Review Part 2 HOT BOX: Panini Classics Hockey 2012-2013

I really enjoyed this product the first time around..why not the second? I did and even more so with a HOT BOX with 8 autos instead of 6. Without rookies in 12-13 hockey products, Panini did a great job bringing back some not every day names autos and included them into a classic feel product. Here is how we did:

Box Break Down:

• 6 Packs Per Box, 5 Cards Per Pack
• Find (6) Autograph Cards per Box!
• ONE AUTO PER PACK!
• Boxes will run ya $180

Back of Base card

More base

BASE CARDS: This is a product for the old-school-hockey collectors,  as the name suggests its a Classic with Classic players and players autos. As for the base card, its a simple throwback design. Making it have a very Classic appeal. A base set would take you awhile with only 30 cards in a box with 6 of those being autos and 6 of those being the insert cards. But that would be a fun one to chase and you have the chance to bust it a few times.

INSERTS: You get one of these die cuts per pack. I have always been a fan of die cuts. I do wished a player picture was involved instead. But still not bad in terms of design. And some of them are Sp. Our first box we got one and this box Howe is one.

AUTOGRAPHS: Some of the autos are Sp'd in this product and very rare finds. We also ended up getting a HOT BOX this time around. Really like the fact that ALL of the cards are signed on card and you find autos of players you may not find all of the time. We actually got one of the Sp cards of Darryl Sittler.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: N/A

OVERALL THOUGHTS:This product has appeal. Classic autographs you may not see everyday and a classic overall feel. I love the old photography on the base cards reminding us of great moments on the ice and taking the boredom that some of us might have waiting for the NHL to get over its lockout and move onto the season. I also hope Panini turns this to a football product as well. On card autos, a deep checklist, nice look and a chance at a hot box of 8 autos though the price may be steep for some and the average collector, but for those who can afford it, this is a good hockey product.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 5
                Base Design: 4
                Insert Design: 3
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

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Review Panini Contenders Basketball 12-13

Love the football version of this product and wanted to give the basketball a go. Here are the results!

Box Break Down:

• 20 Packs Per Box,
• Find 4 Autograph Cards per Box!
• Boxes will run ya $100

 BASE CARDS: I like the simplicity to the Contenders base cards. Though most of the base card is white, the splash of color is great on the eyes. The white background is kinda scratchy while the player and the color parts are in full gloss. Really helps the card standout. Something you can't see from a picture and only in person.

  

INSERTS: As you can tell from the pictures, most of the inserts are opposite of the base cards, most are very dark. I think a little bit of color may have helped these and separate them from each other since most of them look the same. I also wouldn't mind seeing some numbering to these either. I am a fan though of the Rookie of The Year Contenders die cuts. They look nice, they are die cut and who doesn't like those and they just have a different feel.

AUTOGRAPHS: With four autographs per box, the possibilities are endless when you could possibly hit that top rookie. We didn't, but the one reason this product is always so popular is for these rookie autos some of which are rarer than others and some you may not see everyday. But someday, those are the players to watch out for. Example..Jeremy Lin.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: I really like the addition of memorabilia cards to this product and wished they did the same for football. Some are extremely sick pieces and some are even autographed. I don't believe you get one of these in every box but they look nice and are numbered to 49 when you do stumble upon one like we did. In this case, this one is numbered to 49.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Once again, if you are a fan of rookie autographs, this is the product for you. This product is not for everyone though. You can have those great boxes with some top rookie autos or you could have those ones that you never heard of. But for the price it might be worth the risk since the top rookies would go for the big bucks.And now with the inclusion of memorabilia this product might be more appealing to all. Other than some needed work on the inserts, I would recommend this product.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 3
                Base Design: 3
                Insert Design: 2
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

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New Card Smiths break announcement!

Card Smiths will be breaking basketball for the first time and would love for all of you basketball fans to join in on the break. They will be breaking Panini's 2012-2013 release of Timeless Treasures Basketball. Here is the information!

2012-13 Panini Timeless Treasures 10 Box Case Group Break Random Team

$34

This group break is scheduled for release day! Wednesday, January 9th at 6:30pm PST.

One Slot gets you one random team.  We will random all 30 slots right before the break Live on Random.org

Just click on the box of Timeless Treasures if you are interested it will link you to the break info!

Here are some images of cards you could pull!!

    

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REVIEW: PANINI TOTALLY CERTIFIED 2012-2013

One of my favorite football products I got to try this time in basketball form. And it did not disappoint and even came with an extra hit.

 First off, I would like to say thanks to the WONDERFUL people at Panini America for providing us with this box to review. Here are many places you can find Panini America: official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook.Make sure you do too! Best in the Biz!

Box Break Down:

• 6 Packs Per Box, 5 Cards Per Pack
• (3) Autographs and (3) Memorabilia Cards Per Box!
• Boxes run $120.

 

 

BASE CARDS:A micro-etched pattern that is stunning and almost makes the players jump off from the cardboard. One of my Top 3 base card designs. One that you want to put a set together of. But that might take you awhile since you don't get many cards per box.

The base breaks down as so 300-card base set with at least 75 Rookie Cards

 

 

 

INSERTS:Totally digging these. Yep..pun intended. Micro etched parallels galore!! Almost got one or two per pack. And I still like the Kobe Anthology pack thats included as well. Nice design showcasing his history in the league and a chance at Kobe memorabilia and autographs.

