By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

With Mother’s Day just passed and Father’s Day on the radar, we figured now might be the time for the latest Beckett 20 Questions.

Oh, and the upcoming Families Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly had a bit to do with that, too, where we’ll explore the family ties that go along with sports and collecting and take a look at some of the notable fathers, sons, mothers and daughters who share cardboard with us all. (Need a player checklist or OPG? Click here for our new player directory to find it fast.)

Also, we’d like to know … who got you started into collecting? Tell us in the comments below — after you offer your take on the latest 20 Questions.

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See the rest of the questions … after the jump.

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Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

Detroit Red Wings fans might want to save a little cash.

In The Game is creating a new hockey product dedicated to the team in red and white.

Motown Madness is scheduled to come out in February with autographs and memorabilia cards from iconic players such as Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman and Sergei Federov.

Collectors will find 12 cards in every box with two game-used memorabilia cards, four autographs, five base cards and one Patch of Honor insert.

Yes, four autographs.

ITG has created specialty team sets before. Last year, it came out with Broad Street Boys, highlighting the Philadelphia Flyers franchise.

Check out the gallery below for more pictures from the upcoming set.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

As NHL owners and players talk in a dark, locked room (at least that’s how I picture it), NHL fans await word on whether the lockout will end.

At least collectors have something new to collect to take their minds off an announcement that might never come. Panini released 2012-13 Classic Signatures featuring autographs of many former players – proving the lockout can’t take away from the storied history of the NHL.

Classic Signatures comes with six cards per pack with five cards, including one autograph, in every pack.

The on-card autographs look sharp with its retro feel.

Here are some of the hits that have come out of Panini Classic Signatures.

- 2012 Panini Classic Signatures Gordie Howe Auto

- 2012 Panini Classic Signatures Ron Francis Notable Nicknames Auto

- 2012 Panini Classic Signatures Johnny Bower Inaugural Inks /76

- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures Darryl Sutter The Originals Auto /100

- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures Nick Kypreos Social Signatures

Here are a few more auctions:

- 2012 Panini Classic Signatures Patrick Roy Inaugural Ink /100
- 2012 Panini Classic Signatures Luc Robitaille Auto
- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures John Vanbeisbrouck Auto
- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures Milt Schmidt Auto
- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures Keith Primeau Auto
- 2012-13 Panini Classic Signatures John LeClair Auto

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

Richard Huffman doesn’t normally show off his dance moves, but when he pulled a redemption card out of a Parkhurst Champions pack, he couldn’t help but get down.

The redemption was good for a 2011-12 Parkhurst Champions Autographs Wayne Gretzky/Gordie Howe wire image.

A thrilling card for sure – one that books for $600 – but in that moment, it wasn’t about the amazing pull for Huffman or Scott McCharles, the owner of Stadium Sports Card in Blenheim, Ontario. McCharles could only be happy for his friend.

In many ways, the hobby is what keeps Huffman going.

“The hockey cards at least keep him among friends,” McCharles said. “When he pulled that card, he got the color back in his face. He even did a little happy dance kind of thing.”

Huffman was told 12 years ago he had just months to live, diagnosed with a form of vasculitis, an inflammatory destruction of the blood vessels. This leads to other diseases such as emphysema, which Huffman suffers from.

As Huffman, 52, puts it: “It affects your body and kills everything slowly.”

He suffered for about a year before he was diagnosed with a strain of vasculitis in 2000 at a clinic in the United States. He’s gone through chemotherapy, blood transfusions and a regimen of pills.

“When I was first told I was going to die, I was a basket case,” said Huffman, who sounds as though he’s constantly out of breath.

But a 4-year-old boy changed his outlook on life.

While Huffman did chemo treatments, he sat next to a boy doing the same. Despite his situation, the little boy never seemed sad.

“He always had a smile on his face,” Huffman said. “He loved talking baseball with me. I thought ‘Why is this boy so happy?’” I realized then what I had and it made me feel good about my life.”

The Gretzky/Howe autograph card, which Huffman has in-hand, is part of the reason why he thinks the disease hasn’t fully affected him yet.

Two of his favorite things in the world are his four children and hockey cards. He sells many of his cards – although not the Gretzky and Howe just yet – to get money for his children such as a getting a car for his son and grandchild or raising money to send one of his daughters to the university.

“I’m going to share what I have. It makes me feel good,” Huffman said. “The longest person that ever lived with vasculitis is 27 years. I am going to beat that.”

