General Forum

Hey guys!

Being a modern nba collector I have gotten used to the way Panini runs things. Autos/ serial numbers/ and mem cards galore. Retail blasters guaranteeing a hit etc. When I started to collect MLB at the end of last year with Topps I just felt there wasn't as much pizazz. Minimal sn presence, much lets autos and numbered cards. Is this a Panini vs. Topps thing or an nba vs mlb thing? 

Also, whats the general opinion of don russ mlb? Not being licensed kind of sucks but it seems the product is more of what Im used to being Panini and all.

Thanks!

I think it's more of an MLB vs. NBA thing than a brand thing. MLB still outsells the other sports b/c the fanbase is so large and spread out. Topps doesn't have to try hard to sell MLB products. Apparently, they think the dozen+ insert sets in each product are enough to entice buyers to choose them. Plus, MLB products are usually larger sets than other sports, so there are a ton more cards to chase. With Panini, it also depends on the actual product when it comes to blasters. If you buy a Donruss blaster, it's getting rarer to get any SN'd card. In NASCAR cards, they didn't even guarantee an AU or MEM in those blasters until this year. But if you pick a product with less cards in the box, you'll probably get a card of some type with an SN on it.

As for Panini MLB vs. Topps MLB, I'd buy much more Panini if they could use the team logos. As it stands now and has since Topps got the exclusive MLB license, I rarely ever buy new MLB products at all anymore. I'd rather get NFL or NASCAR cards. Since those are all Panini now, I guess I'm stuck with their cards. I can't speak much for NBA cards though. I haven't actively collected them since 2000.

I really wish that all of the top sports leagues would allow Panini, Topps and Upper Deck to all challenge each other with licensed products in the same sports. I'd like to have the choice again to buy whatever brand I want from the sports I collect. I rarely buy anything new for MLB or NFL now b/c all the products are so watered down. I didn't stop collecting those sports, I just quit buying the new stuff. Now I just trade for the newer cards.

Panini relies too much on player-work memorabilia IMO.  Even if there may be less mem cards they feel more special since they are typically game-worn jerseys.

One difference is that Topps goes heavy with manufactured "memorabilia" in their retail products, especially blasters with one guaranteed in many releases.  Talking about the medallions, and plastic logos, and other stuff that was never in the presence of the athlete on the card. I dont think Panini does that, but I may be wrong.

And now Topps is starting to do color parallels of insert sets, which Panini has done for years, particularly in Score football.  Both overdo the retired players, but Topps seems worse.  I will add that I pulled a 1/1 AU printing plate from a Topps blaster in 2018, but overall numbered cards seem easier in Panini.  But considering that numbering is a sign of scarcity, shouldn't they be hard to pull?  Saying "I want cards that are hard to get, but I want it to be easy to get them" seems like an oxymoron. 

Topps and UD started the "manufactured memorabilia" at about the same time with Topps' WS Patches and UD's Nameplate Patches. I have several of the Topps MANU patches of Cardinals players with a WS logo-patch. I also have a couple of the UD Icons Lettermen MANU patches. Panini still hasn't done that to my knowledge. Topps truly started the "player-worn memorabilia" though. And that crap went rampant through all NFL releases for years (and still does). UD and Panini have done it over the years too. That's all the garbage that comes from the Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot. I don't know exactly how that works for the MLB and NBA though.

What ticks me off more about current MEM cards is Panini not bothering to mention WHAT pieces they put in the cards. In stick-and-ball sports, it could be a piece of jersey or pants and anything else is kinda obvious. But in NASCAR, a firesuit, glove, shoe, etc. could all look and feel exactly the same. If it isn't metal or rubber, who knows where it came from. Also in NASCAR cards, if you pull an SN'd card from a blaster, it's most likely SN999 or SN499. The MEM cards in their blasters are rarely ever SN'd. You can even buy a hobby box of Donruss Racing cards and not pull an SN'd AU or RU card!