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WHEN DID THEY STOP PUTTING BUBBLE GUM IN BASEBALL CARDS

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The tradition of including small pieces of bubble gum in baseball card packs began in the late 1930s and lasted for several decades, but the inclusion of gum eventually ended in the late 1980s/early 1990s as the baseball card industry changed dramatically. There were several factors that led to the demise of bubble gum in cards.

In the late 1930s, the American Chicle Company, which was a leading gum manufacturer, began including baseball cards as a promotion for its Bubble Gum brand. This helped drive sales of both the gum and cards. In the post-World War II era, the baseball card market boomed in popularity among children and collectors alike. Most major gum and card manufacturers of the time, such as Topps, Fleer, and Bowman followed the model of including ball cards and small pieces of gum together in wax-wrapped packs that sold for a low price, typically around a nickel or dime. This became the standard promotional model for the baseball card industry for several decades through the 1950s-1980s peak of the card collecting hobby.

Signs that the inclusion of gum was coming to an end started emerging in the late 1980s. One major factor was the decline of the traditional baseball card companies as the industry consolidated. Topps had dominated the baseball card market for years but faced new competition from larger entertainment corporations that got into the baseball card business, such as Fleer (owned by Phillies owner Roly DeLyon) and later Donruss and Upper Deck. Larger and more marketing-savvy entertainment conglomerates like The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Entertainment began acquiring traditional card companies. This led to business model experimentation as the large corporates sought higher profits than the traditional model could provide.

Another major issue was the rising costs and liability associated with including gum with cards. Food production requires strict guidelines and quality control which increased packaging and manufacturing costs. There was also the risk of potential lawsuits if children choked on gum or got cavities from excessive gum chewing while collecting and trading cards. In an increasingly litigious environment, the gum inclusion opened card makers up to potential liability. Some manufacturers like Fleer had already stopped including gum in the late 1980s over these food safety concerns.

At the same time, the baseball card market was peaking in the late 1980s. Overproduction led to a spectacular crash in the early 1990s as the speculative bubble of skyrocketing rare card values abruptly deflated. With falling profit margins in this down market, card companies sought to cut costs wherever possible. The inclusion of gum was an obvious place to reduce expenses. Without the promotional need to drive gum sales either, the tie-in became less necessary from a business perspective.

In 1991, industry leader Topps ended the tradition when it discontinued including gum with its baseball cards due to profit pressures. Other manufacturers soon followed suit. While some smaller regional brands held onto the gum inclusion for a short time more, the baseball card industry transitioned to a non-edible model. This brought an end to an era where children could simultaneously enjoy chewing bubble gum and sorting through their newest baseball cards acquired from the corner store. Instead, cards would now be sold sans gum in thicker plastic packaging designed for storage and protection of the card collection within. This marked a symbolic end of an innocent time for a generation of baseball card collectors.

Changing economics, industry consolidation, increased costs and liabilities, coupled with the early 1990s baseball card crash were the factors that led card manufacturers to drop the time-honored tradition of including small pieces of bubble gum within baseball card packs. It brought closure to an iconic promotional model that had successfully driven the growth of the baseball card hobby for decades. While the inclusion of gum was a fond memory for many collectors, it became an unnecessary inclusion as the industry professionalized and modernized operations in the early 1990s’ changing marketplace.

IS TOPPS GOING TO STOP MAKING BASEBALL CARDS

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While Topps has been the dominant force in baseball cards for decades, their future in producing cards is uncertain as their exclusive license with Major League Baseball is set to expire after 2025. There are a few factors that could potentially cause Topps to stop making baseball cards in the coming years:

Competition from Fanatics: In January 2026, Fanatics will take over from Topps as MLB’s licensed trading card partner. Fanatics, which is the dominant online seller of sports merchandise and apparel, outbid Topps for the new exclusive trading card license. With the massive resources of Fanatics now behind MLB cards, it will be very difficult for Topps to compete without access to official MLB players, logos, and team markings that come with an exclusive license. Topps had been MLB’s exclusive trading card partner since 1953, but their era of control could be coming to an end.

