Category Archives: leaf limited

January SCU Blowout Special: 2008 Leaf Limited Football

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Here is the second special exclusively for SCU readers!

These will go VERY fast, so be sure to get your order in quickly. Thank you to Chris and Pat for partnering with SCU to get you these great prices. This product is very popular, and that should grow come the end of this week with Ray Rice, Joe Flacco and many of the other rookies heading into important playoff matchups.
Visit Blowout Cards for more amazing prices, and check back for further specials, box breaks, and deals courtesy of the best place on the net for wax.
Here are the specs for 2008 Limited:

Configuration: 16 packs per box. 5 cards per pack.

PER BOX ITEMS
– 4 Autograph or Memorabilia cards
– 1 Legends
– 1 Phenoms
– 2 Bronze Spotlight
– 1 Silver Spotlight
– 1 Gold Spotlight
– 1 Team Trademarks

And 5 others of the following: Inserts or parallels, Legends, Phenoms, Team Trademarks, Banner Season.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Limited Rookie Phenoms Featuring:
Darren McFadden, Matt Ryan, DeSean Jackson, Chad Henne, Limas Sweed, Malcom Kelly.
Also look for limited college versions.

Limited Legends Featuring:
Bart Starr, Bo Jackson, Red Grange, Doak Walker, Jim Thorpe, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Reggie White, Sammy Baugh, Walter Payton.

Limited Cuts Featuring Cut Signatures:
Tom Fears, Sid Luckman, Jim Brown, Hank Stram, Oto Graham.

Limited Slideshow Featuring:
Autographed slides of all 34 Rookie Premiere players.

Lettermen Featuring:
34 Rookies and 6 Veterans make up this 40 card insert set which include signed jersey nameplates from the 34 Rookie Premiere attendees along with 6 veterans.

CONTENT BREAKDOWN
BASE SET
Commons (100)
Legends (100) – #’d to 499 or less.
Phenoms (100) – #’d to 999 or less.

PARALLELS
Phenom Signatures (100) – #’d to 499 or less.

Bronze Spotlight (300) – #’d to 249 or less.
Silver Spotlight (300) – #’d to 149 or less.
Gold Spotlight (300) – #’d to 99 or less.
Platinum Spotlight (300) – #’d to 1.

Monikers Silver (300) – Features an autograph and #’d to 99 or less.
Monikers Gold (300) – Features an autograph and #’d to 49 or less.
Monikers Platinum (300) – Features an autograph and #’d to 1.

Limited Threads (200) – Features a jersey swatch and #’d to 100 or less.
Limited Threads Prime Jersey # (200) – #’d to 100 or less.
Limited Threads Prime (200) – #’d to 50 or less.
Limited Threads Prime Team Logo (200) – #’d to 25 or less.
Limited Threads Super Prime (200) – #’d to 1.

Material Phenoms RC (34) – Features an auto, a prime swatch of an event-worn jersey, and #’d to 199 or less.
Material Phenoms Silver Spotlight Jersey (34) – #’d to 99 or less.
Material Phenoms Gold Spotlight Team Logo (34) – #’d to 25 or less.
Material Phenoms Platinum Spotlight NFL Shield (34) – #’d to 1.

Phenoms College (16) – Feautres an auto, a prime swatch of a college jersey, and #’d to 99 or less.
Phenoms College Silver Spotlight (16) – #’d to 50 or less.
Phenoms College Gold Spotlight (16) – #’d to 25 or less.
Phenoms College Platinum Spotlight (16) – #’d to 1.

INSERTS
Limited Cuts (25) – #’d to 100 or less.

Material Monikers Jersey #’s (50) – #’d to 99 or less.
Material Monikers Jersey #’s Prime (50) – #’d to 50 or less.

Team Trademarks (40) – 8 levels, including material, signature, and prime versions. #’d to 999 or less.

Banner Season (25) – 6 levels, including material, signature, and prime versions. #’d to 999 or less.

Team Threads Combos (10) – 6 levels, including combo, triple, quad, and prime versions. #’d to 100 or less.

Prime Pairings (27) – Features autos and two or three players per card. #’d to 100 or less.

Jumbo (25) – 12 levels featuring jumbo swatches, including prime and signature versions. #’d to 50 or less.

Limited Slideshow (34) – Features a rookie auto on a film slide an #’d to 50 or less.

