[petillo64]

WTF... As a collector, I've tried to accomplish EVERY 2012 Bowman, topps, etc... base release... parallel's greater than 10... And purchasing 2009's and auto's when I can... I've done a good job as far as I'm concerned...

But, WTF is up with these panini releases? They look awful... I thought the only thing I had to worry about for the remainder of the collective years was the finest release... the obsessive side of me keeps wanting to place bids on these ugly, ugly cards.

They are ugly cards... But serial #'d ugly cards...

I guess I want some advice... collect these scrub releases? or no?

[RobbinsDynasty]

some of these sets are ugly but since they NOT licensed gotta cut cost some where and they already have to pay someone to airbrush all team logos off uniforms. Not big on set collecting but I like that Panini carries some prospects that aren't in the Bowman stuff.

[DrMitchJ]

I haven't seen any of the Panini stuff from this year, but their past products were pretty ok, right?
Maybe they're just having an off year, or made bad design decisions. It costs the same money to produce a bad design as a good design.

[bearcatlawjd]

I think Triple Play looks nice as does Panini's National wrapper redeption cards. Donruss Elite Extra Edition was just so-so on looks but it was the first mlbpa product from Panini. Prime Cuts and Limited didn't look awful.

I get bored with Topps using the same card design over and over but I also get tired of Panini using the same photo as well. I really liked Topps 2011 and Topps Chrome 2011 but most of the lower end Topps products this year look like last years products but worse.

Even without a license Panini should be making products that don't require on field photos, Triple Play, Diamond Kings, and Studio are just some of the brands they could live off of without collectors going crazy about no logos.

Leaf Valiant Draft 2011 which was based on the Crusade cards of 1998 were pretty cool last year

[dlcarst]

Panini is just awful. Their hockey and football products are so cheap looking, cookie-cutter stuff, and ebay prices reflect that. \heir high-end stuff is nice, and Score is great for the price, but everything in between is pretty terrible. I wish Upper Deck could get back in the game, Panini can go away.

[northflacards]

(08-03-2012 04:12 AM)dlcarst Wrote:  Panini is just awful. Their hockey and football products are so cheap looking, cookie-cutter stuff, and ebay prices reflect that. \heir high-end stuff is nice, and Score is great for the price, but everything in between is pretty terrible. I wish Upper Deck could get back in the game, Panini can go away.

Agreed.

[bearcatlawjd]

I would love to see Upper Deck back in the game full force too but I also like Panini's products. Yes, I believe Prime Cuts and Limited could have been better but I feel like Cooperstown and Signature Series will be a step in the right direction.

I think most people get upset with the lack logos but I feel they are learning to produce products that work wihtin the limits they have.

Upper Deck Sp Signature was better than I thought it would better and I actually bought a few singles.

What bugs me is that Topps makes so many sets but only a handful of them are worth the money. Topps Opening Day is a joke of product on the low-end side. Just spring for Topps Series I. Do we really need Tribute, Teir, Museum Collection, Triple Threads, and 5-Star. I would love to see them cut a high end product or two. Archives and Heritage are both retro style releases, while Ginter and GQ both cover the tobacco-odd ball card market. I don't want to get started on how the Bowman brand has expanded over the years. End of story I would see Topps produce less products that are more unique and fill a nitch in the market than what they do now.

Panini will have somewhere between five to seven releases this year if they actually can get their products out by the stated release dates. I wish they would pick a flagship brand. Playoff Contenders wouldn't be a bad choice but there wasn't a retail release for this baseball product. I really hope they do not over expand in the baseball market but continue to give us something that is different from Topps.