Topps: Topps is considered the flagship brand of modern baseball cards and is likely still the largest and most well-known producer today. They have held the exclusive license to produce Major League Baseball cards since 1959. Topps pioneered the modern format of baseball cards that is still widely used, with statistics and biographies on the back of each card. They release many different series each year under the flagship Topps brand as well as subsidiary brands like Bowman. Some of their most popular modern releases include Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, Topps Chrome, Topps Heritage, and Topps Tribute.
Panini America: Panini America is one of the larger competitors to Topps. They hold licenses from the NFL, NBA, FIFA World Cup, and many other sports properties. For baseball cards, Panini America releases sets featuring current MLB players and rookies under brands like Donruss, Contenders, and Certified. Some of their flagship baseball card releases are Donruss Optic, Diamond Kings, and Chronicles. While they don’t have the official MLB license, Panini is able to photograph and include current players and stats.
Fleer/Leaf: Fleer was a pioneer brand in the early days of modern sports cards but lost the MLB license to Topps in the 1980s. The Fleer brand has since changed hands multiple times and is currently owned by Leaf, which continues to release some retro and niche baseball card products focused more on older era players not under an MLBPA license. One of their more popular recent releases paying homage to the original Fleer brand was 2020 Fleer Retro.
Upper Deck: Upper Deck built their business primarily on high-end sports and entertainment memorabilia/cards but also releases baseball card sets showcasing current players. Some of their baseball brands include Ultimate Collection, Artifacts, and Triple Threads. Upper Deck is known for innovative design and unique technology like autographed memorabilia cards.
Press Pass: A smaller and more independent company, Press Pass produces affordable baseball card sets focusing on capturing the authentic look and feel of cards from the 1980s and 1990s. Some popular Press Pass releases with retro designs have been Diamond Kings, O-Pee-Chee, and Stadium Club. They don’t hold MLB licenses but include photos and stats of current players.
Legacy/Donruss/Score: These vintage brand names that were popular in the 1980s-early 1990s were revived in recent years by different licensing companies to produce retro-themed baseball card sets without MLBPA licenses. Legacy/Donruss/Score cards will feature current minor leaguers or historic players no longer under MLB contract alongside retro designs paying homage to the brands of the past.
While the baseball card market has declined significantly from its peak in the late 1980s/early 1990s, it remains a multi-million dollar licensed collectibles industry dominated at the top end by Topps. Companies like Panini America, Upper Deck, and smaller independent producers also continue putting out new baseball card products each year targeting collectors both young and old. With the enduring popularity of the MLB and nostalgia for baseball cards of eras past, companies have found ongoing success maintaining and modernizing the tradition of this all-American collectible. New technological developments in card design also allow these companies to keep innovating the baseball card experience for a new generation of fans and collectors. The long history and legacy of many of these pioneering brands ensure baseball cards will likely remain an integral part of baseball fandom and collectibles for years to come.
