Filed under: Beckett Media, NFL, Panini, Topps | Tags: Dallas Super Bowl, NFL Experience Memorabilia Show, Panini, Super Bowl XLV NFL Experience, Topps
By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor
Braving the second evening of a three-day North Texas ice apocalypse, I put on my warmest clothes and ventured to the Dallas Convention Center for the Super Bowl XLV NFL Experience.
Despite the freezing temperatures, I arrived without incident and with childlike glee when I saw the epic Super Bowl XLV letters standing in the iced-over convention center lawn. As visitors – some locals, some tourists, some brandishing terrible towels, some sporting cheese heads – poured inside the building, I couldn’t help but momentarily absorb the spectacle from afar.
However, I have seen the movie “Alive,” and I know what prolonged exposure can do to a man.
After making my way inside the traveling NFL theme park and eating a protein bar (just to make sure), I confirmed the glorious magnitude foreshadowed by that dramatic entrance. I was greeted with the hustle and bustle of show-goers, a light show and an enormous Drew Brees cut-out hanging from the ceiling.
At the epicenter of the experience, the Topps and Panini-sponsored Memorabilia Show lured me in immediately. Bringing their best host-city wares and cream-of-the-crop football collectibles, dealers set up shop, hoping to make hobbyists out of every attendee. Offering reasonably-priced merchandise and promotions to a crowd of awestruck football fanatics, most of these merchants didn’t have to do much convincing. Continue reading
Filed under: Beckett Media, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Bowman Platinum, baseball cards, Bowman Platinum, Bryce Harper, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
You might not have fully digested your first helping of Bowman Platinum, but the next helping is already here.
Topps released preview images and basic product information for 2011 Bowman Platinum on Thursday, a product that will arrive in late-June — just months after the product made its baseball debut.
There will be two prospect autographs as well as one autographed Relic in every 20-pack hobby box. Each 12-box case will include one multi-autograph card and redemptions for on-card autographs from the latest crop of USA Baseball players.
The product will mark a high-end (Chrome) arrival of Bryce Harper autographs as the 18-year-old No. 1 overall pick is slated to have a Chrome Refractor Prospect autograph in the product as well as appear on the triple-autograph card (top) also signed by Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman.
Filed under: Beckett Media, Card gallery, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps baseball, Albert Pujols, Diamond, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
Today’s the day that many had marked on their calendars — well, after Topps pushed up the release date — as it marked the arrival of the annual baseball card-collecting staple.
You know, the annual Topps Baseball set.
While our Box Busters review boxes are somewhere in an iced-over UPS truck likely stuck in a snow drift and the Beckett Media offices are closed for a second consecutive day, a little lot of snow ice wasn’t going to stop your idiot intrepid editor from journeying through the tundra to a Target store.
After a blaster box, jumbo pack and way-too-many loose packs to mention, here’s a selection of cards from this year’s set … after the jump.
Also be sure to take our poll — on whether you think 2011 Topps is a winner or a loser.
Filed under: Beckett Media, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps, Diamond Anniversary, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
The first boxes of 2011 Topps Baseball have been ripped and the first reports of oddball findings are coming in, too.
The most notable previously unannounced finds are cards that have the twinkle or sparkle of a diamond digitally placed into the photograph of the card.
Filed under: Beckett Media, MLB, Topps | Tags: baseball cards, Gypsy Queen, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
The Queen will now include some royalty.
Topps unveiled its plans for a new baseball card set styled in the fashion of an 1887 release some time ago, but on Friday the longest-running manufacturer of baseball cards announced a little something extra in packs of the forthcoming 2011 Gypsy Queen baseball cards.
Prince William and Kate Middleton — two members of Britain’s Royal Family — will appear on a card.
Building on the product’s “jewels” theme — which includes bonus cards of various gypsys (yeah, we’re mystified, too) — a “Royal Jewels” card can also be found in packs.
No word on a card of Enrico Palazzo, though.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Filed under: Beckett Media, NFL, Topps | Tags: 2011 NFL Experience, Dez Bryant, NFL Experience, Super Bowl Exclusives, Super Bowl XLV, Topps, Wrapper Redemption Program
By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor
The entire city of Dallas is buckling down for a swarm of Super Bowl guests and a flock of football fandom. Barreling at the head of the herd, Topps officials are arriving with a bag of hobby exclusives.
