Panini America Must-See Video: Scenes from the Josh Hamilton/MLBPA Press Conference

September 16, 2011

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s1qm35WbG0&w=585&h=426]

To quote Panini America Vice President of Marketing Jason Howarth, yesterday was a bona fide “game-changer” for all of us here at Panini America. It was the day that the company announced its multi-year agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to produce baseball cards.

It was the day we became the only licensed manufacturer in the world with trading cards licenses from all four major U.S. sports. It was the day we announced none other than reigning American League MVP Josh Hamilton as the face of our baseball future.

In fact, about the only thing missing from yesterday’s stirring press conference to announce the big news was you — our loyal collectors. But since getting all of you here to Texas on two days notice was a logistical impossibility (although we did consider it), we figured we’d bring the press conference to you.

All the highlights are here, including . . .

  • Hamilton unveiling his first Panini America MLBPA card
  • Addresses from MLBPA Director of Licensing & Business Development Evan Kaplan and Panini America CEO Mark Warsop
  • Poignant commentary from Hamilton himself on growing up a collector, facing Nolan Ryan and why his four daughters would inevitably choose Panini America’s Justin Bieber trading cards over ones of Dad