Declining Baseball Card sales: The baseball card industry has been struggling in recent years with declining sales and interest from younger consumers. While some vintage and memorabilia cards still sell well, the bulk sales of packs and boxes have lagged. From 2010-2020, annual baseball card sales dropped over 50%. As cards transition more to a collector’s item than a mainstream consumer good, Topps may see the market as no longer large or consistent enough to justify continuing production without the MLB license.

Financial troubles at parent company Fanatics: Topps was purchased in 2020 by a group including Michael Rubiner, former chairman and CEO of Forbes, and private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Their parent company Fanatics finalized a deal in January 2022 to be acquired by sports conglomerate Fanatics in a deal that valued Fanatics at $27 billion. There is uncertainty regarding how Fanatics’ financial situation and priorities may change post-acquisition, which could impact Topps’ baseball card plans, especially after losing the MLB license.

NFT and Digital ventures taking focus: Topps has branched out in recent years from physical cards into digital sports and entertainment products, including their popular Topps NFTs on Wax blockchain. These digital collectibles represent a growing part of Topps’ business. After losing the MLB license, Topps may choose to divest more resources into these digital areas rather than continuing to produce traditional cardboard cards without the official MLB marketing rights and brand synergy.

Lack of a fallback plan: Topps does produce various non-MLB entertainment and soccer cards. Baseball has always been their #1 sport and driving force of the business. With no clear contingency plan in place for when/if they lose the MLB partnership, it’s possible Topps will find it too risky and unprofitable to maintain card production without an obvious replacement sport property of similar size and popularity to anchor the company going forward.

While nothing is certain, the confluence of Topps soon losing their MLB license to Fanatics, declining physical card sales industrywide, uncertainty surrounding their ownership situation, and their growing focus on digital products creates credible challenges for Topps’ long-term future in producing traditional baseball cards. It’s possible they may choose to entirely transition the business model rather than attempting to directly compete against Fanatics for MLB fandom without the same official marketing rights. However, Topps does have over 65 years of brand equity in baseball cards as well, so they may try and find alternative solutions to keep their established cardboard product lines alive long-term. Only time will tell which direction Topps decides is their best strategic path after their 2025 MLB deal expires. But major changes clearly seem to be ahead for the legacy Topps brand and its place within the baseball card industry.

WHEN DID BASEBALL CARDS STOP INCLUDING GUM

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The tradition of including gum or small toys with baseball trading cards originated in the late 1800s when American tobacco companies like American Tobacco Company and Good & Plenty began inserting non-sports related cards as promotional incentives in their tobacco products. This helped boost sales of their chewing gum and cigarettes. In the 1930s, baseball cards fully emerged as the dominant sport included in packs of gum and candy as interest in the national pastime rose significantly during the Great Depression era. Some of the most iconic early brands that produced baseball cards with gum included Goudey Gum Company, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Topps Chewing Gum, and Bowman Gum. These companies ruled the baseball card market for decades as kids eagerly sought out the latest cardboard collectibles to snack on gum and trade with friends.

Starting in the 1970s, mounting health concerns were raised over directly associating tobacco and confectionery marketing aimed at children. As the dangers of cigarettes became more widely known and tobacco advertising to minors was restricted or banned, baseball card manufacturers started exploring alternative distribution methods. In 1981, Topps Chewing Gum, long the dominant force in the baseball card industry, removed gum from its card packages for the first time while still producing cards under the “Topps” brand name. They instead opted to sell unsealed wax packs of cards without confections, signaling a transition toward marketing directly to baseball card collectors rather than as an adjunct to candy purchases.

Other gum and candy manufacturers followed Topps’ lead in short order. Bazooka Bubble Gum ended its iconic run producing baseball cards in 1982. The company felt increasing pressure to dissociate from directly marketing to kids given health criticisms over sugary snacks. Bowman Gum ceased its baseball card line in late 1982 as well citing pressure from advocates for limiting junk food advertising to youth. This left Topps as essentially the sole surviving brand, though they no longer included any gum or incentives besides the cards themselves.

