2014-15 Panini Eminence Basketball to push high-end to a new level
By Stephen Laroche | Beckett Basketball Editor
2014-15 Panini Eminence Basketball is the catalyst of a super high-end revolution with cards containing pieces of precious metals, hard-signed autographs, cut signatures, and what is expected to be an extremely limited print run – the shortest in company history, in fact.
No card has more than 10 numbered copies produced. Many of the cards have hunks of silver, gold, or platinum embedded into them as well. Panini America has claimed that these cards are unlike anything the hobby has ever seen.
As one would expect from a product where the average card costs $500 to $1,000 based on box prices, the checklist is heavy on top-tier players. It’s mostly current superstars and Hall of Famers. Andrew Wiggins is the only player from the 2014-15 rookie class to appear in the product.
Cut Signatures appear to be a major selling feature for 2015-16 Panini Eminence Basketball and will include not only NBA legends, but also big names of the past from other sports and the world of politics. This product will also see the debut of Autographed Championship Tag memorabilia cards.
2014-15 Panini Eminence Basketball at a glance:
Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 7 to 10
Boxes per case: 1
Release date: December 16, 2015
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs, Autographed Memorabilia and Precious Metal Cards – 7-10
Stephen Laroche is the editor of Beckett Hockey, Beckett Basketball, and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at slaroche@beckett.com or follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Laroche.
A super- super- super- high-end product, from who else? Chunks of precious metals!? Where does it end? Does any collector remember the days when you opened a 5cent, or 10cent pack of cards- got a stale piece of bubble gum and 5 or 10 beautiful cards that smelled like the gum in them. When we flipped the cards or traded them with friends. When we put them between our spokes of our bicycles to make a “cool” sound when we rode our bikes.
Does anyone remember riding bikes- instead of sitting on the couch playing video games?
Does anyone remember when collecting was fun- when buying a pack wasn’t an “investment?’
Thanks, Panini!
I won’t be breaking this product but face it, many of us will be in some way. While I tip my hat to Panini for making Complete, a low end, cheap set that appeals more to my type of budget, I know that others want this type of product. I guess we’ll see when it is released how it goes.
I can echo David D.’s sentiment with a caveat…I have never treated collector cards as just paper in bike spokes but also never expected to lock them in a vault either! The true collector wants to show them off, either in a display cabinet or in 3-ring binders. I do like the thrill of opening a pack and finding a card that has minimal circulation with value of more than $10 but I really enjoy buying a box of cards with at least 150 items for less than $100 so that I don’t need to put iron bars on my doors and windows and sleep with one eye open.
Does anyone remember the days of flipping cards and putting them in your spokes? How about does anyone remember the days when products were released during the active season they represent?
It wasn’t so long ago that a card’s popularity was about WHO was on the card, not what was in/on the card
Anyone else find it amazing that in a product that cost $6k per pack, only one card has “sold” for that high and one of the biggest hits per their marketing material sold for just $760 (i.e. roughly the amount you are paying on a per card basis)?
Nonsense! I’m with David D on this. Card collecting is just becoming more high end and unattainable. Personally, I’d rather spend this money on a vintage card from the 50’s in great condition. Is it me or are we finding more & more boxes at the 300+ price range now?