For as long as I can remember, Certified has been a collector favorite, even though it has been known to feature some of the worst design work in recent memory. This year, it features something it has never had before – on card autographs for the premiere rookies.
Many people have been waiting for Panini to finally come to the revelation that hard signed cards are something that collectors will value, myself being one of them. However, as we have seen, the design is an upgrade from last year, just not up to the level that it should be. In fact, after seeing Absolute and previews for sets like Limited, this type of execution is right on track for Panini in 2011.
The most troubling part of all of this centers around the continued use of a big white box to highlight the background behind a sticker placed on a card. When reviewing the Fabric of the Game Signature cards, its worse than ever with the entire bottom fifth of the card being reminiscent of the white box. What I have said for the balance of this year’s white box attack is that the design should reflect a need for a signature, rather than making changes like we are seeing between the parallels. It didnt happen prior to 2011, why the change of heart for EVERY product of the calendar year?
Last year, I bought a few singles out of Certified, but they were all out of the Fabric of the game set. This year, I dont think I am going to be buying any. Not only is the simplicity gone that made these cards a favorite set, but busy design does not lend itself well to the ways Panini produces the set. I just dont see a reason to spend any money on these cards when Chrome is delivering better looking cards that should hold their value better in the long run.
With so many of Panini’s products delivering the same format of 4 hits, 1 auto for the rest of the year, I dont see the same level of interest in these boxes. Chrome has taken a jump from 65 bucks a box to close to 100. Its all based on design, brand loyalty, and content. Certified has a similar brand loyalty, but these boxes are on a different playing field of inferior quality.
The previews only highlight this fact more clearly with thousands upon thousands of crappy jersey cards and very few other cards worth talking about.
ARGH! Last year, I loved the Fabric of the Game cards, especially the die-cut team name patches. I liked how there was a picture of the entire player in an action shot with some usually pretty good looking patches.
But this year, what is this? They’ve introduced a design where it looks like what I can only describe as “aluminum siding” and the bottom half of the player is cut off by one of the pieces! Think Panini. Would I rather see the bottom half of my favorite player? Or a piece of siding? I cannot fathom who thought this would be a good idea.
And can I just say, the Freshmen Fabric cards are AWFUL. Three or 4 windows with random die-cut materials? It’s visual diarrhea to me. Not overly impressed here.
tell me the Tebow isn’t one of the best panini cards of the year. Other than that it’s pretty much down hill. Wtf shirt off my back? Hit or miss I guess.
Ugh, Panini should quit packaging their products in boxes and just sell singles. It’s a shame that some poor sap has to buy a box of this so I can buy the lone card I want from this product on ebay.
Chrome has definitely exploded. $100/box in the two hobby shops I’ve been to in the Phoenix area. I’m glad I got most of my fix when it was $70/box.