Huffman visits Stadium Sports Cards as often as he can. It’s located about a half hour’s drive from his town of Tilbury, Ontario.

But because of his sickness, that usually means he can only get there once a week in the cool months and maybe once a month in the summer months.

However, Huffman has to visit the card shop. Huffman looks forward to talking about cards and the camaraderie with McCharles and his friends.

“Hockey cards make a big difference in my life,” Huffman said. “It may sound boring to some people, but if you’re a natural hobbyist, it’s an incredible feeling to pull that one card. Not too many people get that chance. That’s what I look forward to.”

McCharles describes his store as a simple place where friends gather to talk sports, cards and life. About eight to 10 men will hang out at the shop on the weekend, and maybe some weeknights.

This isn’t his day job – McCharles works in law enforcement – but it is a gratifying place.

“When I see a guy like that have the experience and the highlight of his day is coming to my store … that is humbling, incredibly humbling,” McCharles said. “Here’s a guy who almost lost everything in his life.”

Huffman began collecting cards many, many years ago. He shared it with his son, who didn’t seem to catch the bug. Huffman took time away from collecting, but decided to get back into in 2007 when it was recommended he get a hobby to fight off depression.

The advice worked even though his first dip back into the collecting pool didn’t go well.

He went to a local shop and busted plenty of boxes there. However, Huffman says the shop owner took his redemption cards and sold them for himself.

“You don’t do that to people,” Huffman said. “I was probably one of his best customers. But I’m glad he ripped me off. That’s when I started going to Scott’s store. For the amount of money I lost, I gained a great friend. A good person.”

McCharles feels the same way. He likes cards, but he doesn’t have the shop just so he could be around cardboard.

It’s for people like Huffman who get small joys in life from a simple card pull. For people like Huffman who have become great friends.

“The only thing I want to collect is friends. That’s what the hobby is,” McCharles said. “And if you get a cool card, that’s good. I like showing them off every now and again.”

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

Panini America is celebrating hockey’s history this fall.

With 2012-13 Classics Signatures, collectors can expect to find autographs of retired players who made the game what is today.

At least one autograph of a retired players is expected in every five-card pack.

“Classics Signatures Hockey builds on a proud name from Panini America’s past (Classics) while adding one of collecting’s favorite aspects (Autographs) as a means of honoring the greatest players from hockey’s storied history,” Panini spokesperson Tracy Hackler wrote on the company’s blog.

There are six packs in every box, which means collectors can expect a good amount of autographs from players such as Mark Messier, Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Johnny Bower, Jeremy Roenick and others.

Other autograph cards include Classic Lines Triple Autographs, which highlight some of the best NHL lines of the past and Social Signatures that feature Twitter handles.

Some more difficult autographs to obtain are Notable Nicknames, Inaugural Inks and Classic Combo dual autographs. These cards fall just one or two per case. The Social Signatures autos fall at an average of three per case.

Classic Signatures is expected to be released in late October or early November, but release dates and checklists are subject to change.

Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Hockey magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor | Commentary

We’re about a week removed from the National Sports Collectors Convention in Baltimore and since then a couple of things have resonated with me about the hobby and its premiere event.

It’s still pretty strong — but it could still be stronger.

Not stronger in practical ways like more dealers, more space, more education and more discussions. That’s easy, and it’s stuff that could be done — by NSCC organizers or others attending the event (some companies did). But it could also be stronger as in potentially bringing in more of corporate America, more star power in different ways and making it feel more like The Event of All Events — something that can raise the profile of the hobby beyond just those in it, a way to ensure that those who used to collect can realize that it’s all still around and that the cardboard is better than it was in the past, too.

Panini America‘s VIP party on Aug. 4 showed how a bit of that might be possible as the company put on a show beyond the card show.

Sure, a reception like the one Panini held is an image thing — but it didn’t have to be done. It was also something that helped bolster sales of its products on the show floor ($6,500 Panini Bucks had to be collected on the show floor via purchases to attend with a cap of approximately 50 attendees). That, in and of itself, is not unique — other companies did the same thing with promo cards or prizes in return — but what Panini offered was an experience for a few collectors and selected VIPs, a smaller and different environment that could have been rewarding enough to make a lasting impression with some of those who attended.

