Base-Set Photography Set to Steal the Show in Panini America’s 2012 Gridiron Football

Ladies, gentlemen, distinguished guests, members of the Trading Card Academy, we respectfully submit to you today that the award for Best Photography in a 2012 NFL Trading Card Set already has been won -- even if the set in which it appears has yet to release.

Ladies, gentlemen, distinguished guests, members of the Trading Card Academy, we respectfully submit to you today that the award for Best Photography in a 2012 NFL Product already has been won — and the set in which appears hasn’t even released yet.

The evidence to substantiate our submission can be found in the fascinating gallery below detailing — quite simply — some of the most dynamic, emotional and action-packed imagery featured on football cards in a long, long time.

It represents more than just the very essence of Sunday afternoons in the NFL, it also represents one of the fundamental reasons Panini America officials decided to change the name of an entire product. Gridiron Gear Football is no longer. Next Wednesday, 2012 Gridiron Football will take its place.

“This is a set where design gave photo the freedom to show these players doing something other than just running or just throwing or just catching,” said Jeff Olson, Panini America Photo Manager. “You can find great examples of those shots in virtually every other product we make. But Gridiron provided us the opportunity to showcase the unique personalities of the players or those poignant, sentimental moments from particular games or plays or celebrations that never get their due. In 2012 Gridiron Football, they do.”

There’s certainly much more to 2012 Gridiron Football than a new name and knockout photography (such as the calling-card Rookie Hidden Gems pull-out autographs, the vaunted Xs and Os parallels and the venerable Gridiron Kings), and we’ll have extensive previews of all of those things and more next week right here on The Knight’s Lance.

But today is all about peeking just some of the award-worthy base-card scenery sure to have football collectors buzzing. In fact, we’re so enthralled with what we saw during the QC process earlier this week that we’re going to preview some of the most compelling photography over the course of three consecutive posts, starting with today’s.

THE KNIGHT’S LANCE SECOND BLOGOVERSARY CONTEST ALERT
As part of our continued countdown to next week’s second blogoversary of The Knight’s Lance, we’re going to sneak the second blogoversary logo onto one image in today’s gallery, one image in tomorrow’s gallery and one image in Sunday’s gallery. Your task is to find the three images over the next three days that include that logo and post the names of all three images (which is listed below the card in the rotating gallery) as a comment TO THIS POST. Entries are due by the end of the day Sunday and one winner selected at random from all correct entries will win a special uncut sheet of 2012 Gridiron Football.

Got all that? Good. Let the eye candy commence . . .

Share

121 Replies to “Base-Set Photography Set to Steal the Show in Panini America’s 2012 Gridiron Football”

  1. WOW! Love those action shots (except when players are celebrating a score against the Eagles-but that’s besides the point). Great base cards. Can’t wait to see the inserts! Very colorful and it is refreshing to see some different backgrounds/angles used.

    1. Oh, and just so everyone knows. We’ll wait to approve all the comments for this contest until after the deadline Sunday night. That way, no one can see anyone else’s answers until it’s too late.

  2. Pingback: Anonymous
        1. There’s an image name under each card in the rotating gallery. Capture that image name for each of the three cards featuring the Knight’s Lance blogoversary logo over the weekend.

  3. 1st one is The KNight’s lance is turning 2 on Devin Hester. Do you care if we do all three posts seperate or do you just want one post. I really dig the look of the cards btw.

  4. Gridiron needed a revamp, the sales have been sluggish last couple of years This is refreshing I think our setbuilders will love the look and the idea behind each card. I love different, horizontal is right up my alley. Put your set in a binder to look @ it anytime the mood hits ya,great moments from great games. Have you decided to delete Threads from the lineup this year have customers asking… Thanks for all the great cards…..

  5. The Charles Woodson, Mike Williams, Victor Cruz, Matt Hasselbeck, and Greg Jennings shots are all incredible (I wish Freeman were more consistent because Mike Williams would be staking his claim in the NFL right now). The Michael Vick and Devin Hester cards are some of the most radical cards I’ve seen for those guys. Can’t wait to see the Ravens and other Vikings.

    It reminds me a lot of when card companies began to put out vibrant shots on glossy stock in the mid-90’s.

    I hope it goes over real well, because – if you collect a specific player or team – these shots give you a reason to collect the non-rookie, non-rare cards of those players (and that’s not a knock on Panini but on the industry in general).

  6. man, the crown was ok, but these base cards are what football cards should be all about! I might do a base set of these puppies!

  7. CONTEST ENTRY:

    Friday-The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!

    Saturday-Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

    Sunday-Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Thanks for the contest. Way tricky on the placement of the logo today!!

    Great cards overall!!

  8. Friday- The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Saturday- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sunday- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  9. 2 shots that I would love to see blown up… Miles Austin and Ndamukong Suh.

    Here are the three photos. By the way, good one with the third photo.

    Image #1 – panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-12.jpg
    Image #2 – panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-65.jpg
    Image #3 – panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-73.jpg

    Hope I win the sheet and put it up on a wall in the Man Cave.

    Cheers Panini!