AUTOGRAPHS: Once again we find the micro etched technology again. This time with an autograph on it. I like the design of the micro etched rookie auto cards with the Star in the background as we know any of these can become stars someday. Harrison Barnes was a nice hit and a Totally Red parallel hit. The Glen Rice is our bonus hit of the box as each box guarantees 3 autos but we had already gotten all 6 hits when Rice was found stuck to the back of another card. No complaints here it was Totally awesome to find a bonus.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: This box didn't provide much for terms of explosive patch or more than one color jersey cards but believe me..they are out there and they are a thing of beauty. The memorabilia cards have parallels like rest of the product which makes for a Totally good time.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: This product is beautiful. I like the micro etched technology. My only complaint would be how easy they could chip. Other than that..wow. I like chasing the parallels and they sell well on the market too. A jersey card that would normally look plain with a one color swatch still stands out because of this technology. 6 hits in a box with half being autos. A decent price of $120 for the amount of hits. I would give it another shot for sure and recommend it to you as well. There is a lot of value to be found and you too will Totally dig this product.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 4
                Base Design: 5
                Insert Design: 5
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

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REVIEW: CLASSICS HOCKEY 2012-2013

At Panini America, no seasons end. With hockey in a lockout...to take away the boredom for the puck fans you have to open up some hockey cards to feel like the puck is on the ice again. This is the highest end product I have ever opened and it was a fun bust. One auto per pack. And being a partial growing hockey fan, this was a great product to turn to.

First off, I would like to say thanks to the WONDERFUL people at Panini America for providing us with this box to review. Here are many places you can find Panini America: official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. If you don't follow them at all..you should! They talk to you on Twitter, have contests on their blog and Facebook and the site is also fun to visit!

Box Break Down:

• 6 Packs Per Box, 5 Cards Per Pack
• Find (6) Autograph Cards per Box!
• ONE AUTO PER PACK!
• Boxes will run ya $180

Base Card

Back of Base card

More base

BASE CARDS: This is a product for the old-school-hockey collectors,  as the name suggests its a Classic with Classic players and players autos. As for the base card, its a simple throwback design. Making it have a very Classic appeal. A base set would take you awhile with only 30 cards in a box with 6 of those being autos and 6 of those being the insert cards. But that would be a fun one to chase and you have the chance to bust it a few times.

INSERTS: You get one of these die cuts per pack. I have always been a fan of die cuts. I do wished a player picture was involved instead. But still not bad in terms of design.

AUTOGRAPHS:With one per pack and possibly a hot box with 8 autos in it this product is all about its on card autographs and its nice checklist (look below for a link to one). We pulled the usual 6 autos in our box. I like the design and classic appeal to the base cards so throw in on card autos and you got a winner. The Notable Nicknames are cool with a signed Nickname of the player...I do wish they had signed their name as well to go with it but the design is very well done.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: N/A

OVERALL THOUGHTS:This product has appeal. Classic autographs you may not see everyday and a classic overall feel. I love the old photography on the base cards reminding us of great moments on the ice and taking the boredom that some of us might have waiting for the NHL to get over its lockout and move onto the season. I also hope Panini turns this to a football product as well. On card autos, a deep checklist, nice look and a chance at a hot box of 8 autos though the price may be steep for some and the average collector, but for those who can afford it, this is a good hockey product.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 5
                Base Design: 4
                Insert Design: 3
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

And because we love ya..here is a link to the Knights Lance where you can find a checklist and SP list for this product:
 http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/the-panini-america-qc-gallery-checklist-2012-13-classics-signatures-hockey/

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REVIEW: PANINI PRIZM BASKETBALL 2012-2013

First off, I would like to say thanks to the WONDERFUL people at Panini America for providing us with this box to review. Here are many places you can find Panini America: official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Please check them out!! Best in the business!

The only thing that I buy from another company comes with the word Chrome. I believe Panini may have heard that I did this because they know my dedication to their products and wanted to please me (this is just kidding by the way not unless its true) and created a tremendous product named Prizm to lure me away and may have now done so especially with a football version due out in February. The review will try to show how great this product is..but you can never judge it by its pictures til its in your hands!I know I didn't know truly what this product was like til I busted a box of it.

Box Break Down:

• 20 Packs Per Box, 6 Cards Per Pack
• (2) Autographs and (2) Prizms Per Box!
• A 300-card base set featuring 100 Rookies!
• Around $100 a box

Base Card

Base card Back

Base rookie cards

Base Legends cards

BASE CARDS: They are silver like chrome. But Prizm is no Chrome. These cards as I was informed many times by others DO NOT bend like Chrome. And I believe part of that reason is because the cards are a bit thicker than chrome and you can feel it when you lift the hobby box up in comparison. I like how Panini incorporated rookies and legends into the base card checklist. The only thing I would add is putting a rookie logo on the rookie cards and adding Legends in the background of the legendary players. Other than that. I was very impressed.

INSERTS: You already know my love for the Kobe Anthology cards and finding that pack in the box gives me some hope of someday landing something great of his. But the cards look great and showcase great moments in his career which still has many more to come.I like the Finalists and USA insert cards they stick to the Prizm techology. My only argument here is what to call the reflective parallels? Panini calls them Prizms. I don't know about that (not that I am arguing with them. they know best). I think if you were hip hop they would be prizzy to the izzy. If you were southern they might be Prazyms. There are many other terms like shiny, reflective, refractors (would be an insult to use this word so I don't just giving an example) Rainbows, Golds, I really don't have a word for them myself yet. Have been trying to find one that fits.

 

AUTOGRAPHS:With at least 2 per box I like the Prizm theme and technology throughout and autographs look great on it. And unlike another product, this box comes with 2 autos for $100.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: N/A

OVERALL THOUGHTS: This is a very attractive product from the outside (I used the box cover for the man cave and hung it up. its like a bonus card) to the inside with the technology. I would strongly suggest you give this product a try. The gold parallels though none pulled in this break are hotter than Mrs Tom Brady on the market. I think the price you pay and what you can get in here is worth the risk.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 5
                Base Design: 5
                Insert Design: 5
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

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