In a press release on April 11th, the MLB said it will launch its ICON Leadoff NFT collection on select dates during the 2022 MLB Season. Like the MLB’s 2021 ICON NFTs, this 2022 NFT series will be available on the Ethereum-based platform Candy Digital.
According to the MLB, there will be one of 720 pro baseball players on each of the upcoming ICON Leadoff NFTs. To create a more immersive experience, each NFT will contain official video clips and a “multimedia showcase” featuring each player. The MLB also says these virtual trading cards will auto-adjust every player’s stats depending on how they perform during the 2022 season.
Each ICON Leadoff NFT will have one of five rarity rankings. From the most common to the most scarce, these rarity titles are as follows:
- Core
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Epic
- Legendary
Each pack of five MLB ICON Leadoff NFTs will cost $50, and the first drop will take place on April 19th at 12 PM EST. For those who miss the April 19th launch, the MLB will release more MLB ICON Leadoff NFTs on the following days:
- May 3rd
- May 10th
- May 24th
- May 31st
- June 14th
- June 21st
Before the MLB ICON Leadoff’s release date, Candy Digital will unlock three special NFTs celebrating Jackie Robinson. On April 14th, collectors could purchase NFTs with a signed baseball or a silver bust of Jackie Robinson. There will also be a one-of-one gold Jackie Robinson bust NFT available for auction. Whoever wins this unique NFT will get two passes to the opening of New York’s Jackie Robinson Museum.
In the recent MLB press release, executives also said they were working on a set of eight extremely rare Candy World Series NFTs. However, baseball fans will have to wait for further details on when these NFTs will appear on Candy Digital.
Lastly, the MLB mentioned new “Play of the Day” NFTs that will be available every day at 12 PM EST during the 2022 season. As the name suggests, these NFTs contain video clips of famous “plays” throughout MLB history. Each “Play of the Day” NFT costs $15, and owners can trade them on Candy Digital’s NFT marketplace.
MLB NFTs are a “Home Run” with Fans
Even before the MLB partnered with Candy Digital in 2021, it saw the massive potential for digital collectibles when Topps unveiled its NFT cards on WAX. Last Independence Day, the MLB also had great success auctioning a special Lou Gehrig NFT. Bidding for this Lou Gehrig NFT started at $250, but it closed at $70,400.
While the sale of Candy’s Lou Gehrig NFT was historic, it pales in comparison to the sale of a “Topps Timeless Series” Mickey Mantle NFT. One bidder spent 175 ETH (or $471,000) to add this rare digital Topps card to their collection.
By the way, MLB fans that attend IRL games could receive virtual tickets if they have a Candy Digital account. Like NASCAR and the NFL, the MLB says it will release commemorative ticket NFTs during the 2022 season.