TOPPS SET TO RELEASE THE BEST AUTOGRAPHED CARD CROP IN YEARS

In tribute to the original T-206 baseball cards, the all-new 2010 Topps 206 features a very unique base set.

Each base card includes a shot of the player with his hat off…mimicking many of the classic hat-less poses on the original T-206 cards.

In addition, there are 50 short-printed variations picturing players with their cap on that can be found 1:4 packs. The subject list is as follows:

2010 Topps 206 Baseball officially hits stores today and guarantees 1 Autograph Card and 1 Relic Card in every 20-pack hobby box.

FIND NEXT YEAR’S DRAFT PICKS NOW…IN 2010 BOWMAN/TOPPS PRODUCTS

Both ESPN and MLB.com recently listed their top picks for the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft and believe it or not, you can find cards of these players this year… in 2010 Bowman/Topps Products. Collectors can find the top draft picks (as members of the 2010 USA Baseball National Teams) in 2010 Topps Chrome, 2010 Bowman Chrome, 2010 Bowman Platinum and 2010 Bowman Sterling. In addition, 2010 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects will include players from the 16 & Under team (stars of future drafts).

Here’s a list of potential top picks for the 2011 Draft as listed by ESPN and MLB.com

Gerrit Cole (P) UCLA
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs (image attached)

Sonny Gray (P) Vanderbilt
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs (image attached)

George Springer (OF) UConn
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Alex Dickerson (OF) Indiana
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Jackie Bradley (OF) South Carolina
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Matt Barnes (P) UConn
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Sean Gilmartin (P) Florida State
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Noe Ramirez (P) Fullerton
Topps Chrome Same-Day Autographs / Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Jason Esposito (3B) Vanderbilt
Bowman Platinum and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Henry Owens (P) Edison HS, CA
Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Nick Delmonico (C) Farragut HS, TN
Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Francisco Lindor (SS) Montverde Academy, FL
Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Christian Lopes (SS) Edison HS, CA
Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling Autographs

Dillon Maples (P) Pinecrest HS, NC
Bowman Chrome and Bowman Sterling Autographs

The product will include two autographs and two memorabilia cards in every 10-pack box and there also will be six insert cards per box. Including two Mirror Parallels, standard inserts and two rookies numbered to 999 or less. Suggested price per pack will be ten dollars.

Every 24-box case will behave three mini cases, each with a “Platinum Hot Box” inside with all base cards numbered to 999 or less.

The base set will consist of 150 cards, including 35 Freshman Fabric Rookies limited to 699 copies.

Among the autographs are the “Freshman Fabric” most likely with event worn jersey pieces. The Rookies will include Sam Bradford, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Matthews, Dez Bryant and Tim Tebow, while there will also be signed material cards  in Mirror Gold, Emerald and Black Legends, Fabric of the Game and Shirt Off My Back for the likes of Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Joe Namath, Jim Brown, Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana.

Al always, there will also be Mirror Material Gold, Emerald and Black cards featuring prime swatches. Each will be numbered to 25 or less.

But now that he is on the DL for a second time, will people be more cautious? Will the demand of the yet to be released products such as Topps Chrome, or Triple Threads wain? Was this all inevitable due to oversaturation of his autograph in one release calendar? We have seen in the past rookies prices drop as more and more autographed cards were released, but at the same time there were more released due to competition in the Baseball card market.

We are in a different world even from a few years ago when Gordon Beckham, or Evan Longoria were the new hot superstars. You can choose what varation of Topps products you want of him, but you don’t have the choice of a SP, SPX, Goudey, Masterpieces or any other card that Upper Deck may have released of him or any current rookie.

It’s a new world collection wise, and the biggest question I am left with is “Will Strasburg being hurt scare away collectors/investors, or does the lack of competition do it more?” Oh yeah, and the bad luck timing award goes to Razor Rookie Rewind, which releases next week and includes the 2010 Bowman Chrome Superfractor of Stephen Strasburg that previously sold for over 20K.

A wave of unnumbered 2009 Bowman Red hit Ebay and could cause quite the stir. These are really the first examples of 1/1 cards being backdoored in bulk, in some cases dozens were released. We have heard stories over the last few years of Topps employees leaving, and maybe that is the cause of why cards such as this are surfacing. The biggest question with this is will we see more in the near future? If someone surfaces with a pile of unnumbered Superfractors how damaging would that be to the hobby?

It is a hobby to many, but when you deal with the value levels on 1/1 cards, it can become a business. It will be very interesting to see how this develops.

Arlington, Texas (August 18, 2010) – Panini America (www.paniniamerica.net) , a subsidiary of The Panini Group, the leading global publisher of sports and entertainment collectibles, has entered into an exclusive relationship with John Wall, the first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. The partnership with Panini America, the exclusive trading card and sticker licensee of the NBA, marks Wall’s first in the collectibles category.

As part of the relationship, Panini will hold exclusive rights to Wall’s signature for both trading cards and memorabilia. In addition, Panini will include Wall’s image on Panini packaging and will utilize Wall in promotional appearances.

Wall, a player at the University of Kentucky, decided to forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility after being named both the 2010 SEC Tournament MVP and SEC Player of the Year. In addition, the NBA named Wall 2010 Las Vegas Summer League Most Outstanding Player. His first NBA cards will be included in Panini’s 2010 NBA Prestige product, set to arrive in stores at the end of September. The collection will include cards from other top rookies including the 76ers number two draft pick, Evan Turner; New Jersey Nets, Derrick Favors; Minnesota Timberwolves, Wesley Johnson and Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins.

“We are excited to be adding John Wall to the Panini team as one of our exclusive athletes,” said Mark Warsop, CEO Panini America, Inc. “We identified John as someone we thought fit well with the Panini brand and his success during the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League has us excited for the start of the season. We feel that John, Evan (Turner) and Wesley (Johnson) will help bring excitement to trading card collectors worldwide.”

Panini recently made news by announcing exclusive agreements with 76ers rookie Evan Turner and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Wesley Johnson. In advance of Panini’s first season as the exclusive trading card for the NBA in 2009-10, Panini signed Sacramento Kings Guard and NBA Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans; Milwaukee Bucks Guard Brandon Jennings and the Los Angeles Clippers Forward and first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, Blake Griffin. Panini also has an exclusive relationship with five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’m excited to be joining the Panini team,” said Washington Wizards rookie John Wall. “We’ve got a great group of rookies representing Panini with Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson joining me. With last year’s rookies Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings having great seasons we look forward to making our own noise and helping to grow the trading card category and getting kids excited about collecting again.”

As the leading global publisher of sports and entertainment collectibles, Panini has license agreements with three of the major U.S. sports, including the NFL/NFLPA, NHL/NHLPA and an Exclusive Trading Card and Sticker Partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Panini’s other partnerships include an exclusive license with FIFA for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Panini also has a successful collectibles business with consumer brands including DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon, Disney’s Toy Story 3, Hannah Montana and High School Musical, and Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter.

Throughout the 2010 Major League Baseball season, Topps has announced the subjects for the 10-card Rookie Redemption set.  Each Master Box of Topps Finest includes one Rookie Redemption.  In addition, collectors can also find redemptions for Blue Refractors (#’d to 199) and Gold Refractors (#’d to 50) versions.

The recap:

1.       Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves (10% Autographed)

2.       Ike Davis, New York Mets

3.       Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs

4.       Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds

5.       Mike Stanton, Florida Marlins

6.       Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

7.       Andrew Cashner, Chicago Cubs (Autographed)

8.       Dayan Viciedo, Chicago White Sox

9.       Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies

10.   Ryan Kalish, Boston Red Sox