Topps, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have announced that they are joining with hobby stores to celebrate National Baseball Card Day on Saturday, with limited edition six-card packs available at participating shops around the country.
The 2016 National Baseball Card Day card designs and checklist was unveiled Wednesday during the 37th National Sports Collectors Convention. These unique cards feature some of today’s best players, such as Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and David Ortiz, with an additional card available as a gift with a $10 Topps purchase at local participating hobby stores.
Yankees on the Checklist include Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino (base cards) and Greg Bird (autograph card). Mets in the series are David Wright, Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom (base; deGrom also has a card in the autograph series).
“We are always looking for ways to introduce or reintroduce the local hobby stores to consumers and National Baseball Card day is an exciting new avenue we have to do this,” said David Leiner, Topps’ GM and Vice President of North American Sports and Entertainment. “It’s great to partner with Major League Baseball and the Players Association for the day to amplify the whole event as well.”
As part of the celebration, fans can also visit participating hobby retailers for special gifts with select purchases, contests and giveaways throughout National Baseball Card Day. Fans can follow along with the day’s happenings across the official social channels of Topps, MLB and the MLBPA using #BaseballCardDay. Related online contests and giveaways are also planned throughout the day and during the week leading up to the event.
Major Leaguers will demonstrate their support of National Baseball Card Day on Friday, August 12, when players in select ballparks will be giving away some sample packs from the field prior to games that day.
“National Baseball Card Day is an opportunity for fans to enjoy the time-honored tradition of card collecting in the middle of a very competitive MLB season,” said Steve Armus, MLB Senior Vice President, Consumer Products. “With cards featuring MLB’s top exciting young stars and David Ortiz in his final season, this set has plenty to offer baseball card collectors.”
“National Baseball Card Day is a great way to celebrate the rich tie between fans and Major League baseball players,” said Evan Kaplan, Director, Licensing and Business Development at the Major League Baseball Players Association. “There’s a special feeling when opening a pack of baseball cards and finding your favorite player.”
Ultra Pro will also be supplying a limited number of “one touch” card cases as an additional purchase incentive. National Baseball Card Day packs will include a special Topps BUNT promotional code card for baseball fans to experience the digital side of card collecting and Topps has also randomly inserted autographed cards in select packs.
For more information, to find your local participating hobby retailer or purchase cards, please visit Topps.com/promotions or MLBShop.com/topps.