When it comes to baseball cards, Topps is still considered the foremost brand to invest in. While their exclusive deal with the MLB is about to expire in a couple of years, the cards produced by this company are still the standard. Now, it looks they're setting their sights on Japan and its premier baseball league, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NBP).
Just last March, Topps announced they will open an office in Tokyo as part of their expansion beyond the United States. This move was done with the aim to improve the company's presence in the Japanese and Asian markets, and cater to their increasing demand for sports cards.
NPB, Topps announce their first-ever trading card deal togetherhttps://t.co/tk52V8mHqo
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) October 13, 2021
After several months, Topps came out a few weeks ago and stated that they have bagged an exclusive licensing deal with NPB to manufacture and distribute trading cards that feature its players. This marks the first time baseball cards will be released featuring all 12 NPB teams.
According to David Leiner, Topps' Global Manager for Sports and Entertainment, the company has been pursuing the NPB to better serve baseball fans in Japan and beyond. He added that their deal with the said league will deliver an exciting range of collectibles to fans and enhance how they collect their favorite teams and players.
Before the year ends, Topps will release several sets to the Japanese market. In turn, Japanese baseball card collectors can find these products in select retail locations across the country. It won't be long now before hobbyists in Japan get their sports card fix of their favorite NPB teams and players.
While it's only a matter of time before Topps' line of baseball cards ends, their new venture in Japan is just beginning. Soon, sports fans in the Land of the Rising Sun will finally have the chance to collector their homegrown heroes when the company's products soon roll out.
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