In the following years, several regional and independent baseball card companies attempted to fill the void left by Topps, Bowman, and Bazooka discontinuing their product lines. brands like Fleer and Donruss launched in 1981 and 1982 respectively. They struggled to gain widespread marketplace recognition competing against the longtime incumbent Topps brand without major gum company backing and distribution channels. Topps’ dominance was further solidified when Donruss and Fleer signed exclusive licensing deals with Major League Baseball in 1987, leaving Topps as the sole brand producing cards endorsed by MLB itself.

This gave Topps an insurmountable advantage over would-be challengers and cemented their monopoly over the modern baseball card era into the 1990s and beyond without direct competition. As the collectibles culture around baseball cards exploded in popularity beyond an ancillary market for candy purchases, Topps transitioned fully into being a memorabilia and collectibles company, focusing on specialized releases, inserts, and parallel sets aimed at veteran hobbyists rather than casual bubble gum customers.

Changing social attitudes around junk food and tobacco marketing to children prompted the end of including confectioneries like gum with baseball card packages in the early 1980s as manufacturers bowed to public pressure. This transition also coincided with baseball cards becoming fully established as serious memorabilia collectibles apart from their inception as promotional sweets incentives over a century ago. While many still nostalgically recall trading cards with sticks of bubble gum, the direct pairing of the two became outdated and fell by the wayside as America’s pastimes evolved through the late 20th century.

WILL TOPPS STOP MAKING BASEBALL CARDS

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It is unlikely that Topps will stop making baseball cards in the foreseeable future, but there are some factors that could potentially impact their baseball card business in the long run. Topps has been the dominant manufacturer and distributor of baseball cards for decades, dating back to the early 1950s. The collectibles industry is evolving, and the baseball card market in particular faces some challenges.

While the traditional wax pack has been the foundation of Topps’ business model for generations of collectors, card sales have declined in recent years as the overall popularity of sports card collecting has gradually faded among younger audiences. Topps no longer enjoys the monopoly on licensed MLB trading cards it once had, with competitors like Panini increasing their market share. The rise of digital platforms and cryptocurrency presents possible new avenues for sports collectibles that Topps will need to explore.

Despite these trends, Topps still maintains strong relationships with both MLB and the players association which are crucial to continuation of their baseball card licenses. Their iconic brand remains very powerful in the industry, and recent initiatives like partnerships for exclusive NFT and digital card releases indicate the company is proactively working to engage new audiences and adapt their business. Collectors also have a strong nostalgic attachment to Topps as the traditional provider of cards which generates continuing residual demand.

As long as Topps can maintain their MLB licenses, which are valuable assets, it is very likely they will find ways to remain commercially viable even as sales volumes change. It seems highly probable baseball cards will be part of their product mix for the foreseeable future, as they represent one of Topps’ flagship collectibles. Their baseball card portfolio may evolve, such as through increased reliance on higher-end specialty sets targeted at avid adult collectors instead of traditional wax packs.

Topps also has other sports and entertainment licensing businesses beyond just baseball which provide revenue diversification. While overall card sales may trend downward long-term without a resurgence in popularity among younger demographics, Topps is an extremely adaptable company with over 65 years of experience in the collectibles industry. Barring any unexpected major disruptions like losing their MLB rights, it is reasonable to assume Topps will sustain their baseball card business for many years to come by transitioning their business model as market conditions warrant.

Some factors that could potentially threaten Topps’ baseball card operations in a longer 20-30 year timeframe include: a sustained secular decline in all trading card consumption causing financial difficulties; failure to successfully compete in digital collectibles spaces; loss of MLB player or league licensing agreements; or significant legal/regulatory issues disrupting their industry similar to what befell the tobacco card business decades ago. None of those negative scenarios seem very probable at this time based on the longevity of Topps’ brand dominance, continuous evolution of their business model, and the nostalgic appeal of their cardboard collectibles to older consumers and enthusiasts.

