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Monthly Archives: June 2011
Marshall Faulk’s autograph: It’s in the game
06.14
By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor | Commentary
In an era of video games, smart phones and other full-blown digital distractions for would-be collectors, Panini America has partnered with EA SPORTS to encourage a little crossover action.
The trading card manufacturer unveiled today an attractive cardboard bonus that could fall in the hands of a naturally captive audience. While fans ultimately chose Peyton Hillis as their Madden 12 cover subject, Marshall Faulk — and his randomly inserted autograph cards — will appear in the game’s Hall of Fame Edition.
According to Panini, Faulk will be lending his on-card penmanship to four different versions (these and more after the jump) to be packaged in the late-summer release.
“The crossover appeal between our community and football collectibles is incredibly high. Madden fans and card collectors share many similar traits,” noted Anthony Stevenson, EA SPORTS Director of Marketing. They are both highly passionate about their favorite players, teams and NFL football as a whole. They are both highly competitive. Whether it be seeking out that rare card or taking down their rival in Madden – they’ll do whatever it takes.”
The cross-promotional effort doesn’t stop with Faulk’s ink inside Madden 12 Hall of Fame Edition. The digital outreach also includes an opportunity for two gamers (one Xbox 360 and one Playstation 3 player) to pull a randomly inserted Golden Ticket redemption card to exchange for an 18-karat Faulk. Read More
Topps lets you decide who makes the diamond cut
06.14
By Chris Olds | Baseball Editor
Topps has had more than a few collectors ripping into packs this year finding Diamond Giveaway code cards that unlock vintage finds and other promotion-exclusive cards.
Now, though, collectors have a chance to help determine the checklist.
The company announced on Tuesday that the subjects of three Diamond Die Cut cards that are only found via code cards will be decided by an online vote at Topps’ Facebook page. There will be one rookie, one veteran and one retired legend added to the checklist and the voting will begin with the legends. The first round of that voting ends on Sunday.
The matchups? Don Mattingly vs. Ryne Sandberg, Frank Robinson vs. Ozzie Smith, Reggie Jackson vs. Roberto Alomar and Frank Thomas vs. Johnny Bench.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Box Busters: 2011 Bowman baseball cards
06.13
Join Beckett Baseball’s Chris Olds and Brian Fleischer as they each rip into a box of 2011 Bowman baseball cards in this latest episode of Box Busters.
What will they find inside? Watch and find out …
Box Busters: 2011 Topps Pro Debut MiLB cards
06.13
Join Beckett Baseball’s Chris Olds and Brian Fleischer as they rip into a box of 2011 Topps Pro Debut minor league baseball cards in this latest episode of Box Busters.
What will they find inside? Watch and find out …
Dirk may have the trophy, but LeBron’s basketball cards command the cash
06.13
By Chris Olds | Basketball Editor | Commentary
This year’s NBA Finals have come and gone with a pair of stars getting plenty of attention — for what they did and didn’t do in the Finals.
This season saw LeBron James with his talents on South Beach — well at least for most of the season — while the Lone Star State’s main man was a guy who has played there under the radar for years in Dirk Nowitzki.
While one of these stars now has an NBA ring, comparing these two really isn’t even fair on cardboard as Dirk’s debut cards came in a time of a bit more overproduced stuff, while LeBron helped usher in a rather Exquisite era in basketball cards in his rookie season.
We all know who came out on top, but here’s a look at how they compare … in the cards and on the court.
TOTAL CARDS
LeBron: 4,643
Dirk: 3,486
It was a bit closer than we expected but it’s really not that close if you consider that Dirk has been around a lot longer. That should show you one part of the hobby divide here. Advantage: LeBron
Panini Sums up SPs in 2010-11 Contenders Hockey
06.13
By Andrew Tolentino | Hockey Editor
Slowly but surely, Panini America leaked the short prints to snag in recently released — on May 18 — 2010-11 Contenders Hockey. Today, all 10 are in.
