One of These Things Is Not Like the Other, One of These is the Exclusive Card of MLB

As you probably know already, as of 2010, Topps is the Exclusive Trading Card of Major League Baseball. With that powerful position ought to come the great responsibility of designing the best cards on the market. By that standard, Topps has failed. For evidence, a collector need look no further than the 2010 Topps and Upper Deck Rookie Cards of two of the top young players, Giants future stars Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey.

2010 Upper Deck

Buster Posey

2010 Topps

Buster Posey

2010 Upper Deck

Madison Bumgarner

2010 Topps

Madison Bumgarner

I feel as though the cards speak for themselves, and nothing else need be said. Baseball cards may be a hobby and quasi-religion for some of us, but for card manufacturers it is nothing more than a business. As far as Topps is concern, being able to slap "Exclusive Cards of MLB" on their wax and paint a team logo across their cards has superseded the importance of producing the best looking cards. Imagine a Topps Mickey Mantle RC with a microphone being shoved in his face?

Like all other industries, the trading card industry requires competition to bring out the best from all manufacturers. Instead of trying to compete with Upper Deck by providing the best cards and value for collectors, Topps has turned to trying to use their lawyers and exclusive rights contracts to establish a monopoly at the expense of all card collectors. If Topps succeeds, WE ARE DOOMED!