While Topps will likely produce fewer baseball cards in the raw unit volume of the past, it is very improbable they will exit the baseball card market altogether in the medium or near term, presuming they can maintain present revenue levels. The Topps brand is synonymous with baseball cards, and they appear poised to adjust their product strategy and explore new opportunities successfully for many years of continuing to service the needs of both casual and devoted collectors. For the foreseeable future, Topps baseball cards should remain iconic staples of the hobby and an important part of their diverse business portfolio.

WHAT YEAR DID BASEBALL CARDS STOP BEING VALUABLE

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While the peak era of baseball card collecting occurred in the late 1980s, the value and collectibility of baseball cards has gradually declined over the past few decades. There was no single year where baseball cards definitively stopped being valuable, as different sets, players, and individual cards retained popularity and value to varying degrees. Rather, changing market forces, corporate involvement in the hobby, and evolving collector interests all contributed to a long-term trend away from the speculative frenzy that once defined the golden age of baseball card investing.

In the 1950s and 1960s, baseball cards were a ubiquitous part of the childhood experience for many kids. Chewing gum, candy, and other snacks often came with a free baseball card included as a marketing incentive. The cards themselves held little intrinsic worth beyond what they represented to young fans. This changed in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the hobby grew into a serious collecting segment. Rarity, condition grades, and stars from the past drove up values for vintage sets and individual legends from the early 20th century. The strong national interest in baseball and nostalgia from the baby boom generation boosted the popularity of collecting classic heroes from their youth.

By the mid-1980s, the perfect storm had formed to propel the boom years of the baseball card market. Established grading services brought standardization that let collectors determine an objective worth for their cardboard assets. Popular cable TV shows brought nationwide attention. The 1986 Topps set with rookie cards of Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds supercharged interest in uncovering the next star. Combined with low print runs and scarcity of definitive sets like 1933 Goudey and 1952 Topps, it wasn’t unusual for rare finds to sell in the five or even six figures during this time. But things were about to change.

The late 1980s saw an explosion of participating manufacturers crowding the market with new releases. Some pioneering sets like 1987 Topps Traded and Score saw astronomical print numbers that saturated the secondary market and suppressed card values. Unlicensed producers like Fleer and Score were also fighting legal battles over copyright that gave collectors reason to doubt long-term investment potential. In 1991 Upper Deck shattered all records by printing 100 million+ packs of their flagship set—more than all previous flagships combined. The speculative frenzy had attracted many short-term investors hoping to flip newly printed cards for profit, but as boom turned to bust they exited the market.

During the early 1990s recession, many former investors sold off their hoarded collections, depressing already softening values further. Retailers who gambled on unsold inventory discovered few buyers remaining and burned collectors wary of a market devoid of confidence. Major league strikes in 1994-95 undercut card companies during a time they now relied on professional sports licenses as their core product. This was coupled with the rise of mass-produced insert sets with gimmicky parallels that continued saturating the supply. By the late 1990s, it became apparent the speculative fever had broken.

While a devoted core of nostalgic collectors sustained the market, many viewed baseball cards solely as a childhood hobby once more. The 21st century saw rising competition for discretionary income from video games, internet activities, and other novelties. Corporate consolidations changed the competitive landscape and priorities of the few surviving flagships like Topps. New stricter grading standards from PSA and BGS meant vast troves of common cards were relegated to junk status with no trade value. Evolving tastes among younger generations lacked connection to pre-digital baseball heroes. The direct online sales and peer-to-peer auction platforms broke the exclusive distribution/retail model cards previously relied on.

All these factors shifted the model away from cards as mass-produced investments. While some rare or highly conditioned vintage issues, seminal rookie cards, and unique modern parallels retained significant worth, the broad-based speculative collecting market had ended. Around 2005 it could be safely said that outside of a small high-end market, the overwhelming bulk of modern-era baseball cards no longer held intrinsic financial value to most collectors or the casual fan. For those with a passionate connection to specific players, sets or eras of the game, the simple joy of building a personal collection remained as strong as ever despite diminished dollars and cents importance relative to the Golden Age.