Matching Numbers (20) – Features two players/two jersey swatches and #’d to 100 or less. Prime version #’d to 25 or less.

Matching Positions (20) – Features two players/two jersey swatches and #’d to 100 or less. Prime version #”d to 25 or less.

Rookie Jumbo (34) – 12 levels, including prime and signature versions. #’d to 50 or less.

Lettermen (40) – Features 1 letter swatch from the nameplate and #’d to 10 or less. The number of nameplates will be the total number of the letters in the player’s last name.

SCU Breaks: 2009 Limted 3 Box Break

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Sorry for the extreme delay, my wife had some baby stuff we needed to take care of. Either way, everything is fine now, and the Video should be up now. Congrats to our big winners Frank and Voluntarheel.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6P5OLV4R7A&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Here are some scans of the better pulls:

Andre Brown – Patch Auto (FRANK)

Matt Ryan Auto /25 (VOLUNTARHEEL)

Quad Pro Bowl Jersey – /100

(WILL BE RANDOMED BETWEEN THE THREE NON-VIKINGS TEAMS – ARFMAX IS THE WINNER)

Darrius Heyward-Bey Letterman 6/10 (VOLUNTARHEEL)

Percy Harvin Patch Auto Redemption (FRANK)

Peyton Manning/Jay Cutler dual /100
(GOES TO JASON BECAUSE COLTS HAVE ANOTHER HIT)

Other pulls were:

Austin Collie RC Auto /399 (CHAD)
Brandon Pettigrew Jumbo Swatch (ERIK)
Jason Campbell Team Trademarks 1 clr Patch (BOBBY)

IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND THE BASE FROM THE VIDEO, I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND IT. IF YOU DO NOT WANT IT, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GIVE IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP FOR AREA KIDS TO HAVE.

Random for the quad probowl goes to Arfmax. Congrats to him.

Random Teams For SCU Limited 3 Box Break

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Here is the list of teams from the randomizer that are assigned to the different participants in the break. If we pull any cards from any of the teams listed next to your name, they will be sent to you per the address on your paypal transaction. Video will be uploaded to Youtube shortly and posted below.

Here are the teams, trading post is open in comments until right before the break:

Chuck – Packers, Bears
Voluntarheel – Cowboys, Steelers, Falcons, Raiders
Albert – Bills, Jets, Bengals, Jags
Bobby – Cardinals, Redskins, Saints, Titans
Captain C – Chiefs, Panthers
Erik – Lions, Chargers, Rams, 49ers
Jeff NCS – Pats, Dolphins
Jason – Broncos, Eagles
TJ – Bucs, Texans
Frank – Vikings, Giants
Chad – Colts, Seahawks
Arfmax – Ravens, Browns

Boxes have been ordered from Blowoutcards, thanks again to Chris for sponsoring this break.

Here is the video, my wife was watching TV, so there is a weird ominous shrill voice as well. I did it quickly, sorry for lack of quality and production.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UocNufKCDY&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

SCU Breaks is Back! 3 Boxes of 2009 Limited Football – FULL

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SCU Breaks has been on hiatus for a while, but it is back and better than ever with 3 Boxes of 2009 Leaf Limited Football! Previous breaks have netted us some MAJOR pulls, and I think it is a cool little perk to get you guys a new way to get involved in the site.

