09.30
Dan Hitt and Tracy Hackler, Beckett’s less-than-sterling busters of football boxes, take a crack at 2009 Bowman Sterling Football, the season’s first high-end football product that’s loaded with bells and whistles.
Click here to watch and find out what they pull.
09.30
Long before Tuesday’s headline-making announcement that Panini America had inked Kobe Bryant to an exclusive multi-year contract, the company had conducted its first signing with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
The results of that premiere session — all on-card autographs — will first be unveiled in next week’s release of 2009 Prestige Basketball, a product that, according to company spokesman Scott Prusha, will have zero redemptions.
Until then, here’s a sneak peek at some of the Kobe autographs you’ll find (and a few images of his first Panini memorabilia cards).
– Tracy Hackler
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09.30
Panini America released this sneak preview image of a Stephen McGee jumbo patch autograph card from its forthcoming Playoff National Treasures football card set.
No word on when that highly anticipated set will arrive.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
09.30
Among the promotions that Panini America has planned for its NBA launch that coincides with 2009 Prestige Basketball are party packs that are set to go into collectors hands beginning on Oct. 7.
All hobby shops that pre-order the product will receive a selection of posters, Panini hats, t-shirts, swag bags, foam mini basketballs and promo cards.
The cards are Hardcourt Heroes promo cards featuring No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Hasheem Thabeet.
Could more promotions be in the works after Tuesday’s big news? We’ll just have to wait and see …
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
09.30
Earlier this year, Upper Deck included the above card in its 2009 Baseball set as one of nine Historic Firsts Predictors insert cards.
And if the prediction comes true and the International Olympic Committee selects Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Summer Games on Friday, Upper Deck will be coughing up some cardboard.
As in a free pack of baseball cards to fans across the country.
Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are in the running for the Games.
Details will be announced on the company’s website, UpperDeck.com, if Chicago wins.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
09.30
Upper Deck‘s 2009 SP Authentic baseball card set is primed for release next week, so we’ve decided to bring you back up to speed on what the product includes. (See previous images and info right here.)
Each 24-pack box will include 12 short-printed base set cards, six serial-numbered standard or or parallel cards, three insert cards, two By the Letter manufactured-patch autographed cards and one Future Watch Rookie autograph or SPA Signature insert.
Oh, and also among the inclusions will be a 1993 SP Derek Jeter autographed buyback Rookie Card limited to just 93 copies.
See more images from the set after the jump.
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09.30
Although its plans have not yet been officially unveiled, Upper Deck is bringing its Exquisite Collection line of high-end cards to its 2010 baseball lineup.
The super-premium product revolutionized basketball cards in recent years but never was a full standalone product for baseball under that name. Instead, Exquisite cards were inserts in 2006 and then the brand morphed into Exquisite Collection Rookie Signatures in 2007.
In 2010, Exquisite Collection will be a component in each and every baseball set from the company, which will produce cards licensed by the MLB Players Association, but not Major League Baseball.
Look for more on Upper Deck’s 2010 plans right here very soon.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
09.30
Topps unveiled its 2010 baseball design on Wednesday… soak it up.
It’s a design slightly reminiscent of the company’s 2002 Post cards, but with more photo bleed space at the bottom and what looks to be a slightly more prominent team logo and foil stamping.
Look for additional information on the first officially licensed baseball product of 2010 very, very soon.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
09.30
Looking back at the history of Topps baseball cards, it’s always interesting to see the oddities that can be found from decades of sets.
You know, the players whose cards had the same photo for a couple straight years or unusual things like the 1985 Topps card of Gary Pettis which actually features his brother.
There are countless examples of these types of cards through the years — for all companies (see Billy Ripken and his 1989 Fleer infamy) — which reaffirms that producing sports cards isn’t all mylar and bubble gum.
It’s hard work. (And the rigorous process of league approvals? We’ll leave that for another day.)
Sometimes things happen in the production process that provide collectors with some unusual cards. Sometimes, it’s a mistake. Sometimes, it’s a requested change or a last-minute adjustment.
And sometimes it’s a mystery.
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09.30
Grey Flannel Auctions and Steiner Sports announced on Wednesday that the companies have established a marketing relationship that will mean that items from Steiner’s exclusive deal with the New York Yankees will get added attention on the auction block.
The Steiner portion of Grey Flannel’s upcoming sale will include game-used jerseys of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez as well autographed items available only via Steiner.
“Grey Flannel Auctions and Steiner Sports are joining forces to cross-promote our respective sales taking place in early December,” said Richard E. Russek, Grey Flannel’s president, in a release. “In addition, Grey Flannel’s December sale, which will feature rare, game-used jerseys and memorabilia, will also include a special selection of approximately 200 tremendous lots from Steiner Sports. Wherever we go to publicize our sale, including shows, malls and other events, we’ll be bringing along choice highlights from the Steiner selection.”
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