While no single year can be definitively identified, the transition away from considering modern baseball cards a reliably valuable commodity to most collectors and investors had largely been completed by the mid-2000s. A perfect storm of supply, economic, and interest factors disrupted the speculative frenzy of the 1980s boom era. This evolution restored cards closer to their original intent as affordable ephemera celebrating America’s Pastime, rather than mass-produced investments. For devoted niche collectors, the inherent nostalgia of baseball cardboard treasures remains priceless despite the end of their broad speculative appeal.

WHEN DID THEY STOP PUTTING GUM IN BASEBALL CARDS

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The tradition of inserting gum into baseball card packs began in the late 1880s when American Tobacco Company started including small pieces of chewing gum with cigarette cards as both a marketing strategy and to entice children to collect the cards. This proved very successful at driving sales of their tobacco products and the practice soon spread to other confectionery companies that produced things like bubble gum and candy. By the 1930s, nearly every trading card product aimed at kids contained a stick of gum.

Through the mid-20th century, Topps Chewing Gum Company dominated the baseball card market and perfected the concept of bundling gum with cardboard trading cards in waxed paper packs. This made them wildly collectible for children who enjoyed not just acquiring and trading the new cards but also chewing the gum rewards inside each pack. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Topps released new complete sets annually that could be found in corner stores, pharmacies, and any other shop that carried chewing gum and candy items.

While demand was huge during the post-World War II era, concern was growing among parents, schools, health experts and legislators about marketing unhealthy junk foods directly to children. In the late 1970s, public attitudes began shifting towards promoting nutrition and wellness over sugar-filled snacks. One outcome of this was that in 1978, the U.S. government banned TV advertising of sugary cereals and candies during Saturday morning cartoon shows – a major avenue companies had used to reach kids.

Facing this increasing regulatory pressure as well as concerns about potential litigation over marketing high-sugar products to minors, Topps made the decision to phase gum out of baseball cards starting with their 1980 release. While still including it that year, they moved production to India where labor was cheaper in 1981 which prevented the gum from being included due to import regulations. Fans likely did not notice the subtle change at first.

By 1982 however, Topps omitted gum entirely from packs in favor of enclosed stickers instead. They cited the higher production costs of manufacturing and shipping gum-filled cardboard packs internationally as the primary reason. It was clear the business environment regarding child-targeted food marketing had substantially changed as well. Their competitors like Fleer and Donruss soon followed suit in ditching gum, marking the definitive end of an era.

While some nostalgic collectors lamented the loss of the chewing gum bonuses, it did not negatively impact sales and allowed card makers to keep prices low despite inflation. Through the 1980s and 90s, the tradition of including extra in-pack prizes like traded player stats or mini posters emerged instead to maintain excitement around the random assortment received in each pack. Gum inserts were phased out across other non-sports card confections as well.

In today’s marketplace, Topps and other modern card producers have found innovative new ways to entice collectors like insert cards, autographs and relic memorabilia without relying on sugary incentives. Meanwhile baseball card values have skyrocketed, reaching millions for rare vintage specimens. So while collecting is no longer paired with chewing gum rewards, the hobby remains intensely popular generations later thanks to its nostalgia and deep baseball history and memorabilia. That tradition of bundling with confections may be gone for good, but the appeal of amassing complete baseball card sets endures.

WHEN DID UPPER DECK STOP MAKING BASEBALL CARDS?

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Upper Deck was a dominant force in the baseball card industry for over two decades after being founded in 1988. The baseball card market began facing significant challenges in the late 2000s/early 2010s that eventually led to Upper Deck ceasing production of traditional baseball cards. Several key factors contributed to Upper Deck’s exit from the baseball card space:

The rise of Internet and digital media dramatically changed consumer behavior and interests, especially among younger demographics. While baseball cards had been a mainstream hobby and collectors’ item for generations, the internet provided nearly unlimited entertainment options that drew focus away from physical cards. Younger kids in particular were spending more time with video games, streaming video, social media, etc. and had less interest in trading and collecting paper cards. This demographic shift hurt the long-term outlook for the entire baseball card market.