I would especially like to thank to Chris at Blowoutcards, because he has offered a special price for us, thus making this even more of an affordable and fun experience for those who join. In addition to my thanks for their sponsorship of this break, I would encourage you to go check out their amazing prices over at Blowoutcards.com.
The way this will work is you will pay a flat fee via paypal for two random teams, which will be assigned via random.org. For the two teams you get, you will receive all the cards and hits that we pull in the boxes broken. That means that if you are drawn the Jets and Lions, all those cards will be coming your way. For all dual team cards, I will have a random drawing for those involved. Cards go to player’s team pictured ON THAT CARD. Vikings Favre goes to Vikings, Packers Favre goes to Packers. Questions on rules can be posted below, or search SCU Breaks at the top of the page.
PAYMENT: Please send all payments to gellmana@gmail.com via paypal, no checks or MOs accepted, USA readers only without contact first. I will not be participating in this break, and will perform all randoms and box breaks via youtube. Your spot is not confirmed until payment is sent.
Each two team slot is $16 to cover shipping, paypal fees and supplies. You may purchase multiple slots, but the max per person is 3, unless we are unable to fill this break. Slots and owners are listed below, box will be ordered the day the break is filled.
Slots:
1. Frank (PAID)
2. Jason (PAID)
3. Jeff NCS (PAID)
4. Arfmax (PAID)
5. Voluntarheel (PAID)
6. Voluntarheel (PAID)
7. Chuck (PAID)
8. Captain C (PAID)
9. TJ (PAID)
10. Bobby (PAID)
11. Bobby (PAID)
12. Erik I (PAID)
13. Erik I (PAID)
14. Albert (PAID)
15. Albert (PAID)
16. Chad (PAID)
Teams may be traded up until the day of the break, a trading post will be posted as soon as random is done. Slots are first come first serve, and fill quickly, so be on your toes. I will do my best to update as soon as I get payment.
More of these will be coming depending on the success of this break, so be sure to stay tuned to this site, as well as SCU on Twitter, for the most up to date info. Blowout is also known for posting some great twitter specials on their page, and I would follow them ASAP.
Here is more product info from BlowoutCards.com:
Configuration: 1 pack per box. 5 cards per pack.
PER BOX ITEMS:
– 2 Autograph Or Memorabilia Cards (At Least One Autograph)
– 1 Legend Or Parallel

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

AUTOGRAPHED MATERIAL PHENOMS ROOKIE CARD LINEUP FEATURING:
Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, Michael Crabtree, Chris Wells, Jeremy Maclin, Pat White, Shonn Greene, Donald Brown, Josh Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Brian Robiskie, Javon Ringer, Brandon Pettigrew, Kenny Britt, Mohamed Massaquoi, Glen Coffee

LEGENDARY MATERIALS FEATURING:
Walter Payton, Bart Starr, Bob Griese, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Doak Walker, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, John Elway, Lance Alworth, Sammy Baugh, Barry Sanders, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman

AUTOGRAPHED LIMITED SLIDESHOW CARDS FEATURING THE 2009 ROOKIES:
Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, Michael Crabtree, Chris Wells, Jeremy Maclin, Pat White, Shonn Greene, Donald Brown, Josh Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Brian Robiskie, Javon Ringer, Brandon Pettigrew, Kenny Britt, Mohamed Massaquoi, Glen Coffee

PRO BOWL LETTERMEN MATERIALS FEATURING:
Kurt Warner, Eli Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne

AUTOGRAPHED LIMITED LETTERMEN CARDS FEATURING THE 2009 ROOKIES:
Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, Michael Crabtree, Chris Wells, Jeremy Maclin, Pat White, Shonn Greene, Donald Brown, Josh Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Brian Robiskie, Javon Ringer, Brandon Pettigrew, Kenny Britt, Mohamed Massaquoi, Glen Coffee

CARD SETS

Common (100)
Base set features NFL premier performers on metalized film board serial #’d to 399 or less

Legends (50)
The most storied NFL names are featured #’d to 399

Phenoms (50)
The NFL’s most exciting young prospects are featured #’d to 399

Silver Spotlight (200)
#’d to 100 or less

Gold Spotlight (200)
#’d to 50 or less

Platinum Spotlight (200)
#’d to 25 or less

Monikers Gold (200)
Parallel to the base set, includes commons, phenoms and legends and is numbered to 50 or less.

Monikers Platinum (200)
Monikers Platinum numbered to 1.

Limited Threads (150)
Another parallel to the base, these include a jersey swatch and are numbered to 100 or less.

Limited Threads Prime (150)
Limited Threads Prime numbered to 25 or less.

Limited Threads Super Prime NFL Shield (150)
Limited Threads Super Prime NFL Shield numbered to 1.

Limited Threads Super Prime Brand Logo (150)
Limited Threads Super Prime Brand Logo numbered to 1.

Material Phenoms RC (34)
The top rookies are featured with prime event-worn swatches and numbered to 299 or less.

Material Phenoms Silver Spotlight (34)
Materials Phenoms Silver Spotlight numbered to 25 or less.

Material Phenoms Gold Spotlight (34)
Materials Phenoms Gold Spotlight numbered to 10 or less.

Material Phenoms Platinum Spotlight (34)
Materials Phenoms Platinum Spotlight numbered to 1.

Phenoms College (15)
The NFL’s most exciting young rookies are featured and numbered to 50 or less.

