The strangeness that has enveloped the NBA’s calendar has made life interesting for its trading card partner. With the 2019-20 season ending in the fall, no rookie photo shoot, no Summer League or traditional early fall training camp, Panini America has had to push some products back. They’ve also had to push some products out without actually knowing who’s playing where.
“We’ve done a couple of different things,” Panini’s Jason Howarth told The Sporting News for this story. “We’ve had signing sessions with players, in a socially-distanced, safe way. We have people in markets who helped us on that front if we were not in the market. That was a key piece.”
Without being able to get an early handle on which young players might have a sizeable impact on their teams, deciding who to market has been much tougher for the company.
Here’s the CBS station in Dallas with a story on the hobby boom including a visit with Nick’s Sports Cards:
There was a time not long ago when collectors thought Robinson Cano might be a guy to latch onto, whether through cards or autographs. He was a Yankee with a strong track record and a seemingly bright future.
He left the Yankees and now a second PED suspension will put Cano completely off the radar in 2021. Yahoo Sports dove into the memorabilia angle.
You’ve seen his cards–maybe even own one or two–but have you ever heard Honus Wagner speak?
A short, but fascinating clip of Wagner—still a very active Pirates coach at age 59—has been making its way around social media this week.
Shot in 1933, the film includes a couple of audio clips of Wagner talking about his playing career and the evolution of gloves. It also shows him taking infield and coaching (probably scripted for the camera).
1933: Honus Wagner talking about his career, taking some swings & fielding ground balls. This is amazing! @Pirates pic.twitter.com/sa1Hkwz0CS
— Stirrups Now! (@uniformcritic) November 15, 2020
Listen closely and you can hear others on the field refer to him as “John,” “Johnny” or “Honny.” It’s a little hard to discern but baseball owes a huge thanks to anyone who had a hand in shooting it—and preserving it.
Related Stories:
2020-21 Panini Basketball Release Calendar Shifts with Season Delay
In Danger? Honus Wagner Fears for His Life in 1910 Notebook Entry
There’s Now a Giant Baseball Card Mural in Arkansas
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