The economic recession of 2007-2009 significantly impacted discretionary consumer spending. As the economy struggled, families had less money to spend on non-essential items like collectibles and memorabilia. Card sales declined sharply during this period as customers tightened their budgets. It became harder for Upper Deck and other companies to achieve strong financial results in the struggling economic environment.

Production costs like cardboard, ink and transportation rose steadily over time. With flat or falling card revenue, profit margins were squeezed significantly for Upper Deck and competitors. Large investments were also required to develop new card designs, recruit athletes for signings, market product lines, and other activities needed to stay competitive. Shrinking sales volumes provided limited money to fund these initiatives.

Upper Deck also faced growing competition from repackagers, breakers and counterfeiters seeking to profit off the baseball card business. These unauthorized secondary market participants undercut the official MLB license holders by providing cheaper alternatives and often misleading customers in the process. While difficult to fully combat, this illicit competition further hurt Upper Deck’s sales and brand image over the long-run.

Perhaps most importantly, the sports memorabilia and collectibles industry experienced a series of high-profile forgery and fraud scandals in the late 2000s/early 2010s that seriously damaged consumer confidence. Most notably, famous memorabilia dealer James Spence pled guilty in 2009 to falsifying items he auctioned, some of which were purported to have been signed by Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and other legends. Around the same time, consumer advocate Bob Kaze uncovered widespread counterfeiting even among supposedly reputable dealers. These scandals revealed just how easy it was to fake items and deceive collectors. As a result, many customers lost trust in the authenticity claims of the memorabilia industry as a whole.

In the midst of all these challenges, demand for traditional baseball cards continued a multi-year decline. By 2013, Upper Deck’s baseball card sales had dropped to just a fraction of their mid-2000s peak. With revenue collapsing and no clear outlook for recovering significant lost ground, Upper Deck made the difficult decision to exit the baseball card business. Their final baseball card products were released in late 2013, bringing an end to over two decades of industry dominance. While Upper Deck stayed active in other sport and entertainment cards, they ultimately determined baseball cards were no longer a viable part of their portfolio.

A perfect storm of market shifts, economic struggles, rising costs, intensifying competition and forgery scandals severely damaged the baseball card industry in the late 2000s/early 2010s. For leading manufacturer Upper Deck, revenues declined too sharply to justify continuing development and production of traditional baseball cards. By late 2013, the company had no choice but to cease operations in that segment of the collectibles space after 25 years at the top. This marked a significant milestone in the evolution of both Upper Deck’s business specifically as well as the baseball card market as a whole.

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DID UPPER DECK STOP MAKING BASEBALL CARDS

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Upper Deck Baseball Cards: A Legacy That Came to an End

Upper Deck was once a dominant force in the baseball card industry, known for its innovative designs, high quality materials, and exclusive licensing deals with MLB players. After over 30 years in the business, Upper Deck made the decision to stop producing traditional baseball cards in 2021. Let’s take a deeper look at Upper Deck’s history with baseball cards and the factors that led to this strategic change.

Founded in 1988, Upper Deck quickly rose to prominence by securing licensing rights directly from MLB, allowing them to use active players’ names and likenesses on their cards. At the time, most other card companies had to rely on stock photography without direct MLB deals. Upper Deck also introduced cutting edge hologram and refractors technologies that added visual appeal and collectability. Their attention to quality craftsmanship and creative card designs made Upper Deck products highly coveted by collectors.

In the early 1990s, Upper Deck signed exclusive agreements with superstar players like Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., and Cal Ripken Jr. This gave them unprecedented marketing power and control over those players’ rookie and star cards. The Upper Deck brand became synonymous with high-value, premium baseball cards that could fetch huge prices. They also pioneered the use of autograph and memorabilia cards, which added unique value for collectors. Thanks to these innovations and licenses, Upper Deck dominated the baseball card market for over a decade.

Competition began to heat up in the late 1990s as other companies like Fleer and Score gained MLB licenses. This ended Upper Deck’s monopoly on officially licensed baseball cards. They still produced some of the highest quality and most collectible sets each year, but their market share declined. By the 2000s, the baseball card industry as a whole also started to shrink due to broader economic and cultural trends. Fewer kids were getting into collecting, while the internet provided endless free entertainment alternatives.