Phenoms College Silver Spotlight (15)
Phenoms College Silver Spotlight numbered to 10 or less.

Phenoms College Gold Spotlight (15)
Phenoms College Gold Spotlight numbered to 5 or less.

Phenoms College Platinum Spotlight (15)
Phenoms College Platinum Spotlight numbered to 1.

Limited Cuts (25)
This unique insert concept presents autographs from the NFL’s most recognizable names – both past and present — on double rainbow film board and is numbered to 100 or less.

Material Monikers (50)
This wondrous offering presents players with one swatch of game-worn jersey and an autograph and is numbered to 50 or less.

Material Monikers Prime (50)
Material Monikers Prime numbered to
10 or less.

Team Trademarks Materials (25)
The premier players in the NFL are featured with their respective team with game-used swatches and numbered to 50 or less.

Team Trademarks Signature Materials (25)
Team Trademarks Signature Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Team Trademarks Materials Prime (25)
Team Trademarks Materials Prime numbered to 25 or less.

Team Trademarks Signature Materials Prime (25)
Team Trademarks Signature Materials Prime numbered to 25 or less.

Banner Season Materials (25)
This insert highlights some of the league’s most-impressive statistical achievements from the 2008 NFL season and features jersey swatches and is numbered to 50 or less.

Banner Season Signature Materials (25)
Banner Season Signature Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Banner Season Prime Materials (25)
Banner Season Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Banner Season Signature Prime Materials (25)
Banner Season Signature Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Tag Team (15)
Football’s finest players that shared the same number/position make up this insert of two swatches of game-worn jersey that is numbered to 5 or less.

Prime Pairings (40)
This simply astounding insert set highlights football legends and current stars with autographs on singular versions and is numbered to 50 or less.

Jumbo (25)
The best players in the NFL are featured with jumbo swatches and numbered to 50 or less.

Jumbo Signatures (25)
Jumbo Signatures numbered to 25 or less.

Jumbo Prime (25)
Jumbo Prime numbered to 10 or less.

Jumbo Prime Signatures (25)
Jumbo Prime Signatures numbered to 5 or less.

Jumbo Jersey #s (25)
Jumbo Jersey #s numbered to 50 or less.

Jumbo Jersey #s Signatures (25)
Jumbo Jersey #s Signatures numbered to 25 or less.

Jumbo Jersey #s Prime (25)
Jumbo Jersey #s Prime numbered to 10 or less.

Jumbo Jersey #s Prime Signatures (25)
Jumbo Jersey #s Prime Signatures numbered to 5 or less.

Jumbo Jersey Prime Signatures NFL Shield (25)
Jumbo Jersey Prime Signatures NFL Shield numbered to 1.

Limited Slideshow (35)
The stunning new insert includes 34 of the league’s top 2009 rookies featuring an autograph on a film slide and is numbered to 50 or less.

Rookie Jumbo (34)
The league’s top rookie of 2009 are featured with Jumbo swatches and numbered to 50 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Signatures (34)
Rookie Jumbo Signatures numbered to 25 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Prime (34)
Rookie Jumbo Prime numbered to 10 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Prime Signatures (34)
Rookie Jumbo Prime Signatures numbered to 25 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s (34)
Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s numbered to 50 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Signatures (34)
Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Signatures numbered to 25 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Prime (34)
Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Prime numbered to 10 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Prime Signatures (34)
Rookie Jumbo Jersey #s Prime Signatures numbered to 5 or less.

Rookie Jumbo Jersey Prime Signatures NFL Shield (34)
Rookie Jumbo Jersey Prime Signatures NFL Shield numbered to 1.

Draft Day Limited Lids (9)
This new insert features hats/ lids of the top 2009 NFL draft picks and is numbered to 50 or less.

Draft Day Limited Signature Lids (9)
Draft Day Limited Signature Lids numbered to 5 or less.

Draft Day Limited Lids Combos (6)
Draft Day Limited Lids Combos numbered to 10 or less.

Draft Day Limited Jerseys (6)
Draft Day Limited Jerseys numbered to 100 or less.

Draft Day Limited Signature Jerseys (6)
Draft Day Limited Signature Jerseys numbered to 25 or less.

Draft Day Limited Jerseys Prime (6)
Draft Day Limited Jerseys Prime numbered to 50 or less.

Draft Day Limited Jerseys Prime Signatures (6)
Draft Day Limited Jerseys Prime Signatures numbered to 50 or less.

