Upper Deck Reportedly Considering Lawsuit Over Topps' MLB Deal

Upper Deck Will Continue To Produce Baseball Cards Despite Topps' Exclusive Deal With MLB

The sports trading card industry is "dealing with an uncomfortable present and an uncertain future," according to Luke Winn of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. While MLB is "banking on Topps ... to reattract kids and streamline product offerings" through its exclusive deal with the company, Upper Deck "will continue to make cards with its MLB Players Association license in 2010, though none of the subjects can appear bearing a team logo." An Upper Deck source last week said that a lawsuit "challenging Topps's exclusive deal is also a possibility." Meanwhile, Winn notes Upper Deck continues to focus on insert cards containing pieces of game-used equipment or memorabilia that are "placed in random packs in the hopes of enticing collectors." More than 10,000 "chopped-up items are stored in plastic bags on rows of metal shelves" in Upper Deck's California HQs, including jerseys from Cavaliers F LeBron James and Indians CF Grady Sizemore, a bat from Yankees SS Derek Jeter and baseballs signed by Baseball HOFers Joe DiMaggio and Walter Johnson. The collection also includes a "sequined, neon-green strip of fabric" which came from a headband belonging to singer Miley Cyrus. Upper Deck Hobby Marketing Manager Chris Carlin said a baseball set coming out in September called Goodwin Champions will feature "landmark insert cards: stuff like 'Titanic' coal, the sands of Iwo Jima [and] Dead Sea salt" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 8/24 issue).

SIGN 'EM UP: Upper Deck has inked Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin to an exclusive autograph deal beginning with the '09-10 season. Ovechkin as part of the deal will be featured on the '09-10 Upper Deck hockey card packaging, as well as sign autograph cards exclusively for Upper Deck products. Meanwhile, Upper Deck extended its deal with Hockey HOFer Steve Yzerman to provide autograph cards for its '09-10 products (THE DAILY). YAHOO SPORTS' Sean Leahy wrote Upper Deck's memorabilia is "quite pricey and if Ovechkin lends his signature to various photos and equipment, collectors are going to have to have some deep pockets if they're to add to their collections" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/16).