A Memorabilia Monopoly?

The Upper Deck company recently made a bid of $10.75-per-share to buyout rival cardmaker, Topps. The offer follows a previous bid of $9.75-per-share from Tornante Co., headed up by Michael Eisner, and private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners.

If the Upper Deck bid is accepted and then approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Upper Deck will hold a trading card monopoly in certain sports, most notably baseball. The two companies have been battling for market share since Upper Deck burst onto the scene in 1989. With Upper Deck often being considered the more premium collectable option, Topps has continued to maintain market share due to their positioning in the mind of the traditional collector.

The fact that Topps is considering takeover bids has not slowed them down in other areas however. They announced today that Greg Oden, widely considered to be the first selection in the upcoming NBA draft, has signed a deal with the company. As part of the deal, Topps will be responsible for Greg Oden's official Web site.

The Topps Company, founded in 1938, have been producing trading cards since 1951. Many baby boomers can wax nostalgic on childhood reflections of opening a pack of cards and popping the enclosed bubble gum. If Upper Deck were to purchase Topps, it would signal the end of an era for a notable member of the sporting industry.