Starting today, the out-of-town manufacturer is setting up shop at the NFL Experience. Through Sunday, Feb. 6, attendees to stop by the Topps booth for free sample cards, prizes and other interactive festivities. Continue reading
Filed under: MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps, baseball cards, Topps, Topps Anniversary Ring
By Chris Olds | Editor
Topps‘ 60th anniversary ring (the quick image here does it no justice) features 50 diamonds and will only be owned by a select few.
How rare will they be? Topps’ order has not been finalized — one could speculate perhaps 60 rings? Maybe more, maybe less …
What’s it worth? We’ll let the market take care of that when they arrive.
But what we do know is this:
— One Beckett Baseball reader will own the ring seen here. (Details to come in upcoming issues.)
— Ten randomly selected hobby shops will receive a ring as part of their Diamond Anniversary Kit to promote the product in stores.
— The remainder of the rings will be given away as part of the Diamond Anniversary program’s online codes found beginning in 2011 Topps Series 1 — the company’s anniversary product — that arrives soon. Code cards are found one in every four packs.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Filed under: NFL, Topps | Tags: football, football cards, NFL, Topps, Topps Supreme
Join Beckett Football’s Dan Hitt and Andrew Tolentino as they open a pair of 2010 Topps Supreme football card boxes in this latest edition of Box Busters.
What’s inside? Watch and find out …
Filed under: Beckett Media, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps, baseball, baseball cards, MLB, Topps
Join Beckett Baseball‘s Chris Olds as he opens a pretty special box from Topps that contains something that just might be yours soon.
What’s inside? Watch and find out …
Filed under: Beckett Media, Hall of Fame, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2010 Topps Tribute, Babe Ruth, baseball, baseball cards, lou gehrig, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
A heavily scrutinized Topps baseball card featuring the autographs of nine members of the 1927 New York Yankees has been judged to be authentic, according to more than one authentication company, and will return to the auction block on Thursday.
However, the card’s examination wasn’t without a new caveat not previously mentioned publicly as the autograph of Lou Gehrig appears to have been painted around to obscure lesser signatures near it — making it more visually appealing — according to James Spence Jr. of James Spence Authentication.
How rare is this kind of alteration?
“More often than a flat item, multi-signed baseballs are often painted over to give the illusion that they appear as single-signed,” Spence said Thursday. “A company in California specializes in this type of craft.”
This aspect is noted on the Spence Letter of Authenticity, which will be included with the card when it is sold by Beckett Select Auctions , the consignment auction service division of Beckett Media. The auction will launch Thursday with an opening bid of $20,000. The auction will close on on Super Bowl Sunday following the game here in Dallas.
The 2010 Topps Tribute Legendary Lineup Cuts card features the signatures of Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Dugan, Pat Collins and Waite Hoyt — all on one booklet.
A redemption for the card was found by a collector in Missouri, who opted to sell the card through Beckett Select. The auction briefly ran in December with a starting bid of $20,000. However, Select ended the auction early as a precaution when it received multiple questions about the authenticity of the Ruth and Gehrig signatures.
Filed under: Beckett Media | Tags: baseball, baseball cards, Bowman Sterling, MLB, Topps
Join the Beckett Baseball crew of Brian Fleischer and Chris Olds as they rip into a pair of 2010 Bowman Sterling baseball cards from Topps in this latest edition of Box Busters.
What will they find inside? Watch and find out …
Filed under: College Football, Panini, Topps | Tags: 2008 SAGE HIT, Chadron State, Danny Woodhead, football, football cards, New England Patriots, NFL, Panini America, Patriots, sage, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
He’s a small-town guy from Nebraska who went to a small school — Chadron State — where he was the best player in the nation two years in a row as the winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy and destroyed the record books with 7,962 rushing yards and 109 touchdowns, both NCAA records.
He went undrafted in 2008 and toiled on the New York Jets practice squad before getting some playing time last season. He was cut earlier this year after getting attention on HBO’s Hard Knocks and featured treatment from Coach Rex Ryan‘s memorable mouth (“Look at that little *&^%$#$,” said Ryan, watching a preseason touchdown), only to sign on with the New England Patriots where he’s become a cult hero of sorts.
He’s a small-in-stature guy, just 5-foot-7 (though 200 pounds), who could probably blend in well behind the counter at your local fast food joint or working the shelves at Modell’s — after all, he has sold his own football jerseys in relative anonymity despite the fact that he scored six touchdowns this season while playing alongside the likes of Tom Brady and Wes Welker.
And worst of all? He has yet to appear on a single licensed NFL trading card released in pack form. (But that will soon change — keep reading.)
His name? Danny Woodhead.
