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Preview: 2011-12 Panini Certified Hockey

  By Sports Card Blog | August 11, 2011 - 12:41 am |
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I was just waking up when I got an email from my subscription to the Panini America blog. The newest post from Panini was something that I did not expect to see one bit, it’s time to get ready for some 2011-12 Panini Certified hockey with previews and images already coming out. Is it hockey season already? It seems like yesterday the Boston Bruins took down the Vancouver Canucks for the Stanley Cup title. The 2010-11 Panini hockey season hasn’t ended yet with 2010-11 Panini Dominion now set to release September 14, 2011, thanks to the NHLPA forcing the release to be later.

Now I enjoyed last year’s product. I didn’t have an official review because I opened the product about 1-2 months before I started this blog and didn’t write a review about it anywhere since I opened up in the middle of Canada while supporting my favorite sports card shop up in Edmonton. Actually, I was even shorted a hit and I still enjoyed the break. For the record, Panini did a great job replacing my missing hit.

This year’s product is an improvement off an already solid product last year. Returning are some of the great hits from last season like the Fabric of the Game inserts, more rookies, new inserts to the product, and the always popular Freshmen Signatures with new die-cut designs similar to 2010-11 Totally Certified basketball.

One very cool addition this year is the Soft Hands insert which feature pieces of game worn gloves from the players. Having played a little hockey myself, I really hope those gloves are washed a little bit. There is not a more disgusting smell then hockey gloves. But hey, some may like these possibly scented pieces of memorabilia.

(SCB Note: Per Clint at Panini, the game used glove set has been canned because of what appears to be acquisition problems. They will be using stick cards as replacements.)

You can find this product hitting shelves in November 2011 with probably a similar price range as last year.

You need to check out this Panini Peek of 2011 Certified hockey for more information and pictures!

Want to see some recent autographed arrivals?

How about some finished product from the QC department?

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Contest Results #5

  By Sports Card Blog | August 8, 2011 - 2:22 pm |
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I think this is my fifth installment of contests here on Sports Card Blog. So I’m excited about that. I’ve given out a ton of awesome prizes and they will continue through time. Although I haven’t spun the Wheel O’ Awesome in awhile. I might need to break that out again soon, or build a better version as it runs a little rough, lol.

Anyway, you’re here for the awesome news, previews, reviews, and contests. So let’s get the results of that contest part done so the anxious can settle down.

My back is bothering me the past couple of days and today so I didn’t make a video this time around. I don’t play favorites or any of that so you’ll have to trust me on the randomizers. And no, BA Benny did not win again (still a lucky guy!)

The winner after 3 randomizations of the 2011 Panini Rookies & Stars prize pack is…

RJ! Congrats on your first win! And thanks for commenting your opinion on manufactured patch autographs!

We only got up to 53 Likes on our Facebook page. I did require that 75 be the magic number needed for a sweet dual autograph bonus for the next contest. But we did make it above 50, so I will add in a different random bonus basketball autograph for the winner.

And the winner after 3 randomizations of the 2011 Panini Gold Standard + 2011 Panini Season Update basketball double prize pack is…

Trevor Picone! Congrats on your first win as well! And thanks for the “Like” on Facebook!

I will be contacting the both of you for shipping information. You may now post your acceptance speeches in the comments area.

Thanks to everyone who entered by giving their opinions and pressed “Like” on Facebook. Make sure you use all those links at the top right to stay informed on what is going on here at Sports Card Blog. This has been a daily blog since day 1 and will strive to continue that service bringing you daily updates around the sports card world. Who knows when the next contest may pop up as well? You’ll want to stay tuned.

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Panini Doing It Right at the 2011 National

  By Sports Card Blog | August 7, 2011 - 5:46 pm |
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When you watch sporting events you always hear about that one dedicated player who does everything they can and works extra hard for their team. Announcers love to use the example how the player is always the first one on the court or field and the last one off.

Well from reports I’ve heard at the National, Panini has been just that this past week. From the time the doors opened on the first day, until after everyone else was packing up Sunday night, Panini was there for it’s customers and future customers delivering the goods they had prepared for the National. Wrapper redemptions, autographed memorabilia, and great displays available from beginning to the very end.

Panini even earned some kudos from of it’s toughest critics in the blogging community for the way they handled their corporate area at the 2011 National. At times, it seemed like Panini could do nothing right to them. But Panini’s work at the National even turned the biggest critics into fan boys, even if only for this one weekend.

