Binders Reorganization Update #3

Last year it was the Super Box Attack that took me a year to do. A few weekends ago I started digging into my biggest hobby project in since then and one that may take even longer....The Great Binder Reorganization!

I showed you part 1 of my reorganization of football inserts, football rookie inserts and rookie cards that took me a couple of weeks to do. Part 2 I showed off sorting baseball inserts. Part 3 should have been showing off my baseball rookie card progress, but I had to take a break from it. It's by far the toughest and longest part of my sort. I am closing in on finishing it, but I had to jump to doing basketball rookies in the meantime.

So today's post is all about the basketball rookie cards.

I only had a few binders to sort through so I knew it wouldn't take me long but give me enough of a break from sorting baseball rookies by team. Originally I had always sorted my basketball by rookies by tossing them into a binder, but no more! It was too hard to find players when they are not being sorted by team so that's exactly what I did.

Along with doing the sorting, I uncovered some gems in the process which I was pretty excited about. I was also able to pull out some cards for my Sets Of My Childhood chase.

Here is one of the gems I found, a Russ Westbrook rookie. I found this and the parallel.

Then came some tremendous Prizm finds I had long forgotten about. 

Draymond Green,

Isiah Thomas,

Kawhi Leonard. This card last year was hot, hot hot!! I believe it is still on the Top 20 hot list in a Beckett.

And then this bad boy.

 

Other than feeling more organized, part of the fun with doing this project is uncovering gems like these and finding other cards that brought back many memories. Some cards I can tell you where I bought them, busted them, who I was with, and maybe more depending on the card.

More updates on the completion of the baseball rookie card stage to come. I am hoping the next post in this series will be an update about that.

There is still so much to go in this project. Because what gets taken out, still has to go back in!

Panini gets Innovative with Basketball Cards

Panini is came up with a catchy title in their next basketball card release...Panini Innovation Basketball 12-13.

This product is set to arrive in mid August with a 200-card base set that includes 25 View and 75 Rookie View, and each eight-card box will deliver three autograph or memorabilia cards. Meaning this most likely will be a high end product with that limited amount of cards per box.

 

One of the coolest things I found about the product was the Stat Line memorabilia cards featuring statistics and photos from the actual game the jersey on the card was worn. I think this is something that's been needed for awhile. I miss the old Donruss days where they would take a picture of the actual jersey that the piece was cut from and place the photo on the back of the card. What Panini did here was kick it up another notch from the Donruss days.

Let me know what you think of this new product...though there are very little images out so far...and your thoughts on the jersey card featuring the picture from the game it was worn in.

Preview: Panini Gold Standard Basketball 12-13

Panini released images of Gold Standard Basketball and I can say once again I am impressed by another Panini NBA release.

This product is due out in April and from the gallery (and more info) on the Knights Lance: http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/panini-america-provides-detailed-first-look-at-2012-13-gold-standard-basketball/

It appears this years version will surpass all others.

 

A break should deliver four autographs, one memorabilia card and one metal card in every 10-card box

  

There is also a 305-card base set featuring 80 autographed memorabilia RCs, five base inserts, three memorabilia inserts and four autograph inserts. Makes quite a thing to chase after.

There is also 25 base-set SPs featuring selected stars wearing the jerseys of every team they have ever played for.

What are your thoughts on this NBA product?

Panini Black Friday Event And Gallery

While everyone else is running out to the local shopping centers looking for the best deals...I sit back relaxed knowing I got done shopping way ahead of time. I shop all throughout the year to avoid going to fight someone for that last Xbox  game or last Barbie on the shelf just because its a few dollars cheaper. But while I am sitting here...I am however enjoying the pics I have seen all over Twitter for Panini America's Black Friday Extravaganza!

So I couldn't just leave an event so big like this alone. I have to show some pics and give my thoughts on the cards.

Base Card

 Panini's Black Friday set is of 50 cards ranging from multiple sports. I really like the silver cardboard look of the base cards.

Super Bowl Memorabilia

 For all of you who read this blog on daily or weekly basis..you know I have got to get my hands on the Super Bowl Memorabilia cards. Being a Giants fan I was hugely impressed by the design and very excited that Panini included these into the memorabilia part of the promo cards.

Early asking prices for these cards range from $60-$200 for unsigned. I can only imagine what some of the signed ones will go for.

Insert Card

  Everyone knows how RG3 did on Thanksgiving so finding an insert card like this in a pack is not a bad thing at all.Most of these on the bay are going for $10 or more.

