MLB Steps Into the NFT World by Entering a Long-Term Partnership With Candy Digital

On June 1, Major League Baseball (MLB) reporter David Adler announced the MLB organization established a long-term deal with the digital collectible company Candy Digital. The oldest American professional baseball organization is stepping into the non-fungible token (NFT) collectibles world and will start by launching a Lou Gehrig NFT.

MLB’s First NFT Will Feature ‘The Iron Horse’ Lou Gehrig

MLB, the professional baseball organization launched in the U.S. in 1903, has announced a long-term NFT deal with the Galaxy Digital-backed firm Candy Digital. The agreement with digital collectible company Candy Digital was revealed on Tuesday by MLB reporter David Adler. In a little over a month on July 4th weekend, MLB will launch the first NFT featuring the New York Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig.

“The first NFT from MLB and Candy is a 1-of-1 NFT of Gehrig’s iconic ‘Luckiest Man’ speech that the Yankees legend delivered on July 4, 1939, at Yankee Stadium, after being diagnosed with ALS,” Adler detailed. “The Gehrig NFT will be released July 4th weekend, and proceeds from the sale will support ALS charities.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred detailed that the founders of Candy are “a dynamic group of executives with an impressive track record.” Manfred noted that MLB is thrilled to be the Galaxy Digital-backed firm’s first partner. Mike Novogratz, the founder of Galaxy Digital, is a Candy Digital board member and serves as a co-chair for the company.

“From trading cards to autographed balls, baseball fans have demonstrated their passion for the sport and its players through collectibles for decades,” Manfred said during Tuesday’s announcement. “In working with Candy Digital to offer NFTs to MLB fans, we’re delivering an exciting new addition to the robust baseball collectible market,” MLB’s Commissioner added.

MLB NFTs Aim to Broaden the Range

Candy’s co-chair Gary Vaynerchuk detailed that he’s always been a “lifetime collector” and he thinks creators and consumers will appreciate the partnership with the American professional baseball organization.

Vaynerchuk thinks that die-hard MLB fans will be the ones who enjoy these NFTs the most. “Especially the uber-passionate MLB community who craves collectibles and celebrating the iconic moments that makes this game so special,” Vaynerchuk said.

MLB’s announcement does disclose that it already makes NFT collectibles with the popular collectible card manufacturer Topps. But with Candy Digital, the NFT offerings can expand into a wide range of collectibles.

The company gives examples like “memorabilia-style NFTs, or baseball card-style NFTs, or artwork-style NFTs portraying big moments on the field, or NFTs of highlight plays.” Following the Lou Gehrig NFT, the MLB said the public can expect more NFT collectible sales in the future.