Bowman® Baseball and Baseball Factory Extend Partnership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bowman® Baseball and Baseball Factory Extend Partnership
Partnership renewed to expand brand awareness for Bowman® Baseball and The Topps Company through grassroots promotional opportunities with Baseball Factory
April 25, 2017 (New York, NY and Columbia, MD) – The Topps Company, Inc. (“Topps”), the leading creator of sports trading cards, and Baseball Factory, the top player development and college recruiting program in the nation, announced the renewal of their partnership today.
Bowman® Baseball, the Topps® brand focused on baseball’s top prospects, will serve as the official trading card of Baseball Factory. The partnership will provide Topps with access to over 600 events and 35,000 players within the Baseball Factory training and development system. Baseball Factory players are located in all 50 states and range in age from 8 – 18 years old.
Bowman will also serve as the presenting partner for all draft coverage completed by Baseball Factory. This will include draft videos and articles promoted through the Baseball Factory web site. Videos will include a pre-roll commercial from Topps and images of prospects in their Bowman baseball cards.
“As The First Place to Find the Game’s Future Stars, the Bowman® brand aligns well with Baseball Factory’s mission of identifying and developing top baseball talent across the country,” said Zvee Geffen, Bowman Baseball Brand Manager at Topps. “Our continued partnership will extend brand awareness and visibility for us both, and open doors for continued growth with baseball’s youth.”
One new feature of the partnership will include a focus on Topps Now™ a Topps.com-exclusive product that will depict the greatest moments and milestones from the Major League Baseball season almost as soon as they happen. The physical cards are available the very next day to purchase through Topps.com, but for just 24 hours, and will not be available for purchase again.
With over 450 Baseball Factory alumni having competed at the Major League level, these players are regularly highlighted in Topps Now baseball cards. From Kris Bryant and Francisco Lindor to Bryce Harper and Anthony Rizzo, as Baseball Factory alumni are featured, the Factory will promote their cards to players, parents and coaches through social media and email.
“The partnership with Topps has been very successful and we are excited to extend the relationship,” said Jason Budden, the Baseball Factory SVP of Partnerships and Brand. “Given the Bowman brand focus on top prospects, and Baseball Factory’s history of working with and developing premier athletes, it is the perfect fit. We look forward to creating new ways to build awareness around Topps and Bowman products, especially in connection with Baseball Factory players, past and present.”
Together, Topps and Baseball Factory will reach thousands of serious baseball players through numerous grassroots efforts. Players will have the opportunity to place their Baseball Factory image in a Bowman card design and display this card on their Baseball Factory player web page. Baseball Factory players will also be able to purchase custom cards through Topps, using Baseball Factory event or other images.
About The Topps Company, Inc.
Founded in 1938, The Topps Company, Inc. is the preeminent creator and brand marketer of physical and digital sports cards, entertainment cards and collectibles, and distinctive confectionery products. Topps’ leading sports and entertainment products include Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Bundesliga, Indian Premier League, Star Wars, WWE, UFC, Wacky Packages, Garbage Pail Kids, Mars Attacks and other trading cards, sticker album collections and collectibles. Topps’ app portfolio, including Topps BUNT®, Topps HUDDLE®, TOPPS KICK® and Topps® Star Wars™: Card Trader, has been a hit with millions of fans around the world. Topps’ confectionery brands include Ring Pop®, Push Pop®, Baby Bottle Pop®, Juicy Drop ® Pop and Bazooka® bubble gum. Topps was acquired by Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners in October 2007. For additional information, visit Topps.com and Candymania.com.
About Baseball Factory
Baseball Factory has developed programs to provide players with world-class instruction and life-changing experiences, which when combined, lead to future success both on and off the field. Baseball Factory holds over 600 events nationwide each year in all 50 states and over 150 cities. We pride ourselves on giving families an unbiased assessment of where they stand against other players nationwide. Baseball Factory events have featured more than 450 players who have played or are currently playing in the Majors and over 100,000 players have gone on to play at the college level. 100% of Division I and Division II and 96% of Division III programs have at least one Baseball Factory alumnus on their roster. Learn more at www.baseballfactory.com.
Contact:
Jason Budden
Baseball Factory
443-539-7475
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Susan Lulgjuraj
The Topps Company
