Opinions on Upper Deck were wide ranging, as I expected. If you haven't yet put in your two cents on that, you still can and get a third entry into the March contest. It's also not too late to get in on entry number one or entry number two for the contest.
Here is your chance for entry #4.
Let's assume two things for the sake of this post. First, let's say Upper Deck never returns to prominence as a major manufacturer of baseball cards. I think that is a very real possibility, regardless of whether they make wholesale changes in the company leadership. It really all depends on how long the memory of MLB is and whether another company can come in and present a better alternative.
Second, let's pretend that the Topps monopoly doesn't last forever. I don't believe it will last forever and someone has to be there to step up when MLB comes calling.
Who do you think that will/should be? Would you like to see some revamped form of Fleer or Donruss (assuming these companies were not controlled by other companies)? Would you rather see Panini make a move into the realm of a licensed baseball set? Maybe you'd rather see an upstart, innovative company come in like Upper Deck did in 1989.
I realize these questions assume a lot and we all know what happens when we assume things. I won't hold that against you, no matter what your opinion reflects in the comments.
I think Panini would be in a great position to make a splash. They seem to be more in touch with collectors and from what I've seen, their sets are nice. They seem to get it.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind a new player on the scene. It takes a while to gain credibility, and I think we'd all be skeptical at first. But if there was ever a time to launch a new product, this would be it, when the market isn't saturated with a bunch of brands.
I think they should turn to the blogging world for the next set of cards. I've seen a lot of GReat customs come out of just the few blogs that I read on a regular basis. Some upstart company could not go wrong looking at some of you guys for inspiration, and/or hiring.
ReplyDeleteI think the wheels are already in motion with Panini, only a matter of time. I think the MLBPA will end up granting a license to them and abolish the monopoly. Like I said in an earlier post, I'll always be a Topps guy.
ReplyDeletedoes it matter who? Fleer, Donruss, Pinnacle, Bicycle, Hallmark...if you put out a quality product, it doesn't matter.
ReplyDeletePanini may very well be the next to get a license, but I would love to see a new company get into the market. It seems when a new company comes in with new ideas changes will happen.
ReplyDeleteI think Donruss could do some interesting things. Think of the joy they brought us with Rated Rookies, Diamond Kings, and the first really elite insert set in the 1990s. I wouldn't mind an upstart, though.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Fleer or Donruss come back with a license. If anyone comes in I'd prefer it to be a traditional baseball card company first if for no other reason that those brands bring back fond memories for me from collecting in the 80's.
ReplyDeletePannini probably has the best shot at getting a license at the moment. It would be interesting to see a new company come into the market too.
ReplyDeletePanini is in the best position, but I think the best product would come from an upstart. Someone fresh to the scene would have an advantage in some respects because they would be more inclined to follow the collector's wants instead of putting out a line they have from another sport. The blogosphere's custom cad designs and suggestions would be a great place to start, we just need one of us to win the lottery to get the moola to start a company.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a new company buy the Fleer name from Upper Deck, hopefully bringing something creative to the market, and at the same time reviving some of the better issues like Flair. I don't know enough about Panini to make any kind of judgment about them, other than I like their sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteHostess. Or Post Cereals.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, give them a license so they can use the logos and we can see what they can *really* do...
I would welcome Panini into the fold only if they promise to bring back sticker albums. Man I really miss those.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it'd be Donruss, but man I would it would be Donruss. Especially if they were Donruss/Leaf again and started right where they left off. They made some gorgeous cards, and they were one of the few companies to do relics right IMO.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I don't forsee any of those other card companies coming back soon. Panini could put a dent in things, and hopefully will provide some competition, but so far not much.
I'm going against the grain here and picking Pacific. For all of their flaws, it was undeniable that Pacific was willing to take risks and try new things. You never quite knew what to expect with any of their sets (Christmas tree ornaments anyone?) but you could count on them always being interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with "a new company" here. There've been a few dip-their-toes-in-the-water unlicensed attempts that've been pretty good (Tristar's Obak, for one), so the potential is there.
ReplyDeleteOne needs about a half dozen things to succeed in the baseball card business in 2011:
1. A good art department
2. An understanding of their customers
3. An MLB license (though, again, Tristar's done OK without on Obak)
4. A good stash of relics and autograph contracts, if you're gonna go that route (and it's become the nature of the beast, so you kinda have to)
5. An understanding of the Internet and social gaming (because, whether us old farts are in on it or not, in the future, a good chunk of card collecting is going to play out like Farmville does, and while games will come and go, I think gaming as a whole is a mature market in all demographics)
6. A buttload of cash.
The one obstacle here is that a new company doesn't get to attach "nostalgia" to itself like a lamprey, but given all the backlash against retro sets that I've seen lately, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Part of what drives nostalgia is the question "Don't you wish things didn't suck right now?", and if they didn't, right now, there wouldn't be as much need for a card company to lean on nostalgia.
Cards are cards. Honestly I don't care who's making them, I'll find a reason to enjoy any of them.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Topps isn't the only company making cards, I don't give a hoot who their competitor is. In simpler terms, I agree with Bo!
ReplyDeleteNew blood!
ReplyDeleteHave the MLBPA put out their own cards. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Panini are in a great position, they've put out some really good products with other sports in the last couple of years, and they'd definitely have the capital.
ReplyDeleteI would also be interested to see what ITG could do with the license, they're product's have been well received and it would be interesting to see what they would do with the license.
