The Beckett Blog

Panini America is combining the best of all its worlds – football, basketball and Americana – to produce a wrapper redemption set for the 30^th National Sports Collectors Convention that includes, among other goodies, the company’s first card of NBA legend Larry Bird.

Collectors who bring five unopened packs of 2009 Panini hobby product (or a full box of 2009 Panini retail product) to the Panini America booth during the show (July 29-August 2 in Cleveland) will receive a three-card pack, the potential contents of which are varied to say the least:

• The foundation of the set will be 21 National-exclusive Donruss Elite cards of top NFL rookies numbered to 499 or 999, with Blue and Red Aspirations parallels numbered to 50; Gold Status versions will be numbered to 25.
• A Black Turn of the Century parallel will be numbered to 10 or less, with some autographed versions.
• Some rookies will be featured on updated insert designs for Elite Series, Prime Targets, Zoning Commission and Chain Reaction.
• Instant-win cards will be randomly inserted for Prestige 8 x 10s autographed by one of 32 rookies who participated at the 2009 NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere. It must be noted that redemption cards are valid only at the show.
• Completing the veritable Panini product potpourri will be insert cards of NBA rookies Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet and Tyler Hansbrough, NBA legends Bird, Kevin McHale and Bill Walton, and Americana subjects Ric Flair and James Caan, including random autographs of some subjects.

“The National is the industry’s marquee event and we’re excited to be setting up for the first time as Panini America,” said Marketing Manager Scott Prusha. “The enthusiasm over what Panini America’s bringing to the industry continues to build and I think collectors are going to be impressed with the splash we plan to make at the show.”