Latest news with #Topps
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Why the Thomas Partey Topps farce shows that football has lost its grip on reality, writes IAN HERBERT
The police investigation into Thomas Partey on five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to three separate women, has been one of football's open secrets for precisely three years. He was first arrested in July 2022. The law of this land had preserved his anonymity, but you would have had to be hiding under a rock to work in the industry and not know. Though he denies the charges levelled against him, there is a prosecution case to be aired. The most cursory knowledge of our legal system tells you that since 2022 there had been a possibility that the footballer under investigation might eventually be charged. Pending any acquittal, the idea of our children drawing his name from one of Topps' packs of trading cards would be deeply unwelcome. Until any such acquittal, it goes without saying that a player facing five charges of rape should not be promoted or celebrated. But Topps have made Partey a collectors' item. On Tuesday we discovered that Partey, shown the door by Arsenal in June days before the Metropolitan Police charged him — he is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates on August 5 — will appear on one of their official Premier League trading cards for the 2025-26 season. Prepare yourself for the Topps communication team going into overdrive now — insisting that the player list for the new season of Topps cards was finalised in May, when Arsenal were still negotiating over a potential new contract with Partey. That print and production were wrapped up before he was charged. Nothing to see here. The unpalatable truth is that football has legitimised Partey all along, in a way that no other industry would conceivably have done. Innocent until proven guilty, most certainly, yes, but with such serious offences under investigation, a suspension would be inevitable in any other line of business. Perhaps on full pay, which in Partey's case was £200,000 a week. Or perhaps on no pay. Most men working in an industry which brought them into contact with women would expect to be out of the building if facing allegations like that. We're talking about football, though, and it's been business as usual for Partey. He was arrested on July 4, 2022, released on bail, and played 12 days later in a friendly against Everton in the US. In the course of the first season after his arrest, Mikel Arteta used him for 2,694 minutes across 40 games, important enough for on the pitch and good for the opening goal in a north London derby against Tottenham. Arsenal have gone so far as to rubber stamp his use in the trading packs and even this week, Arteta said he was '100 per cent' sure the club followed the right processes when dealing with his former midfielder. 'There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that.' There goes football, lost in its parallel universe and self-justification, blind to the realities and the optics. Flatly ignoring the fact that the sight of our sons and daughters trading Partey's image any time soon is, as things now stand, deeply unattractive.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Thomas Partey to feature on Premier League trading cards after Arsenal green light
Thomas Partey, the footballer accused of rape, will feature on the Premier League's official trading cards when they are released next month — after Arsenal rubber-stamped his inclusion. Topps, an American company that produces trading cards and other collectibles, announced a deal with the Premier League earlier this year that will see them manufacture the cards. Advertisement Arsenal confirmed they were in talks with Partey over a new contract as recently as last month, only for the midfielder to leave at the end of his deal after new terms could not be agreed. Four days after Partey left the club he was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The 32-year-old denies the allegations and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5. Topps confirmed to The Athletic that players are initially selected based on a number of objective factors, such as the number of minutes a player played in the previous season, how long they have been at the club, and whether they are an international player. The player selection for the 25-26 collection was finalised in May, with all player lists approved by Premier League clubs at that time. The list approved by Arsenal included Partey, despite an ongoing police investigation of which the club were aware, and the fact that he would become a free agent in the summer if a new contract with Arsenal couldn't be agreed. Of the 60+ players previously entering free agency this summer, only four — Partey, Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Josh Brownhill (Burnley) and Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion) — were included by their respective teams. After Premier League clubs submitted their final list to Topps, the trading cards almost immediately got put into production and are then randomly placed into packs and distributed to retailers. This means there is no way of knowing where the Partey cards are, so nothing can be done to prevent his card from hitting the shelves next month. Arsenal and the Premier League have been approached for comment. ()
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Replay Sports Cards to donate 1 million cards to Chicago youth
July 28 (UPI) -- A national sports card franchise plans to donate 1 million cards to more than 40,000 youth and teens in Chicago to "grow the hobby" of card collecting and "spark the sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack." Replay Sports Cards, which is dedicated exclusively to card collecting, will make the donation this week at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention in Rosemont, Ill. The convention runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. "We're passionate about growing the hobby and making it more accessible," said Mike Martin, co-founder of Replay. "Too many children are priced out of collecting today, and we want to change that." "Replay Gives Back" will donate the cards to youth-focused organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah's Arc Foundation. "The excitement of opening a pack of cards is timeless, and Replay Gives Back is our way of sharing that joy with kids who've never had the chance," said Brent Schepel, co-founder of Replay. "It's about inclusion, generosity and building the future of the hobby, one card -- and one child -- at a time." While Replay encouraged convention attendees and collectors to bring their unwanted cards, the company has already taken in more than 1.5 million trading card donations -- including Upper Deck, Topps and Pokémon -- since launching the campaign last November. "We're seeing a tidal wave of new interest in sports cards, and we built Replay to meet that wave with the infrastructure and innovation today's collectors expect," said Mike Weinberger, co-founder and president of franchising for Replay. "But none of it matters if we don't bring new generations into the hobby. At its core, Replay Gives Back is about expanding access," Weinberger continued. "Sparking that sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack," Martin added, "there's nothing like it." Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
