“The NHLPA is excited to renew our long-term partnership with Upper Deck and to welcome Panini into the hockey trading card marketplace,” said Adam Larry, NHLPA Director of Licensing. “We look forward to working with both of these companies to provide quality NHL player products and exciting new choices for fans and collectors of all ages.”

“Having considered the input from all stakeholders, we have concluded that a semi-exclusive model would bring customer choice, revive legacy brands and add new and innovative products and marketing initiatives that appeal to all consumer segments,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, NHL.

“Upper Deck is very pleased to continue its 20-year trading card partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s Founder and CEO. “Since 2005, through its exclusive partnership with the NHLPA and the NHL, Upper Deck has taken the category and Upper Deck’s hockey brands to unimaginable levels. For the past 20 years, Upper Deck has been the only licensed company consistently producing NHL trading cards. We will continue to deliver high-end excitement and innovation and I am happy to say, our best is yet to come.”

“Panini is delighted to be extending its partnership with both the NHLPA and NHL to produce trading cards; this further establishes Panini’s strategy to rapidly become the most comprehensive publisher of trading cards domestically and enhance the presence of North American sports,” said Mark Warsop, CEO Panini America, Inc. “We are extremely excited about growing hockey trading card sales through our extensive marketing programs, and by bringing back heritage brands such as Zenith, Score and Crown Royale.”

For Upper Deck, this announcement marks a new chapter in a 20-year partnership with the NHL and the NHLPA, one that saw Upper Deck operate as the exclusive NHL player trading card manufacturer since the 2005-06 NHL season. For Panini, it means the introduction to hockey of new brands such as Adrenalyn and Certified, and the return to the hockey market of some hobby favourites issued under previous Donruss, Score, Pinnacle and Pacific licenses.

The 2010-11 NHL trading card season is scheduled to launch this August with the release of Victory from Upper Deck, while Panini has tentatively marked Score as its first release under the new license.

I also got some more 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition BB in stock. Get that one while it’s here as it will be gone soon.

If you would like to pre buy anything, please do soon asap as the manufacturers are really limited some of the stuff in the future. I may not have much of some of this stuff to sell, so I don’t want anyone to miss out on anything.

Good luck to everyone with your brackets. Enjoy the March Madness and have a great week.

Thanks,
Josh

The deal is an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement that adds to a Topps portfolio already including exclusives for Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball. As the official card of USA Baseball, Topps will have the lone rights to USA Baseball trademarks,logos and other intellectual property for use on cards of USA Baseball players.

The deal includes cards, autographs and game-used equipment from USA Baseball’s Collegiate, 18U and 16U National Team players to be featured in a variety of Topps products each year. The first Topps set to include USA Baseball players in 2010 will be Bowman, which arrives in May.

“Twenty-five years after collectors were first introduced to USA Baseball, our organization is pleased to have Topps, the industry leader, return as the exclusive home for USA Baseball trading cards,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “We look forward to working closely with Topps as together we provide collectors with a look at the future of America’s game on trading cards.”

Upper Deck had been the official card manufacturer for USA Baseball box sets since 2003 but did not help produce the set in 2006. Topps, on the other hand, included USA Baseball cards in its 1985 set as well as in its annual Traded sets from 1988 to 1993.

“Now we’re the only trading card licensed by Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and USA Baseball,” said Warren Friss, Vice President-General Manager of Topps Sports and Entertainment. “We are covering the game of baseball at every level.”

USA Baseball cards have included the first appearances of such stars as Mark McGwire, Ryan Howard, Dustin Pedroia and countless other players in the past.

Each year USA Baseball selects nearly 60 players for its teams, giving collectors the first opportunity to see the future stars of baseball. The 2010 Bowman set will include cards of the 2009 Collegiate National Team and the 2009 18U National Team.

In addition to the Topps sets featuring USA Baseball inserts, the annual USA Baseball National Teams Box Set also will be manufactured by Topps and will continue to be the exclusive place to get all members of the USA Baseball National Team in one set. The box set is scheduled for a December release this year as it will be in each of the remaining years of the agreement.

Baseball:

2002 Leaf Certified- $59.99 per box, $349.99 per 6-box case

2006 Upper Deck Epic- $104.99 per box

2007 Upper Deck Black- $83.99 per box, $459.99 per 6-box case, $799.99 per 10-box case

2007 Upper Deck Exquisite Rookies- $109.99 per box, $529.99 per 5-box case

2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition- $52.99 per box

2008 Razor Letterman- $31.99 per box, $319.99 per 10-box case

2008 Razor Signature- $31.99 per box, $319.99 per 10-box case

2009 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects- $52.99 per box, $619.99 per 12-box case

2009 Bowman Sterling- $193.99 per box, $789.99 per 4-box case, $1549.99 per 8-box case

2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition- $72.99 per box, $1469.99 per 20-box case

2009 Topps T-206- $68.99 per box, $689.99 per 10-box case

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars- $69.99 per box, $1409.99 per 20-box case

2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic- $85.99 per box, $1029.99 per 12-box case

2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection- $85.99 per box, $1289.99 per 15-box case

2010 Topps Series 1- $47.99 per box, $569.99 per 12-box case

2010 Upper Deck USA National Team Set- $78.99 per box, $789.99 per 10-box case

Football:

2008 Bowman Chrome- $42.99 per box, $429.99 per 10-box case

2008 Donruss Threads- $54.99 per box, $649.99 per 12-box case

2008 Leaf Certified- $52.99 per box, $414.99 per 8-box case, $1239.99 per 24-box case

2008 Topps Chrome- $43.99 per box, $529.99 per 12-box case

2009 Bowman Chrome – $46.99 per box, $469.99 per 10-box case

2009 Playoff Contenders- $104.99 per box, $1249.99 per 12-box case

2009 Topps National Chicle- $67.99 per box, $819.99 per 12-box case

2009 Upper Deck SP Signature- $35.99 per box

Basketball:

2009-10 Donruss Elite- $80.99 per box, $969.99 per 12-box case

2009-10 Panini Limited- $80.99 per box, $1219.99 per 15-box case

Hockey:

2009-10 Upper Deck Black Diamond- $76.99 per box

2009-10 Upper Deck Black- $156.99 per box, $1569.99 per 10-box case

In addition to these sales, we have 2010 Upper Deck Series 1 BB, 2009 Topps Platinum FB, 2009-10 Upper Deck Trilogy and 2009 Topps Sterling BB all ready to ship.

We have also added several retail items to our site.  They include:

Packs:

2009 Donruss Classics FB- $.99 per pack or $74.99 for 100 packs

2009 Donruss Elite FB- $.99 per pack or $49.99 for 100 packs

2009 Donruss Threads FB- $.99 per pack or $74.99 for 100 packs

2009 Playoff Prestige FB- $.99 per pack or $49.99 for 100 packs

2009 Donruss Americana- $.99 per pack or $59.99 for 100 packs

Blaster Boxes:

2009 Donruss Classics FB- $11.99 per box

2009 Donruss Elite FB- $9.99 per box

2009 Leaf Certified FB- $14.99 per box

2009 Leaf Rookies & Stars FB- $11.99 per box

2009 Playoff Prestige FB- $9.99 per box

2009 Score FB- $9.99 per box

Retail Boxes:

2009 Donruss Elite FB- $19.99 per box

2009 Donruss Gridiron Gear FB- $24.99 per box

2009 Donruss Threads FB- $24.99 per box

2009 Playoff Absolute FB- $34.99 per box

2009 Playoff Prestige FB- $19.99 per box

2009 Score FB- $19.99 per box

2009 Donruss Americana- $24.99 per box

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Josh