Prime Cuts Notable Nicknames, A Pretty Cool Insert

In less than 2 weeks Panini is releasing the 2011 Prime Cuts baseball set. This high-end product, which runs $270/box, will contain 1 pack of 5 cards per box (all hits) and guarantee at least 2 autographs.

My favorite insert in the product has to be the Notable Nicknames autograph set. The checklist contains current and retired stars and is supposed to include both Ken Griffey Jr. and Nolan Ryan autographs. Panini has released a handful of the signed cards and they are looking pretty nice. The players signed, on-card and using a blue-ink, both their name and their nickname on top of a marble surface. It actually reminds me a bit of a certificate the way it is designed.

I don’t understand why Ortiz would sign his nickname with a “BP” instead of Big Papi. The whole point of the set was to have the players use their nickname in the signature. I am a bit disappointed by this, while other player collectors will be getting cool nickname cards of their favorite player Ortiz collectors get just two letters. Panini even sent their Acquisition Manager to personally get the players signatures you would think he would have explained the directions to each player or stopped Ortiz and explained what they wanted him to sign.