Filed under: Beckett Media, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps, baseball, baseball cards, MLB, New York City, Topps, Topps Diamond Dig
By Chris Olds | Editor
Move over Zales, Topps is taking over.
Topps unveiled on Tuesday its plans to make 10 lucky couples the possible winner of a diamond engagement ring as a tie-in to its 60th anniversary — a diamond anniversary — of making baseball cards.
Couples who produce a 90-second video and post it to the company’s Facebook page will have the chance to be one of the lucky 10 who will compete, on Valentine’s Day no less, for the chance at a ring.
Filed under: First look, MLB, Topps | Tags: 2011 Topps, 2011 Topps Series 2, baseball cards, First look, MLB, Topps
By Chris Olds | Editor
Topps unveiled the first glimpses at its second series of 2011 baseball cards on Friday, marking the first public unveiling of a 60th Anniversary diamond ring that will only be produced in limited quantities and found via Topps Diamond Dig redemption code cards as part of the company’s anniversary celebration.
However, one lucky reader of Beckett Baseball will have the chance to put one of the rare rings on his or her finger, too, via a contest in the pages of our magazine coming later this spring.
While the new series will supplement Series 1, which arrives in roughly a month, new for Series 2 will be Diamond Anniversary parallels, a Before There Was Topps insert card set, a Diamond Stars insert set, Hall of Fame buybacks, Topps 60 dual Relics and a new batch of Topps Attax cards.
The Diamond dig cards will be found one in every six packs and can unlock the diamond ring, a vintage pack of cards, a card with an actual diamond embedded into the cardboard or one of a few other options. Codes found on the cards will be entered at www.diamondtopps.com where fans can also collect virtual rings and other anniversary-themed cards.
Each 36-pack hobby box will include one autograph or Relic, while every 10-pack HTA Jumbo box will pack an autograph and two Relics inside when it arrives on June 6.
More to come. See images after the jump.
Filed under: Beckett Media, NFL, Topps | Tags: 5 Star, Matt Ryan, sketch cards, Tim Tebow, Tony Romo, Topps, Topps 5 Star, topps five star
By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor
Topps announced today that collectors will be able to see the creative sides of pro football players in the upcoming Five Star product.
Lending their artistic talent (sometimes better referred to as “effort”) on player sketch cards, athletes like Tony Romo (whose effort is pictured above), LaDainian Tomlinson and Tim Tebow add a unique allure to the high-end line. Hand drawn by NFL standouts, each one of one illustration is signed on the back by the respective footbartist.
This makes for an interesting means of getting more than just autographs from Romo, Tomlinson, Tebow, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Roddy White, Matthew Stafford, C.J. Spiller, Matt Ryan, Mike Williams, Aaron Hernandez and more.
Set to release in late February, Topps Five Star Football is loaded with high-end hits, some of which might even end up at The Met.
Filed under: MLB, Topps | Tags: 2010 Bowman Draft, baseball, baseball cards, Box busters, MLB, Refractors, Strasburg, Topps
Join Beckett Baseball’s Chris Olds and Brian Fleischer as they rip into a pair of 2010 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects baseball cards from Topps in this latest edition of Box Busters.
What will they find inside? Watch and find out …
Filed under: Beckett Media, NFL, Topps | Tags: 2010 Topps Magic, football cards, NFL, Topps, Topps Magic
By Chris Olds | Editor
Topps confirmed that there are several short-printed autograph and base cards in its 2010 Topps Magic football card set on Tuesday.
The following players signed just 15 copies of their standard card and 10 copies of their Chromes for the retro-styled release:
Adrian Peterson, Brandon Marshall, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Darren McFadden, DeAngelo Williams, Eli Manning, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Jimmy Clausen, Joe Namath, John Elway, Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning,Ray Rice, Reggie Bush, Roger Staubach, Tim Tebow, Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Vince Young, Ben Tate, Brandon Gibson, Charles Scott, Chris Ogbonnaya, Dan LeFevour, Dezmon Briscoe, Dustin Keller, Ed Wang, James Casey, John Skelton, Josh Freeman, Kevin Kolb , Matt Leinart, Mike Kafka, Montario Hardesty, Nate Burleson, Trent Edwards, Willie Parker
Filed under: Topps, USA Baseball | Tags: baseball cards, Topps, USA Baseball
Join Beckett Media’s Chris Olds and Brian Fleischer as they rip into a pair of 2010 Topps USA Baseball sets in this latest edition of Box Busters.
What will they find inside? Watch and find out …
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