Panini America will once again produce Instant cards of 40 of the top picks in this year’s NFL Draft. They’ll use college photos of the players but include the name and logo of the NFL team that drafts them. The checklist is comprised mostly of skill position players.
In addition to made-to-order base versions, there will also be parallel versions including Red (numbered to 25), the all-new Versicolor (numbered to five) and Black 1/1 parallel versions. The standard cards are $9.99 but can be as little as $4 when purchased in lots of 25.
There’s also an option this year to purchase the complete 40-card set for $149.99. 25 complete sets will cost $2,499.
Panini is also doing a 2021 NFL Draft Night NFT Blockchain series with seven top picks on 1/1 digital trading cards that will animate each player into his respective new NFL jersey and team after he is selected.
Each will be available in real-time through Panini America’s Blockchain platform. The players being featured — Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Fields and Trey Lance — are all expected to be off the board early Thursday night.
The cards will be made available in an auction format beginning Friday, April 30 starting at 3 p.m. (ET) with the auction closing on Monday, May 3 at 5 p.m. (ET).
Montana collector Kirk Dehler is on quite a roll. This National Treasures RPA of Justin Herbert was one he pulled from a box at KAB Collectibles in Billings and more than paid for his investment. But on another trip to the shop he also snared a big 1/1 hit from Topps Definitive—one the company touted last month on social media.
MTN News stopped by the shop to see what all of the hobby fuss was about.
Goldin Auctions is putting some of that $40 million it received from an investor group to use. The company has hired several new employees and department heads from the sports, tech and commerce sectors.
Goldin says it is continuing its plans to create “a one-stop-shop for collectors to not only buy and sell rare and valuable collectibles, but to also connect and share their passion for the hobby.”
The company’s new hires include Sam Farber, who left his job as Senior Vice President of Digital at the NBA. He’ll “lead content strategy and partner development opportunities,” according to Goldin. They’ve also hired a leaders in Operations and Supply Chain; Finance and Business, Customer Experience, Product and Technology.
“Given the explosion in the hobby over the last few years, we are focused on bringing in world-class talent to Goldin to help bring our members the best experience possible, from achieving maximum reach for consignors to making it easy for bidders to discover and receive their collectibles as quickly as possible,” said Goldin Auctions CEO Ross Hoffman. “We are focusing on technology, operations and audience, with personalization at the center of everything we do.”
Certified Collectibles Group, parent company of sports card grading newcomer CSG, has increased its sign-on bonus for new hires to $2,500.
Among the open positions at its Florida headquarters:
• Graders for coins, paper money, trading cards and sports cards
• Accounting Staff
• Assembly Production Operators – Entry level
• Customer Service Representatives
• Human Resources Personnel
• Production Coordinators
• Submission Processing Specialists (Receiving)
• Warehouse Material Handlers
CCG recently purchased a new building that adds 21,000 square feet to CCG’s original 61,000 square foot facility in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, located in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the Gulf Coast.
Related Stories:
What’s Hot in the Shop: Panini Ups Ante on Black Friday
Panini Moving Forward with Instant Draft Night Rookie Cards
NFL’s Top Draft Picks Get Instant Cards
Editor’s Notes: Dr. J’s Favorite Piece of Memorabilia; NHL Jersey Auction; CCG Milestone, DJ Skee Hobby Show
Goldin Auctions Hires New VP; Adds Consignment Director
New Player: CCG To Start Sports Card Authentication and Grading Division
Radio Appreciation Day/Night Minor League Photos Include Hidden Gems
Notes: Bloomberg on Hobby Topics; HOF Happenings; Heritage Hires Maddalena