How? It was the little things like NHL legend Gordie Howe greeting each and every attendee as they walked into the door with each of them having the option of getting their photo taken with the 84-year-old icon by party photographer Brandon P. Cohen, whose work you can see here. (Even my new iPhone couldn’t compete with his professional lens.) It was a leather Panini gift bag for all of the VIP attendees with an exclusive Black Box and a quantity of silver NSCC packs that would make any show-goer blush.

And that was just as you got in the door.

Gordie was joined by his son and fellow Hall of Famer, Mark Howe, while additional autograph guests included future baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, Pro Football Hall of Famer John Riggins, NBA Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld along with current Detroit Piston Brandon Knight. All signed for those who asked on event-specific photographs, while some (Pudge) also took the time to quietly sign some sticker sheets for future products once the attention on them focused elsewhere. As collectors worked the floor for signatures in a low-key fashion — without the massive lines of the autograph sessions back at the Baltimore Convention Center — music was under control by guest DJ Biz Markie (yep, that Biz Markie), who signed a few autographs, too, before helping with prize announcements and even offering to sell the Panini ice sculpture in the room to the highest bidder.

But it wasn’t just the hired star power that made this event — one where Rated Rookie T-shirts and blazers were as formal as it got — but the VIPs from the hobby that were in attendance, too. Key players in the industry were there alongside shop owners and dealers talking cards, talking business, talking the hobby while producers and personalities from ESPN and myself took it all in from a slightly different perspective. Also working the room was Notorious B.O.B., Bob Shoudt, a record-holding competitive eater and collector, who presented people with his own Panini event-used memorabilia card, while the cast of ABC’s Ball Boys — a reality TV show about one aspect of the hobby — soaked in the scene with Robbie Sr. acting like he won several of the prizes as winning numbers were announced. (How long until they have some cardboard?)

The surreal moments (here’s where I mention Markie helped sing “Happy Birthday” to Riggins) that this meshing of worlds created showed that the hobby just might benefit from more show in the show moments — though showmanship is costly. How does something like this benefit the hobby besides making a good impression with a few insiders? An event like this one could perhaps be the start of getting the card industry, the hobby, a higher profile. The seeds of potential for the business — the possibilities — could have been planted with any one of the many there, and each of them could potentially do something in their own ways to help eschew the too-easy notion that collecting is dead (we’ve heard that story before) or something else to help energize their piece of the hobby, which might have a trickle-down effect.

This kind of an effort might show that at least some in the hobby are looking to expand it beyond an experience of sitting back and collecting collectors’ cash — though it’s never been that simple, it might seem that way to some. While it’s easy for sports leagues (those atop the financial food chain) to put on bashes such as these, it’s not for those further down. But this showed me it might not be a stretch to envision a sports card world with a little more influence from elsewhere in the business world, a little more star power, and maybe a little more besides cards inside that gift bag, though things such as EA Sports video games were among prizes at the party. (They are a different animal, but have you ever seen what’s in an ESPY’s gift bag? Corporate America right there.) But card companies have to be actively seeking those things and be in positions to make those deals. An event such as this one? To me, it shows Panini is paying attention to things like that — that it’s not just about one aspect of the business and that the experience is as important as the product.

Now, while there was plenty going on at the event, ultimately it did come down to the cardboard. More than a few tables had collectors huddling around them to see what they could find inside their stack of packs — and more than a few moments were had as autographs, Rookie Premiere towel cards and more were discovered. It was a scene not unlike that of the show floor or a neighborhood card shop at times — and yet Panini was the only company that opted to create a little extra show at the show.

For some of those VIPs, it was maybe a good way to unwind or a way to help cover their costs of the week. For others, it might have been exposure to something new or a surprise that they hadn’t yet seen before — something that may prompt exposure for the hobby in a different way. You never know.

For me, it was just an experience, and it was one that affirmed to me that there’s still untapped potential out there in the hobby.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor

Panini America is bringing back Dominion for a second year.

The company was impressed by the product’s debut with company spokesperson Tracy Hackler wrote on the Panini blog: “Given last season’s highly decorated debut of as the newest super-premium superstar on the sports collectibles landscape, it would be no stretch at all to call easily one of the most anticipated releases of the season.”

One of the reasons fans could get excited by the release is it marks the debut of Gordie Howe memorabilia in Panini products. Panini announced the signing of “Mr. Hockey” in January.

Along with Howe’s inclusion, Panini is coming back for its sophomore campaign with several changes. Fans seemed to have loved the designs last year and enjoyed the number of different cards collectors were able to get from different boxes.

Panini is including more designs and less parallels in order to have an even bigger checklist (which has not been released yet).

