BREAKING: Panini America Inks Exclusive Autograph Deal with Stephen Strasburg
LAS VEGAS — Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today that it has reached an exclusive multiyear autograph agreement with Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg. The deal grants Panini America the exclusive rights to produce autographed trading cards of Strasburg, a 15-game winner in 2012 who led the Nationals to the NL East title and their first postseason berth.
Panini America’s first Strasburg autograph cards will appear in the April release of its MLBPA-licensed 2012 Prizm Baseball product and will feature Strasburg in his USA Baseball uniform. Panini America is the official and exclusive trading card partner of USA Baseball.
“Stephen Strasburg is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game today; and one of baseball’s most popular and collected players,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “His exclusive presence in our licensed MLBPA trading card releases is a huge development for us and will add even more excitement to our roster of products. We’re honored that Stephen has entrusted us – exclusively – to represent and protect the integrity and collectibility of his autographed trading cards.”
Strasburg is Panini’s first exclusive athlete for its MLBPA trading card products and joins a roster of other exclusive athletes including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, two-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Hornets. Panini also has an exclusive autograph memorabilia deal with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck for its Panini Authentic memorabilia division.
“I’m excited to announce my relationship with an innovative company like Panini and deliver my autographs to baseball collectors exclusively in Panini trading card products,” Strasburg said. “I’m looking forward to working with Panini and joining the ranks of their other exclusive athletes for trading cards.”
Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional details on the Strasburg deal.
Trackbacks
- Panini gets exclusive autograph deal with Stephen Strasburg - Blowout Cards Forums
- Panini America’s Bringing the 2013 Industry Summit to You: A Black Box Contest | The Official Panini America Blog
- Pitch Man: Panini America’s Exclusive Chat with Nationals Star Stephen Strasburg | The Official Panini America Blog
The Knight's Lance 
That’s a big damn deal! Congratulations!
Exclusive contracts are absolutely terrible for the collector’s. These contracts are bad for the people who keep you in business. Bad move.
Especially when they mark the end of lisensed autographs to boot.
As an SDSU alum I’m pumped to hear the news. Any chance he’ll be in an Aztecs uni??
WOW! Giving [the other company] a run for the money, now all you need is the MLB license back, that would be pure success
Strasburg is must See TV every time he toes the slab!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The Washington ball club…yikes
that card looks sick
That is a sweet looking card 🙂 almost makes me want to collect baseball
wow, moster signing
Great news, another stud added to Panini’s already impressive stable of exclusives. Thanks Tracy!
i meant monster;)
Sweet!!!!!
Wow guys congrats..quite a star studded line up you are generating at Panini. Great for everyone!
such awesome news
Wow, that’s pretty big.
I think he and his boys in DC are going to have a monster year.
Thats a huge deal! Congrats guys!
Nice shirt! 😉
Congratulations!
Welcome to the best Company there is!