications and platforms to stay relevant.

While Topps remains the 800-pound gorilla of the baseball card industry, there are still other smaller competitors producing sets today as well. One such company is Leaf Trading Cards, which emerged in the 1990s and is now owned by ThePanini Group. Leaf releases include Leaf Limited, valiant efforts, and Masterpieces. Another option is Panini America, which holds licenses for NFL and NBA stickers and cards in addition to MLB. Some popular Panini baseball sets are Donruss, Contenders, and Chronicles.

Another niche player in today’s baseball card market is Treasured Memories, which focuses on producing affordable vintage-styled sets as well as high-end autographed memorabilia cards. Their flagship release is Treasured Cuts. There are numerous smaller independent regional producers that service local hobby shops with their own sets featuring current minor leaguers and such. Bowman is also still around making popular Bowman Chrome/Bowman Draft/Bowman’s Best sets.

While competition has certainly existed, Topps has endured longer than any other company in the baseball card collecting hobby due to their massive brand recognition, longevity in the market, and sheer production output. Though they faced challenges from Fleer and Upper Deck in previous decades, Topps remains the dominant force with about 80%+ market share currently. Their closest competitors today are Panini and Leaf/Upper Deck brands, but Topps is still widely considered the most iconic baseball card brand in history. With new digital businesses augmenting physical card production, Topps aims to stay ahead in the baseball collectibles industry for decades more.

WHO MAKES BOWMAN BASEBALL CARDS

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Bowman is a brand of baseball cards created by Topps Company, Inc. that focuses on featuring prospects, rookies, and young Major League talent. Bowman baseball cards have been produced annually since 1949 and are the official Minor League Baseball licensee, giving them unique access to photograph and provide information on prospects yet to reach the Majors.

Topps has owned the Bowman brand since 1956 when they acquired Bowman Gum Inc., the original creator of Bowman cards. However, Topps did not start regularly producing new Bowman sets each year until the early 1990s. Prior to that, Bowman sets would come out sporadically, usually featuring a specific theme rather than being a true “annual” release. In 1992, Topps revived Bowman as a yearly brand focused on prospects to help fill the period between their flagship Series 1 and 2 releases each season.

Today, Topps produces several different Bowman Baseball card products each year under the Bowman brand and logo. The flagship is considered the annual Bowman Draft set, which comes out in late spring/early summer and features the recently drafted amateur players from MLB’s First-Year Player Draft in May/June. These sets photograph and provide stats and bios on the top prospects just starting their professional careers. Additional major Bowman releases include Bowman Chrome in the summer, which focuses on glossy refractors and parallels of top prospects, and Bowman’s Best in the fall, a high-end set featuring prospects and young stars.

Topps also produces international Bowman sets targeting collectors outside of the United States. These include Bowman Draft International, Bowman Scouts Edition (international amateur players), Bowman Sterling (high-end international prospects), and Bowman’s Best international variants. Many international Bowman products are exclusive to certain European, Asian, and Latin American distributors and markets.

In order to photograph, acquirestats and information, and sign licensing agreements for each year’s Bowman releases, Topps works directly with all 30 Major League teams as well as many Minor League affiliates. As the exclusive MLB/MiLB licensee for prospect cards, Topps has scouts and representatives attending practices, games, and signing events throughout each season to gather fresh content for their Bowman sets featuring tomorrow’s baseball stars.

All Bowman cards are designed, approved, and manufactured by Topps at their main production facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While the company does not publicly disclose exact print runs, Bowman sets are considered “mainstream” releases by Topps standards and have print runs and distribution comparable to flagship Topps Series 1 and 2 but generally below specialty high-end sets like Topps Chrome. Cards are primarily distributed to retailers like Walmart, Target, hobby shops, and online sportscard marketplaces.

