Jeter Rules The Day

Back in my mail day from Dion a couple weeks ago, I mentioned sending out two packages that day and braving the post office because of two big cards.

Well, the second of those mail days is now being posted which came from @tmcbmatt. However, it's being posted minus the big card. You will have to follow Cards Over Coffee if you expect to see that card and it's worth seeing.

In the meantime, you can check out what rest of the mail day was.

Trio of Giants, well, Tarkenton in a Vikings uni. He will always be a Giant in my mind though.

Double the Jeter Topps rookies, Double the Fun!

Dwade! Finally landed a rookie of him. I can cross him off from the want list

Bowman Eli Manning rookie

 

And finally, Eddie Murray rookie. Another long sought after card on my want list. The big card I didn't show was on my want list as well so @tmcbmatt knocked three down!

Thanks again @tmcbmatt and bonuses as always. Much appreciated!

The second mail day came from Rod over at Padrographs.

I claimed one Jeter, he sent five overall. I don't ever mind finding some Jeters in my mail day. 

Thanks Rod!

There was lots of good stuff in these mail days which should give me something to do when it comes to putting them away, though it won't take very long. My biggest sort is still ahead, I just got to get the materials to get that underway.

Review: Panini Gold Standard Basketball 2013-2014

A box of cards that come shipped in a box the shape of a gold brick, how can you not want to give it a try? One of Panini's most popular brands among NBA collectors makes an awesome return in 2013-2014 packed with everything that collectors want. Just see for yourself!

Before I start my review, 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 interact with you on Twitter, have contests on their blog and Facebook and the site is also fun to visit!

Now onto the review:

BOX BREAK DOWN: 

• 1 Pack Per Box, 10 Cards Per Pack
• Each Box contains Four Autographs and One Memorabilia Card
• One Metal Card Per Box

PRICE: You can find most boxes around $170

WITHIN THE BOX:

Base Cards:
Chris Paul #d 198/199
Andre Miller #d 196/199
Tyler Hansbrough #d 34/199

Inserts:
Dwayne Wade Metal Card

Memorabilia (non-autographed):
Kemba Walker Black Gold #d 5/25
Blake Griffin Gold Records (14k Gold) #d 15/20

Autographs/Autograph Memorabilia
Ryan Kelly Memorabilia Auto Rookie Card
Quincy Acy Gold Strike Autograph #d 242/299
Phil Pressey Gold Strike Autograph #d 177/299
Isiah Thomas Gold Strike Autograph Redemption #d /299

DESIGN:
If you are looking for an overall product with eye appeal, well you found one right here. From the base cards to the autographs, everything is gold and has a shine to it.

The Black Gold jersey cards look outstanding. A nice size swatch and a decent shot of a player has this card well balanced in design. Not too much of one thing or another.

And the Gold Record design paying tribute to Rock And Rollers looks great as well printed in black and gold with the gold record being an actual piece of 14K gold.

And all autographs are ON CARD! That also helps with design in the product as its much more elegant without stickers.

The metal cards, my first one, are very heavy and a very unique collectible to be had.

COOL NOTES:  Look for Solid Gold Cards with photos on real 14 Karat Gold. This is very cool!
Also you can find 25 short-printed variations cards featuring players wearing the jerseys of every team they've played for. Makes for quite the chase! Also in this years product is four brand-new autograph inserts all numbered to 299 or less!

THOUGHTS: 
Well, this was my first time ever opening this product because it is expensive but I must say I am overly impressed. The appeal from the outside of the box, a gold brick, the value (at least in this box) and the overall design of this product makes me wonder why I hadn't tried it earlier. I guess the fear of not pulling back my money's worth was part of the problem. With a great break of the product like this one, hitting the Griffin as my top card in the pack may help tempt me to come back again. I must state again,  with every product, there is some risk involved but if I am going to take such a risk, I would take it with a product like this one that has so much to offer.

You ask what does it have to offer, I say on-card autographs, glimmer and shine, chances at a card completely made of gold and cards with gold pieces in them. Almost every card being numbered helping values. Not to mention and I will say it again, a really nice design.

One of the weird and only disappointing thing I found with the product was that every card is numbered EXCEPT the autographed/memorabilia rookie cards. Those are supposed to be one of the premier hits in a box break and not to find it numbered was a bit odd.

However, overall, I like Gold Standard and wished Panini would extend this brand back out to the NFL. Design and on-card autos alone would help sell it.

  

 

 

  

Review: Panini Basketball 2012-2013 with CONTEST!!

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:

• 24 Packs Per Box, 10 Card Per Pack
• Two Autographs and Seven Knight Parallels Per Box!
• Rookie Autographs from both 11/12 and 12/13!
• $70 a Box

 

 

BASE CARDS:For a cost efficient product Panini did really well with the design. I like the mix of stars and Legends into the checklist of this product for the base cards. There are rookies from the double rookie class to be found as well. The only thing I didn't like is if you are a new collector or didn't know who the rookies were from the class, the rookie cards do not have the rookie card symbol on them so you have no idea that they are a rookie.If that had been included, there would be no problem with the base cards. I know I have mentioned a lot with too much bordering with other products, but when its done right it doesn't bother me as much. This one has a variety of team colors and its all schemed and not just a plain boring white.

INSERTS: The Knights Lance parallel is kinda cool. The normally silver corners are gold in this parallel and the Knights Lance is inserted at the bottom instead of the word Panini. Makes you think about the blog every time you find one. However, the Heroes of The Hall is my favorite insert with the blend of color and darkness. You get a good amount of inserts. Meaning, not overwhelming and just the right amount.

AUTOGRAPHS: The product states 2 autos per box...ours was shorted an auto and the one we got was a redemption. Ouch. So can't tell you an opinion on the design. Would assume they look like the base cards but with autos.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS:N/A

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I like the base card design, the inserts look nice too and there isn't an overabundance and the price is within range of most collectors. The big bang could be here with a decent autograph checklist and with rookie cards (double rookie class so there is a lot to get), two autos, parallels and inserts it shouldn't take too much to get your value back. However, this break did not pull it off for us with a missing auto. But, as an update Panini Customer Service is helping get an auto to put in here to replace the missing one so we will post when that shows up. We will also fix the review numbers below as well.

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: 2.5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 3.5

CONTEST!!!  To win the autograph card above from this break just leave your comments on this product below and we will randomly pick a winner by the end of the month.

THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO EVERYONE!!!