Box Break - 09/10 Panini Classics

Imagine my shock - I got a box of cards to review today.  A box that I didn't order and didn't pay for.  And it's from Panini.  So double score.

First and foremost I get to open a box of new cards.  That in itself is something I get to do maybe two or three times a year - so this is great.

Secondly, Panini thought enough of my site here to allow me to review a box of cards.  And that feels good.  It just does.

So, I get the box of Panini Classics and I filmed it.  I edited the film down to show pretty much just the hits towards the end - and there is a huge hit.  Stay with the video - trust me.  What I saw when I watched the video back is that I'm still a rookie at this box breaking thing, at least on camera anyway.  Next time I'll have somebody film me from behind so that we can see all the cards as they go along.  And I really was excited - I was just trying to "enhance my calm" - and I came off pretty subdued.  I'll fix all of that next time I do a box.

In any event, here's the video break.  Or you can skip the video and look below at the scans of the hits.

Two jersey swatches here.  The Iguodala is centered and framed well for a jersey card.

The Beaubois is a good card simply because of the player on it.  I think this kid could be huge as well. 

And lastly, just for proof so that people don't think I'm stashing a Tyreke Evans rookie auto, is the Sam Young redemption.  I'm a huge Sam Young fan - but I got the patch rookie auto already (and it's numbered to 5) so this card won't be nearly as hard to let go of.

And lastly, the real star of this box break is that awesome Bob Cousy on-card autograph card.  This card will be tough to let go.  It's a really great card.

I was under the impression that Panini was only featuring Kobe Bryant with on-card autos.  I'm really glad that I was wrong about that.  Seriously, pulling an on-card auto makes this a huge box.

I'm sure that not all autos can be on-card, but if they got signers like Cousy to do signings like this - it means a lot to a collector like myself.  I know that there has been a whole to-do about UD getting pushed out of the basketball side of the hobby.  But really, there isn't any way you can complain about a card like this being included into a product by a first-year company.

This made my day in a very huge way.







And the box breakdown:

18 Packs, 5 Cards a Pack
$82-$88 online (various outlets)
4 hits per box

-- My Box --

Base (1-100)
71% complete, 1 dupe (#27 OJ Mayo - SP version /100)
Base SP's (101-200 - all serial numbered to /999 or less)
5% complete - 4 Legends and 1 Rookie

Inserts:
Dress Code: 1 A. Horford, 8 S. Marion, 24 C. Boozer, 25 C Billups
Classic Combos: 6 B. Russell / B. Sharman
Classic Confrontations: 1 M. Johnson / L. Bird, 10 O. Roberston / J. West
Classic Greats: 1 B. Russell, 13 J. Worthy, 29 W. Unseld, 30 W. Reed

Memorabilia: R. Beaubois, A. Iguodala
Autos: B. Cousy, S. Young

Overall Grade:  I give this box a 4.5/5.  I like SP layout of this set, but the regular base blended a bit with other past releases.  This set would be a challenge to collect though.  Only getting 5 SP's out of 100 means that to complete this set, you'd have to put down some coin to finish it off.  Not that I have a problem with putting in the time to collect a set - but 5 cards out of 100 is a bit low to me.

And pulling an on-card auto...I can't emphasize enough how great that is.  I don't know that I've ever pulled an auto that wasn't on a sticker.  Typically one would have to buy high-end to get on-card service - but this proves that it doesn't have to be so.  Just knowing that buying a box gives you the chance to pull an on-card auto is a great incentive to give it a try.

If you want a chance to win these cards - including the Cousy auto - check back into the site later this week.  There will be a contest, and I'll try to make it worth everybody's time.

Thanks again to Panini.  It was great.