Hasbro Announces They Are Brining Back Starting Lineup Sports Figures

[JayC]

Hasbro today announced that they are bringing back Starting Lineup figures. If you are not familiar, they were figures based on professional athletes for things like Major League baseball, NBA and more in the 80s and 90s. The figures were originally made by Kenner and then later Hasbro. No other details have been provided at this time for this new line other than it looks like it will launch September 22, 2022. If you like sports figures, then this is a story you will probably want to keep tabs on. We will update as more details become available.

[80sboy4]

Very interested to see what Hasbro does with this line. Wonder if the figures will have articulation? Was a fan of the original series.

[JayC]

Here is the official press release:

 

Today, Hasbro, Inc., in partnership with Fanatics, a global digital sports platform, announced the official re-launch of the Starting Lineup brand, an iconic sports collectibles brand. Set to launch this fall, the new product line will continue its legacy of bringing fans and collectors their favorite athletes in action figure form. Starting September 22, products from the Starting Lineup brand will be available exclusively on Hasbro Pulse and across the Fanatics network of online sites, including Fanatics.com and official league stores.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing back one of the most beloved sports collectibles brands of all time, Starting Lineup, and to be teaming up with Fanatics for its highly anticipated return this fall,” said Eric Nyman, President and COO of Hasbro. “The fast-growing sports collectibles category presents great opportunities to connect with fans of all ages, and we’ve got many exciting announcements to come from the brand in the months ahead.”

Originally launched in 1988, the Starting Lineup brand developed a massive following by bringing enthusiasts figures of their favorite all-star players from a variety of sports for more than a decade. The return of the brand will introduce an all-new era of notable athletes to its classic heritage with figures featuring design like never before.

“Hasbro’s Starting Lineup is an iconic collectibles brand, and Fanatics is thrilled to be the exclusive partner to help re-launch this historic product line and introduce a new generation of sports stars to fans and collectors everywhere,” said Jack Boyle, Fanatics Commerce Global Co-President of Direct-to-Consumer.

[Lord_Scareglow]

Interesting I wonder if they will be like Marvel Legends or whatever and be fully articulated and have photo real faces and such, kinda cool to see whatever happens with this.

[MagnaPrime]

Well thats one way to get me to buy more toys.  Gimme KC Chiefs figs

[LordVenger]

Fully articulated marvel legends like sculpts. That would be awesome. 

[ghostbogey]

Yeah......Cool Line.

I was in love with the SL "12" Big Figs...

[Roadpigmaster]

I have no idea what to expect from this... Baseball figures?

[EvilHayato]

I used to collect the crap out of the originals but I think it was mostly because my mom kind of pushed them on me but I enjoyed them. Was never a big sports person but to reintroduce them makes sense. And if they are super poseable, that would bring a new concept to sports figurines. McF did sports figures but they were basically statues and the original SL figures were barebones articulated like old toys were back then so a fully Marvel Legends type articulation to a sports figure would be rad as hell for sports fans and kids of today. Very clever license to obtain if thats their intent. 

[ucsf]

Sounds great. Mostly looking forward to basketball figs, but overall it looks to be a profitable concept at this point.

[memocromatico]

Well, yeah, I’m in at least for the Grizzlies and if someone iconic enough is made. And depending on the accessories. But yeah, I’m in. 

[Goldbug]

those were interesting but I was never really into those

what's the point if you can't have your team's entire 'starting lineup' ?

[LordVenger]

10 hours ago, memocromatico said:

Well, yeah, I’m in at least for the Grizzlies and if someone iconic enough is made. And depending on the accessories. But yeah, I’m in. 

Which grizzlies? Memphis?

[memocromatico]

9 hours ago, LordVenger said:

Which grizzlies? Memphis?

Yeah, I started following them as a joke 5 years ago since I hadn’t been rooting for any team since the 2000’s Kings. And now they ranked second going in the playoffs. 

That and there’s aqua man on the team

[LordVenger]

1 hour ago, memocromatico said:

Yeah, I started following them as a joke 5 years ago since I hadn’t been rooting for any team since the 2000’s Kings. And now they ranked second going in the playoffs. 

That and there’s aqua man on the team

Ha. Ok. 

[214NoGhost]

Would definitely get some of my favorite NFL and MLB players when they come!

[UsagiYojimbo]

Really hoping they get to NHL soon!

[TheCellarDoor]

SOOOOO happy theyre doin figs and not statue type...had enough of SLU and MSP... that MAFEX Jordan got me wanting fig figs for sports and booooom under the SLU name?!?!? NEEEEAT

[JayC]

Hasbro today dropped this new preview image for their newly announced 6" Starting Lineup line that will kick things off on September 22 with a NBA based figure. The teaser highlights the number 45 as in 45 days until the drop. It's unclear if the number 45 has any other significance to who the first figure might be based on. Michael Jordan briefly wore a #45 jersey when he returned to the Bulls after trying his hand at MLB, but in this image the figure appears to be wearing a blue uniform as opposed to a red one. I guess we will just have to keep guessing on who the first figure will be based on for Hasbro's new line, at least for another 45 days.

[Lord_Scareglow]

I'm really excited to see what these look like, seems like they are going to be 6'' highly articulated figures likely with pretty photo real face scans, I gotta say seems very cool, there are plenty of classic sports stars I might be pretty down to get, not likely very interested in anybody new in sports, but some players from when I was a kid that I was a fan would be excellent, can't say a Jordan, Gretsky, Rice, Ruth figures would'nt be cool and I'd be super into most of the Blue Jays World Series champ team, and some 90's Maple Leafs, some BBall players like Shaq, Barkley, Iverson.

[Monstrous]

1 hour ago, JayC said:

Hasbro today dropped this new preview image for their newly announced 6" Starting Lineup line that will kick things off on September 22 with a NBA based figure. The teaser highlights the number 45 as in 45 days until the drop. It's unclear if the number 45 has any other significance to who the first figure might be based on. Michael Jordan briefly wore a #45 jersey when he returned to the Bulls after trying his hand at MLB, but in this image the figure appears to be wearing a blue uniform as opposed to a red one. I guess we will just have to keep guessing on who the first figure will be based on for Hasbro's new line, at least for another 45 days.

i really doubt its jordan wearing # 45. if they were gonna make a jordan figure he'd definitely be wearing 23 way before they put out the return fig. unless its like a symbolic slu return, jordan return type deal but its highly doubtful since its the current ball, u can see adam silver sig on it. different ball in 1995.

only player thats a possibility with that number is donovan mitchell. 

[MagnaPrime]

Starting in Sept and you're not starting with football?

[JEH25]

17 hours ago, Lord_Scareglow said:

I'm really excited to see what these look like, seems like they are going to be 6'' highly articulated figures likely with pretty photo real face scans, I gotta say seems very cool, there are plenty of classic sports stars I might be pretty down to get, not likely very interested in anybody new in sports, but some players from when I was a kid that I was a fan would be excellent, can't say a Jordan, Gretsky, Rice, Ruth figures would'nt be cool and I'd be super into most of the Blue Jays World Series champ team, and some 90's Maple Leafs, some BBall players like Shaq, Barkley, Iverson.

If they make an Iverson, I need to get a custom Ty Lue to pose AI walking over him.

[Sosocaltech]

So the Mavericks signed She-Hulk? Cool.

[JayC]

Hasbro today dropped more preview images for their newly announced 6" Starting Lineup line that will kick things off on September 22 with a NBA based figure. For today they released a couple of images for what appears to be a display base featuring a basketball goal for your figure to dunk on.