How Baseball Card Companies Changed the Game
Baseball card manufacturing is a multi-billion dollar industry. Over the decades many baseball card companies have produced intense competition with each other to stay on top of the sports memorabilia market.
Topps is based in New York City. The company was established in 1939 and originally manufactured gum and tobacco. They produced their first baseball cards in 1951. In 1952, they began including player statistics. For nearly 4 decades they had a monopoly baseball card manufacturing.
Upper Deck was established in 1988, by Paul Sumner, who used his college background of holograms to create the unique upper deck logo on their brand of baseball cards. The glossy finish on their line of baseball cards revolutionized the baseball card industry. Today, they produce baseball cards, as well as cards for international sports teams.
Panini America (formerly known as Donruss) originally produced entertainment cards for Television shows such as “Dallas”, and “Dukes of Hazzard”. The company was founded in 1954. In 1981 The company (then called Donruss) produced their first line of baseball cards. They released their highly acclaimed “Diamond Kings” set in 1982, which became one of their best sellers. They ceased producing baseball cards in 2005.
Fleer was established in 1885. In 1959, they began producing baseball cards. Their first set was released in 1959. The set was elusively of Ted Williams. Fleer was also the only baseball company to produce a Roger Clemens, and Kirby Puckett card back in 1984. Fleer discontinued producing baseball cards in 2007.
These baseball card companies have truly changed the way we connect with athletes forever.