There are eight cards in every box with two autographs, three memorabilia cards and one autographed Rookie Patch RC (numbered to 199 or less).

Some of those autographs will include single- and dual-signed cards in Peerless Patches subset.

Dominion will also be a first for Winnipeg Jets memorabilia.

One of the more unique memorabilia cards in the set, includes the buttons from the players chin straps. In the subset, Strapping Lads the buttons are included as part of the card as shown with the preview image of Felix Potvin and Ron Hextall.

There is no release date on Dominion or price point on the high-end box, but check back for more information as it becomes available.

Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.

By Andrew Tolentino | Hockey Editor

When the folks at Panini America launch a brand with the word “prime” in the title, they mean it.

On Tuesday, the company gave collectors a look at 2011-12 Prime Hockey. Delivering the industry’s first game-worn helmet decal pieces (Collision Course inserts), sweater lace cards (Prime Ties) and other choice materials, this  product is chock-full of, you guessed it, prime memorabilia.

There isn’t any information on the release date as of yet, but puck lovers can count a  formidable (in a good way) hit formula. Delivering one Rookie Auto Quad card numbered to 199 or less, one multi-memorabila card, one autograph and one additional autograph or memorabilia pull in each five-card pack, Prime has that high-end scent that may or may not result in the sweet smell of a superstar’s game-used equipment.

In addition to helmet decals and sweater laces, Prime has a number of other inserts meant for  the memorabilia lover. For instance …

• Captains Cloth: Captain-focused inserts that feature the “C” from each subject’s jersey
• Genuine Marks: Panini notes these as “the first autographed, game-used nameplate letter cards”
• All-Star Signatures: Featuring hard-signed NHL All-Star Game locker nameplates

The product also boasts other opportunities to land prime memorabilia in other subsets, including: Rookies NHL Shields, Rookies Auto Quad Memorabilia cards, Combos (Duals and Quads) and Prime Signatures. Beyond the basics, these images should do the talking. Stay tuned to Beckett.com for more information on Panini’s brand new brand.

By Andrew Tolentino | Hockey Editor | Commentary

Panini America’s hockey cards just got an instant makeover. Courtesy of Gordie Howe.

For the Texas-based card maker, now in its second year  with an NHL license, this is a real game changer — maybe even game-changier  than video cards.  Since the company started producing hockey cards, one of the biggest  questions among collectors has been something along the lines of, “Okay, the young stars are great, but where are all the autographs and memorabilia from legendary, like Gordie Howe legendary players?”

As of today, that question has been answered.

Panini had previously announced that Mr. Hockey himself is slated to appear at the company’s booth in Ottawa for the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend festivities. Pretty cool, if you happen to be in Ottawa with tickets to the event, but the follow-up is important to the whole hobby world.

Panini America CEO Mark Warsop summed it up. “All of our hockey products will benefit greatly from his presence and we can’t wait to share Howe’s legacy and his greatness with fans and collectors across North America.”

To say that the company will benefit from its new, multi-year trading card contract with Howe is almost an understatement. One consistent criticism of its otherwise outstanding Dominion product involved the lack of legends. In comparison to Upper Deck’s The Cup, Dominion was aesthetically there,  but lacking something (or somebody) on the checklist. Now with Howe, the 2011-12 Dominion line — among other Panini brands — is bound  to see a spike in popularity.

This year, the legend is also set to appear in In The Game‘s product lineup, but how does Howe feel about joining the Panini America family?

“I am truly honored to be a part of the Panini America family and I can’t wait to see all of the exciting things they have planned for my trading cards,” Howe said in a company press release. ” Panini America is a pioneering company when it comes to innovation — from their HRX Video Trading Cards to their real 14-karat gold cards. They will no doubt show me a new light and I can’t wait to see it.”

Considering, oh, I don’t know, his four Stanley Cup championships, his six Art Ross Trophies, his six Hart Trophies  AND THE FACT THAT HE IS MR. FREAKING HOCKEY,  collectors will be looking forward to seeing what Panini does with his trading cards as well.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor

Legendary hockey star Gordie Howe is making his rounds as of late.

Next up, he will be found at Panini America‘s booth at the NHL All-Star Fan Fair at the Ottawa Convention Center on Friday.

Howe will be interacting with fans at the booth from 3-4:30 p.m., and signing special over-sized Panini cards.

This coincides with a wrapper redemption program the company will be hosting the whole weekend. Read more about that here.

Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.