a day ago
- Business
- UPI
Replay Sports Cards to donate 1 million cards to Chicago youth
Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Piñeiro drops off a Replay Gives Back donation at the Boys and Girls Club in Charlotte, N.C. This week, Replay Sports Cards will donate 1 million cards to more than 40,000 youth in Chicago to "grow the hobby" of card collecting. Photo by Replay Sports Cards July 28 (UPI) -- A national sports card franchise plans to donate 1 million cards to more than 40,000 youth and teens in Chicago to "grow the hobby" of card collecting and "spark the sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack." Replay Sports Cards, which is dedicated exclusively to card collecting, will make the donation this week at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention in Rosemont, Ill. The convention runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. "We're passionate about growing the hobby and making it more accessible," said Mike Martin, co-founder of Replay. "Too many children are priced out of collecting today, and we want to change that." "Replay Gives Back" will donate the cards to youth-focused organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah's Arc Foundation. "The excitement of opening a pack of cards is timeless, and Replay Gives Back is our way of sharing that joy with kids who've never had the chance," said Brent Schepel, co-founder of Replay. "It's about inclusion, generosity and building the future of the hobby, one card -- and one child -- at a time." While Replay encouraged convention attendees and collectors to bring their unwanted cards, the company has already taken in more than 1.5 million trading card donations -- including Upper Deck, Topps and Pokémon -- since launching the campaign last November. "We're seeing a tidal wave of new interest in sports cards, and we built Replay to meet that wave with the infrastructure and innovation today's collectors expect," said Mike Weinberger, co-founder and president of franchising for Replay. "But none of it matters if we don't bring new generations into the hobby. At its core, Replay Gives Back is about expanding access," Weinberger continued. "Sparking that sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack," Martin added, "there's nothing like it."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's legacy lives on: A look at his most iconic cards and collectibles
News of Hulk Hogan's passing has sent shockwaves through fans and collectors alike as the wrestling world lost one of its most iconic figures today. One of the most recognizable faces in pop culture history and a pioneer in pro-wrestling, Hogan defined an era and has left an irreplaceable impact. Hogan's legacy in the ring is only matched by his lasting presence in the hobby. When it comes to wrestling cards, Hogan's are in the top echelon of sought after memorabilia. Since his arrival in the early 1980s, Hogan has been the wrestling focus of the hobby. While we mourn his passing, we take a look at the cardboard that helped capture his legendary life. From rookie cards never released in the U.S. to modern parallel autos, the Hulkster always commanded the attention of collectors. Here's a breakdown of Hulk Hogan's most iconic and valuable cards, from his earliest appearances to contemporary collectibles: 1982 Westling All Stars #2- The True Rookie If wrestling has an equivalent to the 1952 Mickey Mantle, this is it. Widely regarded as Hogan's true rookie, it's arguably the most legendary wrestling card of all time. Interestingly, no PSA 10 examples are documented, adding to the card's mystique. A PSA 9 recently sold for an astounding $132,000, making it one of the highest-priced wrestling cards ever. (Buy on Ebay.) 1985 Topps WWF- The Mainstream Rookie It makes sense that Hogan would have more than one recognized rookie card. His first appearance in a Topps product symbolizes his transition into a pop-culture phenomenon. The iconic vintage design is unmatched today. Only 15 PSA 10 examples exist, with recent sales ranging from $21,000 to $35,000, securing its status as a premier collectible from the 1980s. (Buy on Ebay.) 1981 Popy (Japan) - 1st-Ever Card For dedicated hobby historians, this is Hogan's earliest printed card, part of the 1981 Popy set released before Hulkamania took hold in the U.S. Its international rarity adds considerable intrigue since it was never officially distributed stateside. A PSA 10 sold for $15,000, and even a PSA 9 fetched a substantial $7,500. (Buy on Ebay.) 2022 Panini Champion Signatures- Parallels Gold /10, Blue /49 True to his fans, Hogan participated in high-end collectible sets long after leaving the ring. These contemporary cards cater to today's collector, with the 2022 Panini Champion Signature Gold parallel fetching $20,000 and the Blue /49 version selling between $1,500 and $2,000. Decades after his wrestling career ended, Hogan still commands attention as the set's most coveted card. (Buy on Ebay.) 2023 Leaf Pro Set Memorabilia Auto – Hulkamania Lives On This is for anyone that wants a more attainable and reasonable Hogan card. The card provides the iconic yellow and red gear that all fans want to see. That along with a great bold signature makes for a nice piece to remember his legacy by. Raw versions of these cards can be found for around $200-$400. (Buy on Ebay.) Why Collecting Hulk Hogan Still Matters Despite Hulk Hogan's passing, his life and legacy will endure. He wasn't just some wrestler card to collect, he was and is THE WRESTLER. His contributions to sports entertainment and his iconic status as a pop-culture figure remain unforgettable. His sports cards not just recognize the great wrestler he was but the phenomenon the Hulk was and forever will be. For many fans mourning the loss of the greatest showman of an era, these cards serve as lasting reminders of a legend whose influence transcends the ring. Do you have any Hulk Hogan memorabilia? Show it off on Mantel.
