Hobby Box Break and Review: '10-'11 Panini Classics

This might have been the most fun box of cards I have opened in months. It might have had one of the single best pulls I could have asked for out of a box of basketball cards. I should hug Panini for sending this box to review.

Let's get right to it. The '10-'11 Panini Classics hobby box contains 18 packs with 8 cards per pack. According to Blowout Cards each box should also contain:

- 2 Autographs (including 1 Autographed Rookie #'d/699 or less) and 2 Memorabilia Cards
- At Least 1 Legend (#'d/999) per Box
- At Least 12 Inserts per Box

My first pack was a little annoying, I had tweeted that I pulled 2 LeBron James base cards. Upon further inspection, one was a Timeless Tributes card, and the other the base card. So that was kind of a relief. A double in the first pack would have worried me for the rest of the box.

Here are the scans of the loot in the box.

Sample of what the base cards look like. For those interested in building the set, it can be done with one box if you are just looking for the 100 card base set. The Legends cards are 101-140 and are short print serial numbered cards.

I was able to put together one base set, and have 28 doubles left over.


LeBron James Timeless Tributes /250



Chris Webber Legend /250

Jerry West Legend/999

Classic Combos Magic Johnson & James Worthy. I like this idea and the design looks kind of retro so that makes this a fun card. At least to me it's fun. It also makes me feel old to see players in a "classic" product that I watched as a kid.

Classic Moments Kevin Durant

Classic Greats Walt Frazier, he's stylin' and pofilin'. I may save this card to give my brother since he seems to find humor in the ridiculous things that fly out of his mouth on the Knicks games.


Dress Code - Dwayne Wade and Andre Iguodala


Blast From the Past - This is my personal favorite sub set in the product. There's just something about these cards that really appeals to me and for some reason they make me think of my Adidas superstar sneakers of the good old days.


Dress Code Prime Jason Kidd patch /25 The patch is technically 3 colors, you can see the turquoise color next to the white stripe... if you look very closely. Love this card, mostly because it is not just a boring plain swatch but the piece on the card is from the jersey lettering and it feels cool.



Membership Kevin Johnson /499 The design for this relic set is boring to me. It looks like those cards from the Topps America or whatever stupid set they put pieces of the space shuttle in. This card reminds me of the card I pulled with a piece of spaceship. Sorry Panini, this one is a dud.


I think this is definitely worth point out: the autographs are all on card. There are no silver stickers, there are no stealth clear stickers. Ink on card. I think the design of the autograph cards suits the set well, and also leaves plenty of room in case a player has a crazy big signature or a crazy long name.

Rookie Autograph Larry Sanders /699


Rookie Autograph Landry Fields /699

Rookie Autograph John Wall /199 Oh snap! A nice John Wall ON CARD auto just for me!

Overall this product delivers plenty of bang for your buck. (Especially when you end up with an extra hit.) For roughly $81.99 per box you are guaranteed 2 game used, and 2 autos plus a variety of serial numbered inserts. You are also coming away with a complete base set, plus extras to trade away. Throw in that the autographs are on card and not stickers or redemptions and Panini has themselves a winner with this product. I'm sure there are redemptions in the product as a whole but I'm basing this all on my experience.

If you have made it this far into reading the review you have earned the chance at a reward. Every person who leaves a comment on what they think of the product will be entered into a drawing to win the base set of 100 cards, plus the 2 Legends. Entries will be accepted from today until Wednesday at midnight.

Panini should give thanks for John Wall

There are two NBA rookies driving the market right now: Blake Griffin and John Wall.

Panini must be loving John Wall right now though. With their exclusive in the NBA market, they needed something to drive collectors to their cards. Other than Wall and Griffin, the rookie class is fairly light this year. But Griffin's rookie cards are not from this year's sets. They are from 2009-2010

That leaves just one guy - the Washington Wizards first overall draft pick.

Wall has had some outstanding games for the Wizards this season and has scored in double digits in every game so far. In 10 games, he’s averaging 18.0 points and 9.1 assists per game.

Wall has had problems with his health this year. He has missed five games this year and recently missed a game with a bruised right knee.

Even so, Wall is selling well and is the driving force behind this year’s Panini products. If it wasn't for Wall, the secondary market for cards this year may have been a bit watered down. There are those who still have high hopes on players such as DeMarcus Cousins and Evan Turner, but their cards aren't going to for as much as Wall's.

Wall’s 2010-11 Limited Gold Spotlight patch/autograph /10 sold for 1,200 on eBay recently.

His 2010-11 Rookie and Stars patch/autos sell for above $500.

We all love a hot rookie who lives to hype.