Upper Deck Renews Baseball Card Contract with the Major League Baseball Players Association
Late Thursday afternoon Upper Deck announced the continuation of their 20 year baseball card contract with the Major League Baseball Players Association. Upper Deck CEO Richard McWilliam reflected on the big news, “We are thrilled to renew our commitment to the baseball card market and look forward to working closely with the Players Association to further grow the category.”
McWilliam continued, “Upper Deck has an unsurpassed record of delivering the most innovative, premium and authentic baseball trading cards, and we are poised to continue that tradition into the next decade.”
Evan Kaplan, Category Director for the MLB Players Association, shared McWilliam's sentiment, “Our goal is to provide collectors with great baseball card products, while continuing to grow the market with an infusion of new consumers. We’re confident Upper Deck can help us realize those goals."
Since early 2006, Upper Deck has worked closely with the MLB Players Association to co-sponsor several marketing initiatives. Joint ventures between the two organizations include the highly successful Boys Scouts’ Clubhouse program and the Big League Blast hobby shop sweepstakes promotion.
“During the term of our current agreement, Upper Deck consistently demonstrated their dedication to achieving long-term sales growth for the baseball card market. Their kid-focused and online marketing programs, like UpperDeckU, combined with a long line of exceptional products, is a testament to their pursuit of sustained long-term growth for this category,” Kaplan added.
The first baseball card release under the newly signed licensing agreement will be 2010 Upper Deck Series 1 Baseball, which is due for release on February 6, 2010.
“Needless to say, we are extremely eager and very excited to put our 2010 baseball trading card product and marketing plans into motion. Baseball fans and card collectors have a lot to look forward to,” concluded Jason Masherah, Upper Deck's Director of Sports Brands.
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