Leaf brings bowling cards back to masses with PBA Tour deal

Mark it down, dude.

Today's the day Leaf Trading Cards revealed that it has a multi-year exclusive deal with the Professional Bowlers Association to "bring the excitement and allure of professional bowling to collectors worldwide."

"We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Professional Bowlers Association," said Brian Gray, CEO of Leaf Trading Cards, in a prepared release. "The PBA has a dedicated and passionate fan base, and we are excited to bring them an authentic and engaging collecting experience. Our trading cards will showcase the incredible talent and achievements of PBA players, capturing the essence of the sport in every pack."

Leaf "will have exclusive rights to produce officially licensed PBA trading cards, featuring the most talented and beloved professional bowlers in the world" and its offerings are already live today as autographed singles on its website with more to come at a later date about in-pack releases.

Two autographed cards of PBA stars EJ Tackett and Kyle Troup launch the line on Leaf's site with the cards costing $34.99 while they last. The Tackett will be limited to 200 copies, while the Troup will cap at 400.

"This collaboration opens up new avenues for fans to connect with their favorite players on a deeper level," said CJ Breen, Leaf's Director of Social Media Marketing and Athlete Relations. "Trading cards have always been a cherished medium for capturing the essence of sports, and I am excited to see how this partnership will bring joy and excitement to fans across the globe."

The cards are a first since Rittenhouse Archives produced a pair of PBA sets in 2007 and 2008, though individual stars have had occasional card appearances over the years in various sets. Seemingly the only other major PBA releases are a few sets from the 1970s and the 1990 Kingpins set.

"This partnership with Leaf allows the PBA to break into an industry that has seen tremendous growth in recent years," said Lev Ekster, the Chief Strategy Officer at Bowlero Corp. "We are excited about the entertainment and promotional opportunities for our athletes in the burgeoning sports trading card market."

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