No more RC, Game used or Auto cards?? What is the MLBPA thinking?????
Raymond
Posts: 153
Found this on Beckett's this afternoon. I'm still in shock. The hobby is dead. Stick a fork in it...
MLBPA Announces clarification on Rookie Cards, Autographs and “Game Used”.
10/20/2005 4:07:03 PM
The Major League Baseball Players Association announced that it has agreed to terms with The Topps Company and The Upper Deck Company on new licensing arrangements that will go into effect starting January 2006.
Part of the agreement was to simplify the concept of the Rookie Card. Now, only players on the 25-man roster will be permitted to have their images reproduced on official Topps or UD products. “There has been a great deal of speculation that minor league cards will still be produced as XRC by these 2 manufacturers. This would undermine everything that we are doing to clarify the Rookie Card,” stated Evan Kaplan, MLBPA Director of Trading Cards and Collectibles. “If you aren’t on the 25 man roster, you don’t have an official licensed baseball card”.
Scott Silverstein, President of The Topps Company notes that this comes as a devastating blow to its hugely popular Bowman line. “Clearly, we need to adapt our approach. We will still be the Home of the Rookie Card, but we will have to wait for a call up to release a player’s card. But this is a positive for younger collectors entering the hobby. Now, when they pull a rookie card, they will know the player and be able to monitor their progress. No longer will they have to wait 4 years to see if they ever get out of AA”.
Silverstein notes that the AFLAC set is what finally pushed things over the edge. “The MLBPA felt very strongly about the inclusion of players into sets that didn’t even have a minor league contract. Clearly, we went too far.”
In more surprising news, Kaplan noted that game-used and autographed cards, as we know them, will be coming to an end. “Most of the complaints received had to do with redemptions and of sticker autographs” he noted. “Also, collectors have been more concerned about the cutting up of rare baseball relics. In an effort to stop this, we will be introducing a concept from the wildly successful e-Topps line of cards. From now on, autographs will be held by the manufacturer as an “uncirculated” card. Cards inserted in packs will have an online verification code so that you can view the autograph online.”
Silverstein noted great excitement for this advance. “Clearly, e-Topps has been an innovator here with the line of uncirculated cards. Now, collectors will know that their cards are kept in pristine condition in our vault, but will be able to view them at any time! No more redemptions or damaged cards. No more sticker autographs either!”
This will be brought to Game Used memorabilia as well. “Instead of cutting up the jersey, card holders will type in their code and be able to see the whole jersey or bat.” Kaplan noted. “Collectors can take pride that the item remains in pristine condition and that they are a co-owner of that piece of memorabilia”.
MLBPA Announces clarification on Rookie Cards, Autographs and “Game Used”.
10/20/2005 4:07:03 PM
The Major League Baseball Players Association announced that it has agreed to terms with The Topps Company and The Upper Deck Company on new licensing arrangements that will go into effect starting January 2006.
Part of the agreement was to simplify the concept of the Rookie Card. Now, only players on the 25-man roster will be permitted to have their images reproduced on official Topps or UD products. “There has been a great deal of speculation that minor league cards will still be produced as XRC by these 2 manufacturers. This would undermine everything that we are doing to clarify the Rookie Card,” stated Evan Kaplan, MLBPA Director of Trading Cards and Collectibles. “If you aren’t on the 25 man roster, you don’t have an official licensed baseball card”.
Scott Silverstein, President of The Topps Company notes that this comes as a devastating blow to its hugely popular Bowman line. “Clearly, we need to adapt our approach. We will still be the Home of the Rookie Card, but we will have to wait for a call up to release a player’s card. But this is a positive for younger collectors entering the hobby. Now, when they pull a rookie card, they will know the player and be able to monitor their progress. No longer will they have to wait 4 years to see if they ever get out of AA”.
Silverstein notes that the AFLAC set is what finally pushed things over the edge. “The MLBPA felt very strongly about the inclusion of players into sets that didn’t even have a minor league contract. Clearly, we went too far.”
In more surprising news, Kaplan noted that game-used and autographed cards, as we know them, will be coming to an end. “Most of the complaints received had to do with redemptions and of sticker autographs” he noted. “Also, collectors have been more concerned about the cutting up of rare baseball relics. In an effort to stop this, we will be introducing a concept from the wildly successful e-Topps line of cards. From now on, autographs will be held by the manufacturer as an “uncirculated” card. Cards inserted in packs will have an online verification code so that you can view the autograph online.”
Silverstein noted great excitement for this advance. “Clearly, e-Topps has been an innovator here with the line of uncirculated cards. Now, collectors will know that their cards are kept in pristine condition in our vault, but will be able to view them at any time! No more redemptions or damaged cards. No more sticker autographs either!”
This will be brought to Game Used memorabilia as well. “Instead of cutting up the jersey, card holders will type in their code and be able to see the whole jersey or bat.” Kaplan noted. “Collectors can take pride that the item remains in pristine condition and that they are a co-owner of that piece of memorabilia”.
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“Collectors can take pride that the item remains in pristine condition and that they are a co-owner of that piece of memorabilia”.
YOUR KIDDING ME RIGHT? So we pull a card and we are co owner? good thing im looking into vintage hall of fame cards!
Damian
Damian
What a bunch of crap!!!!
Who the heck wants an online auotgraph?
Tell you what, Topps wants to keep MY autograph safe in THIER vault but I can view it anytime I want?
I'll keep my money safe in MY pocket.
Who the heck are they trying to fool????
Wow, this is ingenious with keeping game used items intact by TOPPS. Once they accummulate enough merchandise, they have a walking sports museum. But seriously, are they just hosting a pix of the gamed used memorabilia for owners to view, or actually have a webcam trained on the live item itself.
And what happen if someday TOPPS can't afford the bank vault or the web viewing service for the so-called owners. What will the owners do?
Just imagine a poor kid winning that autograph verification code who doesn't have online access at home. The kid will have to beg his friends or go to school/library in order to admire his treasure.
The idea is interesting. It's right up there with buying a piece of property on the Moon or Mars.....
<< <i>This will be brought to Game Used memorabilia as well. “Instead of cutting up the jersey, card holders will type in their code and be able to see the whole jersey or bat.” Kaplan noted. “Collectors can take pride that the item remains in pristine condition and that they are a co-owner of that piece of memorabilia”. >>
Kaplan, you are a f****** retard. Please retract the above insulting statement.
Glad I will still be able to get my Ed Kranepool autos and my Kenny Lofton jersey cards out of those $50.00 packs!
P.S.-The guy who started this thread(Raymond) is the original author of this fine piece of writing.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Loves me some shiny!
2005 Origins Old Judge Brown #/20 and Black 1/1s, 2000 Ultimate Victory Gold #/25
2004 UD Legends Bake McBride autos & parallels, and 1974 Topps #601 PSA 9
Rare Grady Sizemore parallels, printing plates, autographs
Nothing on ebay
This is going way back...the land actually was about the size of a baseball card too..lol
<< This will be brought to Game Used memorabilia as well. “Instead of cutting up the jersey, card holders will type in their code and be able to see the whole jersey or bat.” Kaplan noted. “Collectors can take pride that the item remains in pristine condition and that they are a co-owner of that piece of memorabilia”. >>
That's like getting a million dollars in cash handed to you and them saying you can look at it online...but never touch it...feel it..smell it...
Besides..keeping it honest..they are JUST jerseys..or gloves or bats...cut em all up, so the people that can really afford them whole can outprice each other and drive the market.
The whole idea of game used is crazy to begin with....new boxes at $70-$120 a piece because you may get a 1/1 jersey?? But everyone loves different things..to me...I'll stay vintage any day....