Last chance to make use of the MEGA-HUGE, IMPORTANT news of the week

• July is customer appreciation month on Beckett.com (Hint: Only three more days left in July!)

First looks and sneak peeks of the week

• Panini gives us a gander at 2011-12 Score Hockey (now with 100 percent more Santa Claus!)
• Box Busters Preview Gallery: 2011 Rookies & Stars (with post-lockout commentary)
• Upper Deck’s All-Time Greats includes — well, all-time greats of course
• Move over, Miles Davis, Topps Trumpets 2011 Triple Threads Football
• Box Busters Preview Gallery: 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Baseball Hits (Series 2)
• First look: 2010-11 Elite Black Box Basketball

Click here to view the embedded video.

Box Busters

• 2011 Allen & Ginter Baseball
• 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Baseball Hits (Series 2)
• 2011 Rookies & Stars Football
• 2011 ‘The Avengers: Kree-Skrull Wars‘
• 2010-11 Ultimate Collection Hockey (with a contest)
• 2011 Press Pass Showcase Racing

Q&A of the week

• Upper Deck’s Bubby Johanson talks about “The Avengers: Kree-Skrull War” set

This week in National Sports Collectors Convention news

• Um, FYI, The National is next week
• Panini presents puck-lover prizes for the NSCC
• Topps plans collector Q&A at The National
• Memory Lane showcases million-dollar Mantle collection at the show

Auction action

• 2010 Topps Sterling Honus Wagner cut auto relic 1/1 (Current bid: $2,399.99)
• 2000 Lakers Master Collection Magic Johnson jersey /300(Buy it now for $149)
• 2008 UD  Black Bryant/James patch auto 1/5 (Current bid: $425)
• 2001 Donruss Bat Kings Hank Aaron autograph 1/50 (Current bid: $221.50)

Other videos

• Rippin’ Retail: Olds’ (Oldspiced?) 2011 Topps Diamond Giveaway haul
• Collector Box Busters: 2011 Bowman Platinum
• Box Busters Warmup: 2011 Bowman Platinum

This week in Nickelodeon invasions, card dealer birthdays and more

• Nicktoons invades MLB in upcoming video game
• USA Today examines the loss of a collector and his collection
• Dave and Adam’s Card World throws its own birthday party – Gordie Howe got invited
• Dem Bums take center stage during a Memory Lane auction
• Topps acquires digital currency card publisher What the heck is that?
• Bryce Harper headlines this week’s eTopps MILB cards

Just for fun

Click here to view the embedded video.

By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor | Commentary

The first post-lockout product of the season, 2011 Rookies & Stars  Football is now live and leaving a lasting impression on hobby history.

Containing the usual blend of early studio-shot Rookie Cards, this year’s release in particular is also marked by a wide array of older-than-usual newcomer photography. Without the luxury of training camp snapshots and other pro uniform pictures, Panini’s preseason brand reflects the NFL year that almost wasn’t.

Delivered by a deep checklist featuring the incoming class in combine gear, the Rookie Cards in Rookies & Stars are arguable artifacts. Probably not reason for a spike in value, they serve to document the impact of the NFL lockout in the hobby.

With that being said, praise the pigskin! Football is back!

Below are some of the no-longer-locked-out sensations  from our forthcoming Box Busters break of 2011 Rookies & Stars.