Black Adam – Comic-Con Sneak Peek

Black Friday Packs Are Coming Back In 2012

Panini is a master when is comes to promos.  They’re one of the best card manufacturers to do so.  It’s as simple as that.  Last year their Black Friday promos were highly sought after by collectors.  Participating card shops saw great turnouts.  Panini plans to bring the Black Friday program back in 2012.  By purchasing certain Panini products at your local card shop or directly online from Panini will get you access to these special promo packs.  Last year Super Bowl pylon relics were the major highlight along with some great autographed cards.

Panini gave us a little preview of what’s to come for the 2012 Black Friday promotion.  No pictures of autographs or relics yet, but you can see what the 50-card base set and the various inserts will look like.  Check out The Knight’s Lance for more pictures.  If there is one thing Panini knows how to do, its giveaway great free stuff.

I still have a sealed 2011 Black Friday pack sitting on my shelf from last year.

Topps Teases Us With A Peak Of 2012 Five Star Football

For all those collectors that have more money than god, here is a minor peak at 2012 Five Star Football.  You’ll have to wait until February to get your hands on these.  Every product on the market should be derived from Five Star.

All these on-card autographs have to go.  Foil stickers all the way 🙂

Upper Deck Offers A Sneak Peak Of Their ’12 NSCC Autographs

Just like in previous years, Upper Deck will offer a special set each day during the National Sports Collectors Convention.  Collectors busting certain Upper Deck products will receive a promo pack containing cards from that specific day’s set.  Randomly inserted, collectors will find autographs of some pretty nice players.  Take a look at some of these autographs.

2012 Press Pass Showcase Racing Sneak Peek

Press Pass let this little preview of 2012 Showcase Racing sneak out of the office today.  Don’t worry, those blank areas will get signed.  Hopefully not with an autopen 🙂  Lots of white background will make those relics and signatures pop! There are three packs per box with one premium auto or relic inside each pack.  New for this year you will find:

• Showcase Signature Patches – autographed booklet cards containing an authentic sponsor patch #’ed/2
• Richard Petty 75th Birthday Inscription Tribute Autos – top drivers inscribe their birthday wishes to Richard Petty who turns 75 this July
• Showcase Champions Ink – autographed relics from six of the greatest champions in NASCAR history

Monty Sheldon’s 2012 Gypsy Queen Patch Sketch Card Sneak Peak

Last year Topps introduced collectors to the patch sketch cards found in Gypsy Queen Baseball.  They were some of the most sought after cards within the product.  Most of them sold well into the high hundreds of dollars.  It looks as if Topps will continue to have patch sketch cards in the 2012 version of Gypsy Queen Baseball.  Sports artist Monty Sheldon has created 28 patch sketch cards for Gypsy Queen this year.  This evening Mr. Sheldon released the above preview of his work you can look for.  They look really great!  Of coarse they’re all serial numbered 1/1.

Topps Offers A Sneak Peak At 2012 Allen & Ginter

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Alright you Allen & Ginter nuts, here is your first look at 2012 Allen & Ginter.  Granted its just one base card, I must say the design is much better compared to 2011.  Last year’s set was just too busy.  The 2012 set looks much cleaner.  I’d like to see Harry Kalas in the set.  Then again, I think Harry Kalas should be in every product 🙂

Sneak Peak: Ichiro’s Leaf Valiant Signatures

Take a look at these brand new Ichiro Leaf Valiant autographs.  They look absolutely amazing.  Combining the classic Crusade design from the 90’s with Ichiro is just pure genius.  Ichiro hasn’t had a new autographed card for quite sometime.  This is the way unlicensed products should be done.

Brian Gray is doing a fantastic job over at Leaf.  He has proven that unlicensed products can be very successful, especially when you listen to your customers.  When you have an unlicensed product you shouldn’t release it like you would with a licensed one.  For it to be successful, you have to have an element to it that sets it apart from any other product.  Team logos aren’t everything.