General Forum

Here’s an article on a new MLB/Topps collaboration.  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36003335/mlb-players-wear-official-debut-uniform-patches?linkId=207763666
Was nice to see this paragraph in the article - “Over the last few years, a trend that's emerged, much to the chagrin of collectors, is pulling memorabilia cards that have either only been player-worn ... or even less. Often, memorabilia cards have included some semblance of this language: "The enclosed officially licensed material is not associated with any specific player, game, or event" or "The relic contained in this card is not from any specific match, event or season." This kind of patch reemphasizes a level of authenticity that consumers have demanded”

In addition, as I wrote recently, I think this is good for the hobby because it has the potential to bring in new collectors. The patches will be worn by everyone making their MLB debut. Those patches, and the cards, will be mentioned on card broadcasts around the country. 

So they take a player's first jersey worn, one they may want to keep for themselves as a keepsake to commemorate the occasion, and cut it up instead. Great for collectors I guess (note, I could care less for MEM cards), crappy for the player.

If the uniform only has one patch then that would only 1 of 1 cards. Not good for the average collector. 

Yeah I don't get the appeal TBH.

Teams have been using game or event-specific patches for years.  I seriously doubt it has brought a single new collector to the hobby.

The patch would mean nothing to me, but it WOULD be interesting if this is signaling a decision by Topps/Fanatics to produce a major league card of every new major leaguer.  In recent years, especially with the rise of the middle reliever, more and more players are ignored.  For players who debuted in 2021, for example, 48 out of 265 have only minor league cards as of now.

Topps produced debut sets for all players whose first game was in '89, '90 and '91, but apparently those were not very popular.  The debut sets ended, and there's been no attempt since then to do anything similar.

Maybe now they've decided to give it another try...   

I can completely agree with that reply, Mungo.

That's what those huge sponsor patches on the MLB uniform sleeves are used for.  After the game, the player rips off the patch, and there you go!