I would like to see a new company come out with a set resembling Topps Total-include as many current players as possible or a set of the twenty all-time best players from each team. These are the types of sets people are missing so any company who could create them would be successful.
ReplyDeletePanini is producing some great cards for football and basketball. It would be great to see them produce a licensed mlb set.
ReplyDeleteBring back Fleer! Not shiny Upper Deck Fleer, but cardboard, blurry photo Fleer!!! 1982 Fleer!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see everyone get worked up over that.
I'd love to see Fleer make a comeback, they put out some beautiful cards. I'd also be curious to see Bowman stripped away from Topps and out on their own.
ReplyDeletePanini will get in eventually. It is only a matter of MLB getting enough money from them to allow them to start producing cards.
ReplyDeletedonruss and fleer are controlled by other companies, so that's out.
ReplyDeletePanini has proven time and again that they cannot make a decent football card or hockey card. That's two pretty big sports and two pretty big strikes right there.
so we need new blood. new people. a new brand. Boom! 1989 all over again. But in a good way.
I want something new and fresh. From someone who honestly likes cards and will do their best to make sure they produce a great product.
ReplyDeleteI think Panini could be successful in baseball if they try to work themselves out to be a good opposite to what Topps currently is in the hobby. Provide great customer support, no stinkin redemption cards, keep product fresh. Really tap in to what collectors (not simply those looking to make a quick buck) are looking for.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in my last entry I would love for (non-UD) Fleer and Donruss to make a comeback. To a lesser extent I wouldn't mind Score again, but I would limit each company to a maximum number of sets each year. Which is probably what bankrupted most of them to begin with.
ReplyDeleteI would think that Panini would be the most logical choice for a comeback, but I would find Razor to be a favorite of mine for a shot at MLB licensing.
ReplyDeleteLike a lot of people, I think Panini is in the best position to take a real shot at baseball but for my money I wouldn't mind seing Panini and a new upstart make a run at it. With the propper limits and rules there is plenty of room for some good old fashioned competition.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see donruss and fleer return just because they have been around for a while. If i had to pick one company i would pick fleer. 88-90 donruss is still sort of difficult to get over.
ReplyDeleteI think Panini has been doing some interesting things with their other sports lines, so I'd give them a shot.
ReplyDeleteI personally think think that Panini should bring back the Donruss brand and release a Donruss Diamond Kings set, should they be able to get an MLB license. This set would be low number run, with quality cards and reliable relic hits. The price point shouldn't be so high that only rich collectors can enjoy, but not so low that it's junk. Quality and affordability are the keys.
ReplyDeleteDonruss all the way! I always loved them. Fat chance though.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see Fleer make a comeback. I like some their designs in the 80's and the look of the cards in the final few years were pretty solid. I think it is a matter of time before Panini does get a chance to dive into the pool so we will se what they have to offer.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Dawgbones. I think among the bloggers we could do better than the companies have
ReplyDeleteDonruss is already controlled by Panini and is being used for NHL and NBA, so they are one and the same in my book. I wouldn't see UD letting go of the Fleer name unless they went totally bankrupt as they could always use it as leverage for trying to get back in the game.
ReplyDeleteBasically, Panini makes the most sense. They own the Donruss and Score name and could use it to put out low end stuff (which is all I care about) and use Panini or other brands for higher end stuff. They could do sticker albums, games like their Adrenalyn thing, etc. Makes too much sense not to do, really.
That being said, I think it will be decades rather than years before Topps is no longer exclusive.
I really enjoyed the sets that the Ted Williams Card Company put out, as well as those put out by Action Packed. I'd like to see a small upstart take off with new ideas, instead of the old boilerplate over and over again.
ReplyDeleteI just mentioned on the previous post that Panini has been doing some nice things, but I would love to see a new company come with something different and hopefully innovative. There needs to be something exciting and unique. You know that any company that produces cards will follow a basic similar formula - base sets with inserts, jerseys, and autographs, issued in set-building, premium, and super-premium form. But I'd love to see a company that truly listens to what customers want. You can't please them all but a company based on making what the masses want can bring respectability back to the hobby. And along those lines, the MLBPA makes it way too expensive for card companies to make what they need to bring kids into the fold with their licensing fee requirements. It's virtually impossible for a new company to bring something innovative and exciting regardless of exclusivity.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that Panini seems poised to enter the arena eventually. Wasn't there recent rumblings that new look Leaf was going to make a baseball oriented announcement soon? That could be interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for Tristar. I think they're about as "new blood" as we can get. We don't know tons about them, other than it's not Panini or Upper Deck, which personally doesn't seem like much of a departure since some of the Topps stuff is starting to look like Panini. Razor could be good, but Tristar has success with Obak and I'd like to see a full licensed non-prospect product line from them.
--Jon
Anybody who agrees to make cards that are actually on cardboard stock, with a stick of gum inserted (it can be wrapped), and using honest-to-God wax wrappers at a price point that matches that of a candy bar...will be OK with me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters who comes up to break the license. The logical choice is Panini. Tristar and Leaf are also lurking at this point. As long as they add something to the table that Topps hasn't or won't, they will be welcomed by collectors.
ReplyDeleteName will give the product publicity, but quality will establish them. Upper Deck won't be able to get a license for at least five years based on what they've done. money talks and walks after all.
Regrettably, I think it will be Panini. Welcome to the era of cards that are a third blank.
ReplyDeleteContest closed.
ReplyDelete