In a world where baseball enthusiasts collect more than peanuts and Cracker Jacks, Panini America and USA Baseball have served up a grand slam with their newly expanded licensing agreement. This is the third time the two have extended their exclusive partnership, which began back in the simpler days of 2012. Like a batter digging in at the plate for another home-run swing, Panini is ready to make some serious hits in the trading card and memorabilia game.
With this expanded licensing agreement, Panini continues to be the maestro of trading cards for all USA Baseball teams, now including even more players and teams into their lineup. Yes, the Collegiate National Team, along with the young bloods of the 18U and 15U squads, continue to be part of the all-star lineup. But in a delightful new development, the 12U National Team is now stepping up to the plate. These fledgling phenoms, whose resumes already boast names like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Paul Skenes, and Anthony Volpe, are set to make card collections as youthful and vibrant as ever.
A particularly exciting addition to the Panini clubhouse is the introduction of trading cards featuring the Women’s National Team. Finally, female athletes are getting the limelight they deserve in trading card packs—a step that will surely bring more diversity and excitement to collectors everywhere. USA Baseball deserves a round of applause for this leap forward in inclusivity, putting more players under the metaphorical spotlight of Panini’s popular cards.
Panini Instant, the brand’s rapid-response platform that ensures fans can grab moments as they happen, will be flexing its muscles for national team performances. The platform will debut its quick-draw, limited-run cards for USA Baseball, letting fans snag moments of glory almost as fast as they happen—a true game-changer for those who live for instant gratification. These print-on-demand cards, with their ever-ticking release time windows, promise to be hotter than a summer night under stadium lights.
As Panini continues to bolster its presence within USA Baseball events, their involvement in the esteemed Golden Spikes Award is only getting deeper. Fans who roam the grounds of next year’s College World Series in Omaha will find exclusive trading card packs released just in time for the 2025 award presentation on June 21. These premium packs are expected to be as sought-after as a rare single malt at a whiskey auction.
As if that weren’t enough, there’s also an innovative twist in store for fans attending national team games this summer. Keep an eye on those Panini-branded on-deck circles dotting the field at the National Training Complex, because they aren’t just decoration. These field-used items are destined for a second life, repurposed as collectable memorabilia inserts in future trading card sets. They’ll join a legacy of collectible offerings like player-worn jerseys and promise to be cherished by collectors and casual fans alike.
Since the inception of their collaboration in 2012, USA Baseball and Panini have created card-toting stars out of hundreds of elite prospects, helping to skyrocket them to Major League Baseball’s upper echelons. During this dynamic partnership, 212 USA Baseball alumni have been first-round MLB Draft selections, with a decuple of them claiming the No. 1 overall spot—a testament to the program’s elite caliber. Altogether, USA Baseball alumni have chalked up a remarkable 586 first-round picks and 36 first-overall selections.
The Panini and USA Baseball collaboration represents more than just numbers or new releases—it’s a celebration of baseball itself. For collectors itching for the next big thing, there’s an electric buzz around what’s to come. As the partnership continues, Panini’s products promise exciting designs and innovative ways to connect fans with the untold stories of rising baseball talents, pushing boundaries, and enriching the game with every card produced.