The annual holiday slowdown in new sports card products gradually ramps up as January unfolds. Here’s a look at the major releases during the first three weeks of 2020.
January 3
2019-20 Contenders NBA
Draft products are OK, but collectors generally prefer the pro version of Panini’s products and Contenders basketball should be one of the more popular releases of the season. The long-running brand will offer ten cards per pack, 12 packs per box and 12 boxes per case. On average, each hobby box will have two autographs with the Rookie Tickets and their parallel versions among the most sought after cards of the season.
First Off the Line boxes are already out. There will be blaster boxes with some exclusive content for retail buyers. You can check out the eBay market here.
2019 Contenders NFL
The hobby version of Contenders will have 18 packs per box with six cards per pack. Each box will include five autographs, on average, with at least one of those being on-card. Also included will be 18 inserts and one parallel, on average.
You can locate boxes online for $240-$250. Exclusive to hobby boxes are Golden and Silver Tickets of the stars and top rookies.
January 15
2019 Panini Limited Football
Limited returns with three five-card packs per box. Each box will have two autographs and one memorabilia card including one Rookie Patch Autograph. Among the major hits: Draft Day Signature Booklets, which contain a piece from the actual jersey held on stage at the 2019 NFL Draft.
2019-20 Upper Deck Trilogy Hockey
Trilogy has undergone a configuration change from last year, with a smaller output and smaller price tag (around $100 on eBay right now). Each box will have six packs with four cards per pack. Each box will now have two autograph and/or memorabilia cards, along with two numbered rookie cards and two numbered inserts or parallels.
Crystallized joins Auto Focus and Scripted Hall of Fame Plaques as Upper Deck’s newest plexi-card insert. All three boast hard-signed autographs of current superstars and legends on clear plexiglass substrate.
January 17
2019-20 Panini Revolution Basketball
Revolution is one product where the emphasis isn’t on autographs, but the colorful inserts and parallels. Autographs do fall one in every other box, however.
Hobby boxes will contain eight packs with five cards in each. There will be 16 boxes per case. Each box (currently $120-$150 online) should have four rookie cards, eight parallels and four inserts along with 24 other cards.
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