ESPN: Fanatics strikes deal to become exclusive licensee for MLB cards

Memorabilia leviathan Fanatics, continuing its push into the collecting space, has cemented a deal with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association for the exclusive licenses to produce baseball cards.

According to a memo from the MLBPA obtained by ESPN on Thursday, a Fanatics-founded company that has yet to be named will be the exclusive licensee "in the baseball card category" after Panini's and Topps' licenses with the MLBPA expire at the end of 2022.

The deal also includes the National Basketball Players Association and the NFL Players Association, who along with the MLBPA will have equity in this new venture, as will MLB and the NBA, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal…