MLB Properties/MLBPA

MLB Properties (MLBP) and the MLBPA: The two major licensing bodies in the baseball card industry. MLBP is the licensing arm of Major League Baseball. Anything regarding team logos and trademarks fall under this office. Since 2010, MLBP has granted an exclusive license to Topps -- which expires at the end of 2025.

The MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) the player's union and handles players' rights through the MLBPA's Group Licensing Agreement. Products that bear any MLB player's names must get their licensing through the MLBPA. This is also the union that also handles labor disputes with MLB.

Because they preceded the establishment of the MLBPA, Topps has never been subject to the Group Licensing Agreement -- instead signing players to individual contracts. This allowed Topps to sign Barry Bonds to an exclusive contract when, in 2004, he became the first active player name to exclude himself from the Group Licensing Agreement.