Panini Black Football Looking Decent

In January Panini is set to release 2013 Panini Black Football, a nice mid-range product. Each 12 card pack runs around $85 and includes 5 hits. Normally I am not a fan of posed shots but I like them used in this manor, it gave Panini the option to set up each card how they wanted them to appear. I like the mini jersey shadow box cards, they are a fun addition. On-card autographs make this a nice set to chase.

2012 Panini Black Football Is On The Horizon

Sorry about the lack of content lately, I am fighting some sort of cold/bug that has me out of sorts and I can not shake it. Hopefully some rest will help clear out the virus and get me back on my feet.

Wednesday Panini is unleashing 2012 Black Football, a high-end football product that will run $200 for a 12 card pack/box.

 

Box Break:

5 Autograph/Memorabilia cards (At least 3 will be autographs)
2 Base cards
2 Rookie cards
2 inserts
1 Parallel

 

I don’t know what it is about black and cards but when you use a black background the cards just seem “better”, it makes the player stand out, when signed with a proper pen (gold) it makes the autographs pop and relics seem more visible.

 

Upper Deck set the standard with the original Black product, which they released in 2009, but after they lost their NFL license they were not able to capture the collectors attention with their 2011 release using the NCAA license even though they had a solid checklist and a pleasant design. Panini is now taking their shot using the Black name (note that Upper Deck’s Black and Panini’s Black are two different products and are not connected besides having the same name).  

 

Panini did a nice job with the design, the base cards have an interesting design (it actually reminds me of car seats, not sure why) but they have a uniform flow throughout the set and using gold pens for on-card autographs and blue pens for stickers (gold and silver stickers) make the autograph cards stand out nicely. About the only thing bothers me is that a number of the cards that were previewed on their blog show single colored swatches, something that you would not expect from a limited high-end product. If you drop $200 for 12 cards you deserve multi-colored relics or patches, not a dime-sized white swatch. I am also wondering if the Captains patch cards are game-used patches or if they are manufactured patches like Topps Manu-patches that they inserted in blaster boxes this year.

 

 There are a couple of cards that caught my eye. Ray Lewis with a double red swatch (I am guessing a Pro Bowl jersey) and a Raven’s Triple Materials card where Ed Reed’s swatch appears odd, almost looking like padding from a shoe. It does not have the texture of a jersey swatch or a piece from pants.

Early Preview Images From 2012 Panini Black Football

Panini’s 2012 Black Football is still a couple of months away but early preview shots are starting to make their appearance.

 

Each 12-card box is rumored to cost around $300-350 and will contain two base cards, two rookie cards, two inserts, one parallel, three autographs and two additional hits (either auto, relic or auto/relic cards).

 

The Rookie Signature Materials Prime are on-card autographs but it appears that the remaining autograph inserts are sticker autographs. Panini is also trying something new with the printing plates, only the black printing plates for each base card (100 card checklist) will be inserted in to boxes and when pulled the collector will be able to redeem the other three printing plates (Cyan, Magenta and Yellow).

 

There is something about the combination of black and football that works so well together. The on-card silver autographs accent the card even more. Not that I expect to purchase any of these cards due to the high price point but I think Panini did a nice job.