How much does Topps pay players to sign cards?

72RangerFan · 07-19-2023, 07:59 PM

I’m curious how much does Topps pay players to sign cards? How do they determine which players they get to sign? Also do each player in the base autograph sets sign the same number of cards?

AJBU · 07-19-2023, 08:05 PM

I’ve heard players say somewhere from 3-5K

Noles939913 · 07-19-2023, 08:14 PM

No as to the last part of your post. I guarantee Max Meyer is signing waaaayyy more Topps Heritage autographs than Mike Trout.

glen87 · 07-19-2023, 08:21 PM

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=385625

MOONBASE1 · 07-19-2023, 10:14 PM

Are the players alloted some of the signed cards for their personal use?

PapaStu · 07-19-2023, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONBASE1

Are the players alloted some of the signed cards for their personal use?

From the lone instance that I know of someone who signed A&G in 2019, no. He had to return all of his autos. Topps did send back to him a bunch of bulk base (Ginter and Ginter X) for him to keep and do with what he wanted.

cbeauch87 · 07-19-2023, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONBASE1

Are the players alloted some of the signed cards for their personal use?

Different sport, but I worked in junior hockey and had stickers sent from Upper Deck for players to sign. They were sent 360 stickers and were required to send back at least 330 "useable" autos.

BRob1 · 07-19-2023, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72RangerFan

Also do each player in the base autograph sets sign the same number of cards?

I think people don’t understand this part sometimes when looking at checklists. They say oh, this is one auto per box, there are 50 auto subjects and I’d be happy with 20 of them so 40% chance I pull a good auto, not knowing the stars get more to sign and are therefore often short printed.

jcmel323 · 07-20-2023, 01:34 AM

It's more than what the card sells, i can tell you that

Stech36 · 07-20-2023, 06:01 AM

This was 10 years ago, but a couple prospects I know got $3/card. One was a 3rd rounder, the other was like 10th.

jmarascojr · 07-20-2023, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONBASE1

Are the players alloted some of the signed cards for their personal use?

I'm not sure they are "allotted" any for personal use, but I can confirm that some athletes will give a handful to friends while signing or even to the handler of the signing.

A friend of a friend of a friend does Topps signings in this area for Triple A prospects and he's been offered a couple cards here and there for his time.
Didn't take any, but just thought it was interesting...

They definitely weren't extras, as some of them were numbered...

BoSoxFan1999 · 07-20-2023, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRob1

I think people don’t understand this part sometimes when looking at checklists. They say oh, this is one auto per box, there are 50 auto subjects and I’d be happy with 20 of them so 40% chance I pull a good auto, not knowing the stars get more to sign and are therefore often short printed.

That explains why I've seemingly seems countless Ken Waldichuk and Graham Ashcroft Finest autos posted on social media lately but like 0 Ohtani's.

1800gambler · 07-20-2023, 10:10 AM

Someone told me like 4-5 bucks an auto for the average player but I have no idea if that’s true

BigL7370 · 07-20-2023, 11:02 AM

Former NFL qb Kurt Benkert on TikTok says they were paid with a basic per card fee but also on a sliding scale depending on what round they were drafted, where higher round guys would be paid a little more per card.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8RxXSLB/

Edit: This isn’t Topps but gives you an idea I guess.

hairysasquatch · 07-20-2023, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigL7370

Former NFL qb Kurt Benkert on TikTok says they were paid with a basic per card fee but also on a sliding scale depending on what round they were drafted, where higher round guys would be paid a little more per card.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8RxXSLB/

Edit: This isn’t Topps but gives you an idea I guess.

Who??

johnlocke36 · 07-20-2023, 11:57 AM

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this change in the future. Was just reading an article about how Montana was charging 250 for autos but like 900+ to sign a RC as athletes are becoming more aware of what some stuff is worth.

Let’s say Drew Jones gets what $20-50 an auto. That’s great, but then you realize there is a 1/4 million bounty for the super and his base autos are $300 (?) each I wouldn’t be surprised to see some big names demanding a lot more in the nest future.

eastbayak · 07-20-2023, 01:13 PM

Different players get paid differently.

twoten01 · 07-20-2023, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlocke36

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this change in the future. Was just reading an article about how Montana was charging 250 for autos but like 900+ to sign a RC as athletes are becoming more aware of what some stuff is worth.

Let’s say Drew Jones gets what $20-50 an auto. That’s great, but then you realize there is a 1/4 million bounty for the super and his base autos are $300 (?) each I wouldn’t be surprised to see some big names demanding a lot more in the nest future.

