Partnership created to expand brand awareness for Bowman^® Baseball and The Topps Company through grassroots promotional opportunities with Baseball Factory

February 27, 2014 (New York, NY and Columbia, MD) – The Topps Company, Inc. (“Topps”) is proud to announce a partnership with Baseball Factory, the top player development and college recruiting program in the nation.  
 
Bowman® Baseball, a rapidly growing Topps sub-brand focused on baseball’s top prospects, will serve as the official trading card of Baseball Factory.  The partnership will provide Bowman/Topps with access to over 600 events and 30,000 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.
 
“We are thrilled to partner with Baseball Factory and have our Bowman brand become the company’s official trading card,” said Topps Sr. Director of Marketing, Tom Emelo.  “Baseball Factory is a company that aligns perfectly with Bowman’s objective to uncover baseball’s future stars, and target young players who are passionate about the game.”
 
Together, Bowman 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 will also help to promote new releases and other Bowman/Topps products through promotion to players, parents and coaches within the program.
 
Bowman will 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 Bowman and images of prospects in their Bowman baseball cards.
 
“We are very excited to create this partnership with Topps,” said Baseball Factory SVP of Marketing and Brand, Jason Budden. “Topps is an iconic brand within baseball and there is a clear connection to our players through Bowman’s focus on baseball’s youth.  We are excited to expand awareness for Bowman through activation at our events, on our web site, through social media and other Baseball Factory platforms.”
 
 
About The Topps Company, Inc.
Founded in 1938, Topps is the leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include the NFL, MLB, UFC, WWE and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include "Bazooka" bubble gum, "Ring Pop," "Push Pop," "Baby Bottle Pop" and "Juicy Drop Pop" lollipops. For additional information, visit Sports Cards and Entertainment Cards | Topps.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 50 states and 175 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 350 players who have played or are currently playing in the Majors and over 50,000 players have gone on to play at the college level. 99% of Division I, 70% of Division II and 60% of Division III programs have at least one Baseball Factory alumnus on their roster. Learn more at www.baseballfactory.com.
 

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