REVIEW: PANINI PRIME CUTS BASEBALL 2012

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. 

This is my first break of any Panini baseball product. I think the last time I broke a box of baseball for Donruss (now Panini) was back in 04 or 05. So its been awhile. I have been very tempted though by the images of Panini's 2012 baseball card lineup on their Knights Lance Blog. So this was exciting for me to be able to review this product.

Outside box

Inner box containing the goods

Box Break Down:

• 1 Pack Per Box, 2 Cards Per Pack
• (2) Autographs or Memorabilia Cards per box!
• (1) Autograph in every box!
• $150 PER BOX

BASE CARDS: NONE

INSERTS: NONE

 

AUTOGRAPHS: With one guaranteed auto per box...we landed a redemption card. I know most people would complain...but I don't. Its expected sometimes. The only issue is, is not knowing the design of the card so I can review it. So I did some research and found these on the Knights Lance:

  

 

The assumption would be its the Eddie Murray version which is very nice clean design. Not to mention its of Whitey Ford. A career Yankee and Hall of Famer. Not a bad pull.And its numbered to 49.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: This box landed a one color swatch of top Twins player Joe Mauer. The design isn't bad. I like the way the name is placed and decorated. Without a MLB license Panini is still doing a great job with baseball cards.

We may not have much to show...but here is the official Knights Lance gallery of this product and its stunning to say the least of what you could pull:

http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/the-panini-america-quality-control-gallery-2012-prime-cuts-baseball-85-images/

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Price is a concern for two cards though both are hits but price and value may not always equal. I am a collector who likes to look for the balance in price of product vs box value. As for rest of my thoughts, I think a nice base card design with some inserts and parallels would really help this product. Last years product, 2011 Prime Cuts came with 5 cards and 5 hits. Not to mention a shot at a Mike Trout rookie card. I like that this product packs a punch and like most high end products its all about high risk that could reward you a high return. Hit or miss is another way to look at it.

But for my first break of a Panini baseball card product they are definitely heading in a great direction and I think they should continue to be aggressive for that MLB license as well. I would love to see MLB Panini products out on the market.

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: NA
                Insert Design: NA
                Memorablila/Autographs: 4
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4