Yesterday, the manufacturer clarified with the three remaining short-printed Rookie Ticket Autographs. Each one of these cards is numbered to 399 or less. Below are the names from the gradual reveal, and beyond the jump are the obligatory visual verifications.
Taylor Hall
Jeff Penner
Tyler Seguin
Magnus Paajarvi
P.K. Subban
Nazem Kadri
Cam Fowler
Brayden Schenn
Jeff Skinner
Jordan Eberle
First look: 2011 Bowman Chrome baseball cards
06.10
By Chris Olds | Baseball Editor
Let the countdown begin …
Topps unveiled its plans for 2011 Bowman Chrome on Friday afternoon, thus starting the clock for the arrival of Bryce Harper‘s first Bowman Chrome autographed prospect cards.
BC-Day is Oct. 19.
There will be one Chrome autograph per 18-pack hobby box with Harper among nearly 40 players on the preliminary autograph checklist.
The base prospect set will consist of 110 players, while the veterans checklist will include 220 cards — 170 veterans and 50 rookies.
Learn more and see additional images after the jump.
Prime 9 cards might lead you to the World Series
06.10
By Chris Olds | Baseball Editor
For those of you who found Prime 9 cards in packs of 2011 Topps Series 2, which arrived on Wednesday, you might have been left scratching your heads.
Scratch no longer.
Topps announced the particulars of its latest baseball card promotion on Friday afternoon and unveiled that the Prime 9 cards are good for special Player of the Week Chrome Refractor cards that will only found at participating HTA hobby shops.
Oh, and each card also is good as an entry for a contest where you can win a trip to the World Series.
The redemptions are found two per hobby box — 1:18 packs in standard boxes, 1:5 in jumbos – and are good for the player of the week as selected by the company for the week that is marked on the card. The selections begin on July 18.
Those who redeem the cards should fill out the forms on the back to have a chance to go to the Series. Store owners will submit all redeemed cards to Topps.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Weekly Highlights (June 6 – June 10)
06.10
First looks and sneak peeks of the week
- 2011 Topps Chrome Football
- 2010-11 Dominion Hockey
- 2011 Press Pass FanFare Nascar
- 2011 Panini Threads Football
- 2011 Donruss Elite Rookie Cards
- 2011 Topps WWE Wrestling cards
We want to hear you of the week
- So you think you’re a Super Collector?
- Your Turn: Are Topps’ new double sparkle variations a bit too much?
Box Busters
Other videos
- Collector Box Busters: 2008 Topps Sterling Baseball Babe Ruth Box
Things we noticed of the week
- Something fun on Bryce Harper’s 2011 Bowman card
- Hall-of-famers get noticed in National Treasures Basketball
- Upper Deck offers promo pack at Stanley Cup Finals game 4
Auction action
- Own a Dick Perez original
- Perfect MJ fetches $100K
Just for fun
First Look: 2011 Topps Chrome Football
06.10
By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor
Topps has a tendency to make big football card news on Fridays.
Today, the company headlines the hobby with the announcement of 2011 Topps Chrome Football — reincarnated with design staples and a handful of new exclusives.
Hitting shelves in late October, the hobby mainstay will come in four-card packs and 24 packs per box. Case chasers can expect to break 12 boxes per case. Each hobby box should yield one autograph Rookie Card, nine inserts and nine parallels.
The one-per-box hits — rookie autographs — feature the penmanship of 45 rookies from the base set in both on-card and on-sticker form. These cards also come in Refractor parallel versions including:
- Superfractors (1/1)
- Red (new, numbered to five)
- Gold (numbered to 10)
- Black (numbered to 25)
- Crystal Atomic (new, numbered to 50)
- Refractor (numbered to 99)
Collectors should also keep an eye out for Rookie Autograph Patches, Dual Rookie Autographs (numbered to 25), Triple Rookie Autographs (numbered to 10) and new Autograph Rookie Variations featuring 25 rookie signatures on Rainbow Refractors. Read More