As sales dipped, Upper Deck shifted to focus more on their lucrative NBA, NFL, and international soccer licenses. They also moved into other sports/entertainment collectibles like trading cards based on movies, TV shows, and video games. While Upper Deck still released annual baseball card sets each year, they were no longer the juggernaut powerhouse of decades past. Their production runs got smaller and distribution became more limited over time.

The final blows came in recent years. When MLB signed an exclusive deal with Topps in 2020, it blocked all other manufacturers like Upper Deck from using team logos and uniforms on cards going forward. Around the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruptions to the entire collectibles industry. Facing shrinking revenues and margins due to these market changes, Upper Deck made the tough decision to cease all traditional baseball card production after their 2021 release.

So in summary – after over 30 years and countless classic sets, the baseball card segment of Upper Deck’s business became financially unsustainable. While they still produce high-end memorabilia cards and boxes for serious collectors, mainstream retail baseball cards are now a thing of the past. Upper Deck leaves behind an incredible legacy as the company that revolutionized the sportscard industry in the late 80s and 90s. Their innovative designs and exclusive player deals fueled a golden era for the hobby. Although no longer actively making new baseball cards, Upper Deck’s past releases will remain highly valued by collectors for generations to come.

DID WALMART STOP SELLING BASEBALL CARDS

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Did Walmart Stop Selling Baseball Cards? The History and Facts

For decades, Walmart was one of the biggest retailers of sports cards and memorabilia in the United States. In recent years the big box store made the decision to stop selling baseball cards in many of its stores. Here is a detailed look at why Walmart made this change and the history behind it.

Baseball cards have been a popular collectible item since the late 1800s. Throughout the 20th century, the hobby grew significantly with the rise of mass-produced cards from companies like Topps and Fleer. Stores like Walmart recognized the demand and began stocking cards alongside other toys and novelty items. At its peak in the 1990s and 2000s, Walmart had full baseball card aisles in many locations.

Baseball card sales began declining industry wide around 2010. Several factors contributed to this downturn. First, the rise of digital media made physical cards less appealing to younger collectors. Kids were spending more time online and on mobile devices instead of trading tangible items. Secondly, the economic recession led to less discretionary spending on hobbies. With tighter budgets, baseball cards were seen as a non-essential purchase by many consumers.

As sales waned, Walmart made the decision to downsize its baseball card offerings starting in 2015. Instead of full aisles, cards were condensed to an endcap or small display area. This helped Walmart free up valuable retail space for more profitable products. By 2017, baseball cards had been removed entirely from the majority of Walmart stores nationwide.

Walmart did not make a public announcement about the change. Representatives later confirmed to collectors that the removal was due to lagging demand that no longer justified dedicated shelf space. With tight real estate constraints in big box formats, Walmart prioritized faster selling items. The company also cited issues with shrinkage or theft of higher priced vintage cards that sat on shelves for long periods of time.

While Walmart pulled out of the baseball card market, the hobby did continue among dedicated collectors. The absence of America’s largest retailer was a major blow. Without Walmart’s promotional presence and mass distribution, it became harder for the average consumer to casually browse cards. The exit also eliminated a major affordable option, as specialty card shops tended to cater to more avid collectors willing to pay higher prices.

In the years since, Walmart has slowly started testing the baseball card waters again but in a more limited fashion. A small number of stores now carry a basic assortment of newer packs and boxes during the peak baseball season months. Displays are often mixed in with other sports rather than standalone aisles. The company also sells cards through their online marketplace but not directly as a retailer.

For now, Walmart seems hesitant to fully reenter the baseball card market on a wide scale. The hobby may have stabilized some but remains a niche interest compared to its 90s heyday. Mass merchandisers like Target also avoid dedicated sections. Dollar stores have found success offering $1 packs that recapture impulse buys. Whether changing collector trends could eventually convince Walmart to expand baseball card offerings once more remains to be seen.