Druw is not getting near that much closer to 10% of that. They can ask for more but wont get it. His auto is going for $300 but it takes how much money on average to hit one? Alot more then $300. And his auto is only worth that much on a Topps certified card. He could sell his auto on his own and within weeks wouldnt even be able to make the same that Topps is paying him per card

johnlocke36 · 07-20-2023, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoten01

Druw is not getting near that much closer to 10% of that. They can ask for more but wont get it. His auto is going for $300 but it takes how much money on average to hit one? Alot more then $300. And his auto is only worth that much on a Topps certified card. He could sell his auto on his own and within weeks wouldnt even be able to make the same that Topps is paying him per card

But the issue isn’t what his card is worth on his own it’s how much vlUe is he creating for topps. When topps releases 2023 bowman they are saying here is 400k worth of drew Jones autos to be pulled, by our product, at which point Jones May say wtf pay me more

Or how many less boxes would topps have sold without Jones / how much did they pay Jones

Noles939913 · 07-20-2023, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlocke36

But the issue isn’t what his card is worth on his own it’s how much vlUe is he creating for topps. When topps releases 2023 bowman they are saying here is 400k worth of drew Jones autos to be pulled, by our product, at which point Jones May say wtf pay me more

Or how many less boxes would topps have sold without Jones / how much did they pay Jones

But the brand name Bowman/Topps is literally part of the driving force behind the value. Just look at how much crappy Jones autos from Leaf and Panini sell for.

johnlocke36 · 07-20-2023, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noles939913

But the brand name Bowman/Topps is literally part of the driving force behind the value. Just look at how much crappy Jones autos from Leaf and Panini sell for.

I agree it’s a mutually beneficial relationship, I’m just saying it’s currently a big one sided and if Jones is truly getting $2-5 an auto then topps certainly needs Jones and company more then Jones needs $5,000.

Let’s say three guys are getting $5 an auto. Topps is getting set to produce bowman draft, what happens if crews/skenes/Langford/Jenkins/Clark (- whoever is held back) alll said yea we’re gonna need 50-100 work auto.

The jsut signed for 8 million? What’s another 5-10k to them.
However what happens tk bowman draft if it’s missing autos from the top 5 guys?

07-19-2023, 07:59 PM	#1
72RangerFan Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Texas Posts: 721 MKDoss2012 72RangerFan	How much does Topps pay players to sign cards? I’m curious how much does Topps pay players to sign cards? How do they determine which players they get to sign? Also do each player in the base autograph sets sign the same number of cards? __________________ Jesus Loves You. John 15:13

07-19-2023, 08:14 PM	#3
Noles939913 Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 6,705	No as to the last part of your post. I guarantee Max Meyer is signing waaaayyy more Topps Heritage autographs than Mike Trout. __________________ “Mr. Phillips found old Johnny Cash and he was high High before he ever took those pills and he's still too proud to die Mr. Phillips never said anything behind nobody's back Like, "Dammit Elvis, don't he know, he ain't no Johnny Cash"

07-19-2023, 08:21 PM	#4
glen87 Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: VERMONT Posts: 71,352 glen87 glen87	https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=385625 __________________ collecting James Madison University players of all sports JMU cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmucards/ other cards: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glen87/albums

07-19-2023, 08:05 PM	#2
AJBU Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 104	I’ve heard players say somewhere from 3-5K

07-19-2023, 10:14 PM	#5
MOONBASE1 Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: East Coast Posts: 1,124	Are the players alloted some of the signed cards for their personal use?

07-20-2023, 01:34 AM	#9
jcmel323 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 2,901	It's more than what the card sells, i can tell you that

07-20-2023, 06:01 AM	#10
Stech36 Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Westminster, MD Posts: 9,510 Stech36	This was 10 years ago, but a couple prospects I know got $3/card. One was a 3rd rounder, the other was like 10th.

07-20-2023, 10:10 AM	#13
1800gambler Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Posts: 296	Someone told me like 4-5 bucks an auto for the average player but I have no idea if that’s true

07-20-2023, 11:02 AM	#14
BigL7370 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,015	Former NFL qb Kurt Benkert on TikTok says they were paid with a basic per card fee but also on a sliding scale depending on what round they were drafted, where higher round guys would be paid a little more per card. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8RxXSLB/ Edit: This isn’t Topps but gives you an idea I guess.

07-20-2023, 11:57 AM	#16
johnlocke36 Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,584	I wouldn’t be surprised to see this change in the future. Was just reading an article about how Montana was charging 250 for autos but like 900+ to sign a RC as athletes are becoming more aware of what some stuff is worth. Let’s say Drew Jones gets what $20-50 an auto. That’s great, but then you realize there is a 1/4 million bounty for the super and his base autos are $300 (?) each I wouldn’t be surprised to see some big names demanding a lot more in the nest future.

07-20-2023, 01:13 PM	#17
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 15,171 eastbayak	Different players get paid differently.