Draft Day Combos (6)
Draft Day Combos numbered to 50 or less.

Draft Day Combos Prime (6)
Draft Day Combos Prime numbered to 25 or less.

Super Bowl Materials (10)
This magnificent insert includes swatches of a game-worn football and other materials used in Super Bowl XLIII (Pittsburgh-Arizona) and is numbered to 50 or less.

Super Bowl Signature Materials (10)
Super Bowl Signature Materials numbered to 10 or less.

Super Bowl Combo Materials (10)
Super Bowl Combo Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Super Bowl Combo Signature Materials (10)
Super Bowl Combo Signature Materials numbered to 5 or less.

Pro Bowl Materials (5)
This insert features event-worn jersey swatches from the 2009 Pro Bowl in Honolulu and is numbered to 100 or less.

Pro Bowl Signature Materials (5)
Pro Bowl Signature Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Pro Bowl Prime Materials (5)
Pro Bowl Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Pro Bowl Prime Signature Materials (5)
Pro Bowl Prime Signature Materials numbered to 10 or less.

Pro Bowl Combo Materials (15)
Pro Bowl Combo Materials numbered to 100 or less.

Pro Bowl Combo Prime Materials (15)
Pro Bowl Combo Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Pro Bowl Triples Materials (5)
Pro Bowl Triples Materials numbered to 100 or less.

Pro Bowl Triples Prime Materials (5)
Pro Bowl Triples Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Pro Bowl Quad Materials (10)
Pro Bowl Quad Materials numbered to 100 or less.

Pro Bowl Quad Prime Materials (10)
Pro Bowl Quad Prime Materials numbered to 25 or less.

Rookie Lettermen (34)
Spellbinding in its substance and presentation, this singular insert highlights each letter of one of the top rookies in the Class of 2009 taken from an event or game-worn jersey swatch and is numbered to 10 or less.

Pro Bowl Lettermen (37)
Pro Bowl Letterman numbered to 11 or less.

Product Review: 2009 Donruss Limited Football

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For the past few years, Limited has been one of DLP’s best sets. It features the best cards, with the best designs, and the Lettermen are some of the only game used signed letter cards in the biz. This year, with the Panini switch over, there was definitely going to be some major shakeups, some turned out good, while others did not.

Design/Creativity

There is a lot to talk about here, as usual, so I will start at the bottom and work my way up. First off, I hate the base cards again for this set, as they look like they are straight out of the Star Wars trilogy. Too many busy diagonals and the player right in the middle. When you factor in the (still) ugly mirror and raibow foil, it looks awful. Sadly, this also means the scrub autos look horrid, the legend autos are just as bad, and those 1/1 logo base card parallels that we love also suck. It was a poor foundation for this set, and it really put a huge downer on a good looking set from years past.

As for the focus of the set, the rookie patch autos, they are the best they have been since I have started collecting Limited. For once, a company actually uses a diecut pattern that makes perfect sense, and looks good to boot. I bought the Harvin, which brings me to the major problem with these cards. The list of players that have redemptions for one of the most important Panini sets of the year is fucking staggering. Harvin, Nicks, Maclin, so on and so on, all are redemptions. For such awesome cards, I could not believe what I was seeing.

Also, Im not sure why Panini has become so obsessed with blowing smoke up our asses with these stupid ass event used pro-bowl cards. I can tell you right now that ten out of ten times, I would much rather have game used jerseys than these pieces of shit, even the letter patches they inserted here. Plus, not many of the collectors that pull/buy these cards understand that they arent game used, and that really isnt fair to prey on the simple.

Although I think the concept itself is stale, I do like the look of the slideshow signatures this year. The card design is a little busy, but the cards look okay compared to the past. I still don’t know why they just don’t get the cards themselves signed, as the slides have a pretty limiting space once they are put into the windows. Im still waiting for the first mini screen to be put into a card, where you will actually see the player at the premiere doing their thing. That would be cool.

Rating =

Autograph Cards

There are a lot of autograph cards, and most of them look okay, despite being 100% stickers in a mid end market that has moved away from labels. I said above that I absolutely love the rookie patch autos, and I will stick by that. The design of the cards, as well as the placement of everything just worked remarkably well, especially with the word logos from all the NFL teams. There arent very many parallels of the cards either, which makes them even better.