In summary, Walmart pulled baseball cards from most stores due to declining sales industry wide rather than any internal issues. As the largest retailer at the time, its absence was a major blow but collectors adapted. While some Walmart locations now trial cards again seasonally, full-fledged returns seem unlikely. The company prioritizes more consistently selling products, showing how even nostalgic hobbies rise and fall with consumer interests over time.

TOPPS STOP MAKING BASEBALL CARDS

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For over 70 years, Topps has been the lead producer of sports trading cards, most notably for their iconic baseball cards. Rumors have been swirling for the last few years that Topps may soon stop making baseball cards altogether due to increasing competition and financial struggles. While Topps executives have denied plans to end baseball card production anytime soon, the future remains uncertain.

Topps first got its start in baseball cards all the way back in 1938 and established itself as the dominant brand over subsequent decades. At its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Topps was selling billions of baseball cards per year. Mounting challenges have threatened the future viability of Topps’ baseball card business. One key issue is rising competition from other trading card companies like Upper Deck, Score, and Fanatics that have eaten into Topps’ market share over the years. These rivals offer flashier, higher quality cards that appeal more to modern collectors.

Another problem is that the overall baseball card industry has been in decline for over two decades now. Fewer kids are getting into collecting today compared to the heyday eras of the 1980s/90s. Digital technologies like video games, smartphones, and streaming have lured younger generations away from traditional hobbies like collecting sports cards. While the popularity of memorabilia has kept some collectors engaged, overall sales volumes have plunged industry wide. Between 1993-2018, the baseball card market shrunk by a staggering 90% according to industry sources.

The plunging sales hit Topps particularly hard because they had relied so heavily on the baseball card business for revenue. Where once baseball cards made up the lion’s share of profits, today they are a fading portion of Topps’ portfolio. To offset losses, Topps has diversified into other areas like evolving their digital offerings, acquiring the popular Garbage Pail Kids and Cabbage Patch Kids brands, launching an NFT platform, and much more. None of these newer ventures have come close to replacing the revenue that was once generated by baseball cards alone.

On top of sinking sales, Topps also deals with the costly matter of licensing fees to MLB, MLBPA, and individual players each year. These expenses amount to tens of millions annually and are not getting any cheaper. With thinning margins, it has become a burden for Topps to pay expensive licensing fees and risk losing money on baseball card production runs. Some analysts argue it no longer makes financial sense for Topps to stay in the baseball card industry long term at its current size and scale.

The final concern is that rival companies like Fanatics have been aggressively pursuing exclusive sports trading card contracts in recent years. There is a real possibility that Fanatics could eventually outbid Topps for the coveted MLB and MLBPA licenses. Without access to those licenses, Topps would have no choice but to walk away from making official MLB cards. Such a scenario would mark the end of an iconic brand’s dominance after eight decades.

Even Topps executives now acknowledge the business realities, with the company’s chairman telling ESPN “Five years from now baseball cards may be a small part of what Topps does.” That admission speaks volumes about how drastically the baseball card profit picture has changed for Topps. For nostalgia and brand value reasons, Topps isn’t quite ready to fully shut down production lines just yet. They will keep churning out MLB cards as long as the licenses remain attainable.

Should Topps ultimately cease making baseball cards in the coming years, it would undoubtedly sadden many collectors and fans. From a cold hard numbers perspective, most analysts argue it may be the prudent business decision. With digital platforms booming and physical card sales dwindling, the cost-benefit analysis does not favor continuing to invest huge sums into a declining industry. Topps needs to prioritize profitable sectors and transition away from being overly reliant on baseball cards as a revenue source. Regardless of what the future holds, Topps’ decades-long dominance of the baseball card world made for an incredible legacy that may be coming to an end.

While nothing is certain, there are clear indicators Topps may call it quits on baseball cards before too long due to various challenges. Increased competition, falling sales, rising costs, and potential loss of licenses all loom as serious threats. Topps will try to hang on as long as it can afford to do so, but tough choices may need to be made. The days of Topps as the king of baseball cards could be numbered if present trends continue. Only time will tell how this iconic story ultimately concludes in the years ahead.