Panini America Gets Licensing Rights to USA Baseball Cards

March 20, 2012

Texas-based company, buy order | Panini America, viagra announced on Monday that it has signed an exclusive multi-year deal to be the official card manufacturer for USA Baseball beginning later this year.

Topps had held the license since taking it over from Upper Deck in 2010.

“Some of the greatest players of all time made their marks with USA Baseball long before they made their marks as professional players, drugs ” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “This new agreement gives us the exclusive opportunity to introduce fans and collectors to tomorrow’s stars.”

Panini will showcase the Collegiate National Team, 18U and 15U teams on their first cards beginning this fall. The 2012 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will be in 2012 Prime Cuts in October and it will include members of the 18U and 15U National Teams in 2012 Donruss Elite Extra Edition in December. The products will include autographs as well as memorabilia cards. Meanwhile, the 2012 USA Baseball box set will arrive in November with all 62 members of the 2012 USA Baseball squads as a hobby-only product. In 2013, the company said, it will arrive via a packed product.

USA Baseball COO David Perkins, said: “Panini America has already shown they are as passionate about the USA Baseball brand as we are, and we know its passion will show in the products it manufactures with USA Baseball’s National Team players. We are thrilled to be working with Panini America to bring our pastime’s future to collectors and fans.”

Panini’s baseball portfolio already includes licenses with the Major League Baseball Players Association and the National Baseball Hall of Fame – both acquired since September.

by Ismail Uddin