Written by We have already gotten communication from Panini on the variation SPs out of the 2011 product, and much to my surprise, we also got the normal SP list today as well. As they have in the previous years, some of the ticket autos are severely shortprinted, which means the loyal collectors of this set will have to pay a ton to get one of the lowest run cards.
2011 Tyron Smith Contenders Auto SSP
2011 Tyron Smith Contenders Auto SSP #2
2011 Jeremy Kerley Contenders Auto SSP
2011 Jeremy Kerley Contenders Auto SSP #2
As you can imagine, the release of the SP list has led to a bunch of cards being purchased now that collectors know EXACTLY how many of them there are. Oddly enough, some of the variation SPs are actually much more short printed than the regular SPs.
I have made no hiding of how much I hate the design of this year’s set, and that isnt going to change. However, for a collector who does this set year in and year out, it is surely getting tougher to finish it without spending more money each time it hits shelves. Oddly enough, the rarest SPs are rarely the players that produce in a way that would necessitate value of the levels they reach.
Its interesting the way Panini releases this set and then follows up with the SP list, and I actually think its a very good idea. In fact, I even think its a good idea to make one card (or a few) of scrub players tough to get. It adds value where there would not be previously.
However, when the design is as visually unappealing as it is this year, Panini has lost me before the plastic wrap on the box is even cut.
Cool, now I have to go back and check my Autos.