As the exclusive owner of Bowman branding and photography rights, Topps carefully protects the Bowman brand and guards against unauthorized use of their prospect content. While Topps produces the official Bowman releases each season under the MLB/MiLB license, other unlicensed third-party companies may on rare occasion attempt to create their own “unofficial” sets featuring available prospect photographs from the public domain internet. But Topps remains the sole authorized creator, producer, and distributor of licensed annual Bowman baseball card products focusing on prospects and young talent.

In summary, Bowman baseball cards have been produced since 1949, but it was not until Topps revived the brand in the early 1990s that they became the annual staple focused on prospects they are today. Topps exclusively owns the Bowman brand and through their MLB/MiLB licenses has unique access and relationships that allow them to photograph, design, approve, manufacture, and distribute the array of Bowman sets each season that provide baseball card collectors with the earliest looks at tomorrow’s future MLB stars still making their way through the minors.

WHO MAKES BASEBALL CARDS

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There are a few major companies that produce the majority of baseball cards available on the market today. The main companies that create baseball cards are Topps, Panini America, Leaf Trading Card Company, and The Upper Deck Company. Each of these companies has their own history, acquisition of MLB licenses, distribution methods, and card brands.

Topps has been creating baseball cards since the 1950s and is considered the pioneer and industry leader. They developed the modern concept of packaging cards in wax packs with bubble gum. Topps signed the first exclusive deal with Major League Baseball in 1952 to produce licensed baseball cards. They held the exclusive MLB license continuously for over 60 years until losing it temporarily in 2020. Despite losing exclusivity at times, Topps remains the largest and most recognizable brand in the industry. They produce flagship sets like Topps Series 1 and 2 every year along with special high-end releases.

In 2007, the Topps Company was acquired by The Tornante Company, making it a privately held company. It remains the largest producer and distributor of sports and entertainment cards worldwide. Topps cards can be found in hobby shops, drug stores, supermarkets, and mass-market retailers across the United States and internationally. They use their website and social media to promote new releases and sell directly to collectors.

Panini America gained a MLB player’s association license in 2020 and began producing licensed baseball cards after Topps’ MLB deal expired. Panini is an Italian corporation best known for soccer sticker/card collections but has expanded into American sports in recent years. They created the Donruss and Prizm baseball brands which are popular with collectors. Panini cards can be found primarily in hobby shops and sporting good stores. They’ve grown the hobby side of the business but have less mass-market distribution than Topps currently.

Leaf Trading Card Company has been making baseball cards since 1987 and is considered one of the “Big Three” along with Topps and Panini. They are known for high-end, limited releases rather than large mainstream sets. Some coveted Leaf sets include Gold Label, Metal Universe, and Precious Metal Gems. Leaf products have appearances in hobby shops and independent card shows. They have never held an exclusive MLB license like Topps but produce well-received licensed sets when possible.

The Upper Deck Company began in 1988 and revolutionized the industry by introducing innovative trading card features like embossed logos, signatures, and on-card autographs. They held the MLB player license from 1998-2001 but have never had an MLB-exclusive license. Upper Deck produces baseball sets without MLB logos when not licensed but the cards still feature player names and stats. Their cards are popular among collectors for the premium production quality and serial-numbered parallels. Upper Deck products are primarily sold through hobby shops and their website.

In addition to the main producers, there are also smaller regional/independent card companies that create localized baseball sets without MLB licenses. These include Donruss, Bristol Sports Cards, Rittenhouse Archives, and Blowout Cards. And companies like Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck that primarily focus on other sports will occasionally branch into baseball when opportunities arise.

In summary, Topps remains the industry pioneer and largest producer of baseball cards due to their long history with MLB licenses and mass-market distribution. But Panini, Leaf, and Upper Deck have larger roles today targeting collector markets. All of these companies develop innovative card designs, signatures, and parallel printing to cater to collectors’ interests. The baseball card producing industry has evolved since Topps began in the 1950s but these companies maintain the tradition and help fans enjoy and connect to the game through card collecting.

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.