Cracked Ice Autos

These bad boys..a combination of the cracked ice insert that is signed. These cards are beautiful signed or not.

These are going for $200+ on eBay signed right now.

This is only a small glimpse of a gallery. There are tons and tons of different base cards, inserts, autos and memorabilia to drool over. So instead of posting what could be a forever look at the Black Friday cards and posting all of the info with them we give you  Panini's Knights Lance extended coverage of the entire Black Friday pics, info and more with all of their links below:

• November 22, 2012Panini Unwrapped: 2012 Black Friday Craze Starts Now with Chance to Win Free Packs

• November 20, 2012Panini America Previews iCollectPanini.com Black Friday Component, Peeks More Pics

• November 20, 2012Panini America Reveals Preliminary List of 2012 Black Friday Participating Dealers

• November 19, 2012Panini America Previews 2012 Black Friday Cracked Ice Autograph Inserts (Gallery)

• November 18, 2012Panini America Presents: A Complete Visual Guide to the 2012 Black Friday Insert Sets

• November 17, 2012Panini America Presents: A Complete Visual Guide to the 2012 Black Friday Base Set

• November 16, 2012Icy Hot: Panini America Peeks Just Some of the Cracked Ice Autos in 2012 Black Friday

• November 15, 2012Panini America Adds New Tools of the Trade Material in 2012 Black Friday Promotion

• November 14, 2012Panini America’s Black Friday Confidential: Super Bowl XLVI Memorabilia Cards 

• November 13, 2012Panini America Begins Releasing Images of 2012 Black Friday Promotion (Gallery) 

• November 6, 2012Pssst . . . Panini America’s 2012 Black Friday Event is Coming (and Here’s a Sneak Peek)
   

As a collector this is an awesome promotion that Panini puts on and I hope they continue to do it for years. And for those of us who can't make it to a card shop or don't have one..don't worry!! There is an online component of this promo! Just go to iCollectPanini.com and find these packs there! Just make sure you hurry...these are moving faster off the shelves than a Tickle Me Elmo!!

Overall, this years promo should blow away last years numbers as Panini has improved an already successful promo. I stand behind this promo like the other Panini ones. I like how they are taking collecting and kicking it up a notch! Not only awarding us with these tremendous cards as a FREE side bonus for purchasing Panini products from LCS' (which also helps them bring in a lot more customers) and from the iCollectPanini.com site but for always looking out for us as their #1 commitment and not scared to try new things.  Thanks Panini!

Oh, and if you have any pics of these cards to share..please feel free to email us (sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com), or post them on our Facebook page or find us on Twitter!!

Review: 2012-2013 Hoops Basketball

We were pretty excited to see this box at our doorstep. The first 2012-2013 basketball product out on the market. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this product knowing it has both the 2011-2012 rookies and the 2012-2013 rookie class. This box did not disappoint us.

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.

And as always...we will do some giveaways from this product!

Here is my review:

Box Design: Thunder star Kevin Durant. The Box is big because its loaded with packs. And on the front it lets you know how many, how many cards per pack and how many hits (however that would have been better to have enlarged that as well like the number of cards and packs). The design is lacking a little..but not bad.

Pack Design: The pack design on the other hand is much better than the box. Shiny, big ole Kevin Durant. Number of cards per pack. Its all there.

Bonus Pack: Kobe Anthology. Look for one of these per box for all of Panini's 2012-2013 basketball card releases. The base design which is to the left is great and captures all of Kobe's greatest moments. You can also find rare autograph and jersey versions.

Base Cards: I like the design. It brought me back to the early 90's of hoops except these are much more colorful and bold. The inclusion of coaches cards is nice as well. The only problem I see is they chip very easily because of all of the color.

Rookie Cards: With so many rookies to find in Hoops with two years worth, you really have to know your players. The 2012-2013 rookies are shown with suits and team balls while last years blend in with the other base cards so you have to look at the backs of the cards to see that they only have stats for a year...unless you know the entire class from last year. This is assuming Beckett calls last years rookie class in here rookie cards.

Inserts: A nice variety. Some rookie ones, glossy, great camera shots ones. The only issue we had with it was the Artists proof like the Chris Paul. Its not numbered and it blends in with the color of the cards.

Autographs: You get two per box and we were luck enough to get two good ones in Jimmer Fredette and MarSHON Brooks. Some boxes come with even three autos.

Memorabilia: N/A

Overall: Nice design.A lower end product with two autos per box. A good amount of inserts and we got NO doubles. And with a double packed rookie year for the price you pay and the value you get...its hard not to pick up a box..or two of Hoops.

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