From reports, the Panini booth was swamped all weekend long with people opening thousands of dollars worth of products to get their hands on some great wrapper redemptions and other offerings from Panini. And from what I’ve been told, Tracy Hackler and Scott Prusha, the marketing men over at Panini, handled it with zen like abilities.

For one weekend, no matter which brand of cards you preferred and no matter what your previous opinion was, everyone was a Panini fan.

Check out some live blog posts from Panini.

A Frenzied First Day at the National

Wrapper Redemptions Highlight Panini’s Thursday

Wrapper Madness on Day 2

Sights and Sounds from Day 3

A Wild Saturday at the National

If you didn’t get a chance to head out to the National, Panini saved some wrapper redemption packs just for you.

I will try and have complete coverage of the National and final thoughts about it from a guest in the coming days. But look out Baltimore in 2012, I’m saving up!

 

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Preview: 2011 Panini Threads Football

  By Sports Card Blog | August 6, 2011 - 6:07 pm |
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With Panini tearing up the 2011 National in Chicago right now, it’s only deserved that I feature an up and coming Panini product. The NFL lockout is over which means it’s time to get to the gridiron and Panini Threads is ready to come back again for another year of NFL action.

Basing it’s product off past years, you will be able to find the always popular rookie letterman manufactured patch autographs amongst other main stays in the product. Now everyone knows by now how much I don’t like manufactured patches, but this is one of the few exceptions. I like the manufactured letter patches as it gives you a nice autograph and a little mini set to collect from your favorite player. I know it’s manufactured, but I like the way they are done.

But away from that, let’s look at the rest of the product. With 24 packs per box and 8 cards per pack you are in for quite a few cards with this product. Each box will yield 4 autographs or memorabilia cards with at least one of them being an autograph. It feels like this year when Panini says this, every other box has about 2 autographs and they seem to make sure there are 2 autographs in a box if one of them is a redemption which is nice. As far as autographs you can pull the aforementioned letterman autographs, rookie signature combos which go from duals to quad autographs, Gridiron Kings signature materials, and Franchise Fabrics signature materials. None of these are serial numbered extremely high so it’s always a nice addition to value.

You will also find 1 rookie per pack as has been a common theme with Panini this season. While I’m not a fan of making rookies so easily accessible, it is nice for the player collectors out there. You will also find 4 parallels, 2 Star Factor inserts, 2 Gridiron King inserts, and 1 each of Generations, Heritage Collection, Triple Threat, 2010 All-Rookie Team, and an addition insert.

Catch Panini Threads at your local shop on August 24, 2011 for probably the same price as last year as I can’t find a price yet.

Make sure to check out the official Panini Peek of 2011 Panini Threads football on their official blog.

Who wants to see the first boxes opened by Panini?

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One Day I Will Attend the National

  By Sports Card Blog | August 5, 2011 - 6:36 pm |
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One day I will attend the National.

The meat and potatoes of the National in Chicago started today but I’ve been reading blog posts across the internet about companies and other bloggers going to the National. I first learned of the National in 2005ish when I first got back into card collecting and thought it would be amazing to go someday. Well, it’s 2011 and I still haven’t gone. But I am making it my personal goal to attend next year. I have a crappy job which pays crap and I have to start saving for my own wedding. But maybe I can pinch the pennies even more to be able to attend the National. Maybe I’ll start being one of those coupon addicts?

I mean, these blog posts and videos are just awesome. A ton of people, tons of beautiful cards, meet ups with people I’ve chatted with online for what seems like forever, and baseball games. I would probably go and not really buy much, but to me it’s more about the experience. I’d go visit the dealers and check out their beautiful cards and memorabilia, I’d stop by the social media groups and visit my friends at the various sports card forums I visit, and of course  stop by the manufacturer booths and chat it up with the likes of Tracy Hackler and Chris Carlin.

Afterwards, grab a drink with some people and start it all again the next day. I would feel like a kid in a carnival. Free swag, wrapper redemptions, historic memorabilia…what is there not to love? Even watching guys get arrested by the Postal Inspector police, those guys mean business.

It just seems like a great experience and a great time. I have a wedding fund, a blog fund, and I think it’s time to start a National fund so one day I will attend the National.

Anyone have some great National experiences to share with me?

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