The Cut autos went from looking cool on the sell sheets to weird in the packs, and im not sure why it changed. On the sell sheet, the cards when from having pictures on them to being pictureless in the packs. On top of that, the space, without a player picture, almost looks like a glory hole viewing the cut itself. Its really too bad that more companies are going to pictureless cuts, as UD has done the same thing almost exclusively. I believe the licensing is the problem, as you have to work with estates and stuff rather than the players.

I love the dual autographs they have in this product again, very well done. For most of the duals, they paired a rookie with the top living superstar from that team’s past, thus leading to some cool combos. Sanchez/Namath, Crabtree/Rice, etc. They also did ones like Montana/Rice, Aikman/Emmitt, etc, which fills out the set really well. These are low numbered, and are some of the top pulls in the set.

The Rookie Lettermen arent that bad this year either, as the design hasn’t changed much in the last few years. They are some of the only signed rookie premiere used letters, other than NT, and they are actually a great idea. The problem is that this year, they signed with a huge, thick paint pen, so a good portion of the autos look really weird. Having a situation like this is fucking typical Panini. Great.

If you havent seen the crown royale 2008 cards, consider yourself lucky. These are some of the worst autograph cards of the year, and are obviously left-overs from last year that were inserted to claim they have an on-card element for the set. The stupid part is that they signed in dark pen on a dark card, and you can barely see the auto. The diecut design is fucking awful, and I cant believe people are thinking these cards are a good addition. So let me get this straight, you dig into the store room for a rejected on card set of the 2008 rookie class in a 2009 set? Someone tell me how that made it through QC. Panini and on card autos never mix, they are like oil and water. Holy hell.

Mainly, the only real complaint I have about the autographs in this set is that they have redemptions for rookie premiere players. I have said it before and will say it again when the same thing happens for Gridiron Gear, THIS IS FUCKING INEXCUSABLE. Planning is key, and if you cant get the captive audience at the premiere to sign all their shit instead of signing thousands of extra autographs for friends and employees of the company, you need to answer for your mistake. Bush league right there.

Rating =

Relic Cards

Where the auto cards succeeded, the relic cards failed, poor designs, horrible concepts, and floating windows. All the normal stuff. Starting with the base cards, they used a sort of “up arrow” for their jersey cards, and with a diagonally proficient design going the other way, it looks like the players are getting smashed by the closing doors. This also takes away the great logo 1/1s from last year, which looked great, as this year it’s a toothy box instead of a circle.

The pro-bowl laden jersey part of this product is completely worthless, and I hope it do
esn’t sneak into NT to ruin it even more than it has for Limited and Certified. Its scary to me that people are paying hundreds for these cards thinking they are game used, when really they are from a player event during the pro-bowl weekend, where the players did the jersey on, jersey off dance like the rookie premiere.

Personally, those pro-bowl cards arent even the worst of the set, as that title belongs to the jumbo jersey cards. Each rookie and some veterans have a card where they are being attacked by a big block of jersey that looks about as out of place as you can get. They have stupid parallels where they change the floating box to a diecut jersey, but overall, these are the worst relic cards I have seen in a long time.

Rating =

Value to the Collector

Limited is the first Panini set of the year that I would support buying. The cards will hold their value, the boxes are pretty good as the price comes down, and you have a fun break if you can pull one of the cool cards from the many auto sets.

Right now, the price is already around 80 bucks, down from 100, and for two autos that isnt a bad deal when you see some of the possibilities. I still say that the plain relics should be ditched industry wide for a year or two, but those cards arent why you buy Limited.

Im also VERY glad they went back to the 1 pack box, as last year it was overkill with as many cards as there were. The one pack box should be something that more companies adopt, as football and base cards are only good in two sets, both with Chrome in the title.

Rating =


Overall Impressions

Limited is the best Panini product this year, and probably will be that way through National Treasures. They went back to what works for them, and this set shows the improvement. I still think it gets blown away by a set like SPA, where all the autos are on card, and it starts at about the same price, so that will need to be considered once the best products of the year come out.

See, Topps owns the beginning of the calendar, Panini owns the middle (poorly), and Upper Deck gets the end. Obviously, this set is the product MVP of the middle, and with on card autos, it could have been one of the best of the year maybe.

We will see how the rest of the year turns out.

Average Rating =

2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Limited (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Bowman Chrome (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
19. Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
20. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)