Well, the popularity of Prizm is spreading like wildfire across the sports card landscape after the wildly successful Prizm basketball has been heating up the land. I believe Prizm is the new Chrome, one that really makes an identity for Panini. Just like when you think Chrome equals Topps, Prizm equals Panini. (Plus it has some nice alliteration.) That is a tough thing to say after the first year of the product but the marketing has been fabulous and the collector response has been even better. With it now reaching football, why don’t we see what you can find with the improvements?
Design:
This is more or less going to be a copy job of the basketball version, because well, it’s practically the same design. But I’ll change a few things. “The design on this product is a design style that will last a long time for this product. The look of the etchings throughout the cards is something you normally only see in another specific product that is a bit similar. The same with the coating, although I much prefer this coating than that of the competitors. It doesn’t smell, it doesn’t warp the cards to bending (at least not yet) and it has a much smoother, almost glass like feel to them. The design is practically flawless. My only issue is that it is possibly TOO shiny or reflective. It’s really a spectacular level of reflectiveness on the product. But the “Prizms” as they call it, “Prizmatics” for myself, are beautiful all the way from the regulars to the golds. Bravo.” I also want to point out that the red “prizms” are beautifully done with their die-cut work and look great. It sort of reminds me of BoChro meeting StarQuest from the 90s. I love the parallels, but I would like to see some numbering on the reds. The regular prizms are fine un-numbered, but the reds I would like to see numbered. We know they are one per box, but numbering does add a bit of value. I would also like to see a thinner border for next year, but that’s just me.
Checklist:
Yes, the rookie class is phenomenal. That will make this product for a long time. In it’s similarities, to another product from Topps, it does everything right that product does, but more. See, I often harp about too many rookie autographs or no name rookies, and all that mumbo jumbo. Yes, I pulled a no-name rookie from my box, but Prizm also features some veteran autograph content unlike it’s competitor. To me, that makes it stand out just a little bit more. Yeah, the Owen Daniels autograph doesn’t sell for much, but this is a guy who plays weekly, a skill position, and has been to two Pro-Bowls already. Prizm has that veteran love that I like.
Value:
Naturally, you are going to compare this product with its direct competition and similar products, which is rightfully so. It is priced higher at release than it’s competitors and now sits at $130 at DA Card World. Is it worth that price? Well it is a hot product, with a hot rookie class, and the possibility for some big hits. At only two autographs though, and limited colored parallels, it is a toss up. You’ll either feast or famine with this one at that price. I would like to see it similar in price to its competition, but I’m also guessing there is a smaller supply of this product as well. I thought the product added in the fun factor, so I would go for at least one box.
Overall:
Panini has a hit on their hands, just like was stated in the Prizm basketball review. This is going to be a product that will come out for years to come and will be just as highly anticipated, if not more, than their Contenders brand (hint: that review is coming up!). The design is nicely done with their new technology and I love what they have going for it. The checklist is more than just rookies, which is something I can truly appreciate when it comes to hits. I may have hit a $5 veteran autograph, but at least I know the player! And finally, the value can be there, but I would like to see it closer to the competition if possible.
Thanks again to Panini for providing this product for review. You can find them online on their official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.
You can find the official checklist over at Cardboard Connection.
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Here are some of what we pulled from the box:
Each box contains 18 packs per box with 4 cards per pack. You will also find 1 autograph per box with every third box containing an extra autograph. You will no longer find USA baseball autographs this year, but Topps has added a couple of cool additions.
Your typical box is again lots of colorful refractors and an autograph or two. The refractors really haven’t changed all that much, so you know what you are getting into with those. Each parallel is numbered lower than the next one going from standard refractors all the way down to superfractors. That formula hasn’t, and will probably never, change.