  10. Here are the titles to the cards with the blogoversary logo (They are on Devin Hester, Brandon Pettigrew and Santonio Holmes’ cards respectively):
    1. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73
    Thanks for all the giveaways! Happy Birthday to The Knight’s Lance!

  11. Friday – The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Saturday – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sunday – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Thanks

  12. Okay…heres my post to enter:
    *FRIDAY was on Devin Hester- “The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!”
    *Saturday was on Brandon Pettigrew- “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football base 65”
    *Sunday is on Santonio Holmes- “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73”
    HAVE AN AWESOME DAY PANINI AMERICA & TRACY HACKLER!!! HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!:-)

  13. Found all 3 now Tracy
    1: Devin Hester card
    2: Brandon Pettigrew card
    3: Santonio Holmes

    Some awesome photography in there guys, especially liking the Beason from update #3. Good luck to all in the contest.

    Rich

  14. 1. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2! (Devin Hester)
    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65 (Brandon Pettigrew)
    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73 (Santonio Holmes)

    Great contest! Thanks Panini!
    Congrats on the 2nd year and well wishes towards the future!

  15. Love the Drew Brees. Unbelievable photography and great job compiling this set. This will be the next set I complete. Reminds me of the pro set insert set in 1991 or 1990 – where they focused on really intense photography. Thanks for creating a product like this!

  16. ok well i think i have found em all.

    1- devin hester
    2-brandon pettigrew
    3. santonio holmes

    thanks tracy and panini team! this was fun, like a treasure hunt! have a great sunday,enjoy some football!!

    1. ok well i think i have found em all.
      1- devin hester- the knights lance is turning 2!
      2-brandon pettigrew-panini america 2012 gridiron football base 65
      3. santonio holmes-panini america 2012 gridiron football base 73
      thanks tracy and panini team! this was fun, like a treasure hunt! have a great sunday,enjoy some football!!

  17. Way to sneak in the 3rd mystery logo onto the sideline press pass on the Santonio Holmes shot! Devin Hester on yesterdays blog & Brandon Pettigrew from day 1

  18. haha.. didnt read the instructions.. so here we go again. Hester ” the knight’s lance is turning 2, Pettigrew “panini america 2012 gridiron football base 73, Holmes ” panini america 2012 girdiron football base 65.

  19. 1st: The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2nd: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    3rd: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  20. Devin Hester: The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Brandon Pettigrew: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    SaNTONIO Holmes: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    thanks guys.

  21. 1.The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  22. Let’s see if I’ve got this right …
    Friday: The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Saturday: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sunday: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Thanks! And congratulations!

  23. The three cards with the Knights Lance logo on them are Friday’s – Devin Hester, Saturday’s – Brandon Pettigrew andSunday’s – Santonio Holmes. Thanks again for the contests they are awesome and fun. Keep up the great work on your cards.

    1. Sorry I realized you also want the name as it appears in the gallery, Friday was The Knight’s Lance is Turning 2, Saturday is Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65, and Sunday is Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73. Hope it is okay that I have it in 2 posts.

  24. Day 1 Devin Hester Chicago Bears ( The Knight’s Lance is Turning 2!)

    Day 2 Brandon Pettigrew Detroit Lions ( Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65)

    Day 3 Santonio Holmes New York Jets
    P
    A
    N
    I
    N
    I
    A
    M
    E
    R
    I
    C
    A
    2
    0
    1
    2
    G
    R
    I
    D
    I
    R
    I
    O
    N
    F
    O
    O
    T
    B
    A
    L
    L
    B
    A
    S
    E
    7
    3

  25. Part 1: The Knights Lance is Turning 2
    Part 2: Panini America 2012 Girdiron Football Base 65
    Part 3: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  26. Santonio Holmes
    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Devin Hester
    The Knight’s Lance is Turning 2!

    Brandon Pettigrew
    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

  27. 1st Gallery: Devin Hester “The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!”
    2nd Gallery: Brandon Pettigrew “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65”
    3rd Gallery: Santonio Holmes “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73”

  28. Thanks as always for the contest Tracy, I hope I understood what you were looking for here:

    Friday – Devin Hester (The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!, logo is on the blue wall)

    Saturday – Brandon Pettigrew (Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65, logo is in the bottom left corner under the player’s helmet)

    Sunday – Santonio Holmes (Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73, logo is on the photgrapher’s ID card)

  29. devin hester the knights lance is turning 2,brandon pettigrew panini america 2012 gridiron football base 65,santonio holmes panini america 2012 gridiron football base 73

  30. 1. Friday- Devin Hester ” The Knights Lace is turning 2″
    2. Saturday- Brandon Pettigrew “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Gear Base 65”
    3. Sunday- Santonio Holmes “Panini America Gridiron Gear Base 73”

    Those are the 3 cards with the secret symbol embedded in the image.

  31. for the contest:
    pt. 1 1st one is The KNight’s lance is turning 2
    pt. 2 Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    pt. 3 Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  32. Hidden Logo Photo Descriptions:
    Friday: “The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!”
    Saturday: “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65”
    Sunday: “Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73”

    Awesome looking cards. thanks for the preview and contest!

  33. Found them all! Thanks again Panini they are:
    1. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!

    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  34. Contest Entry!
    1)The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2)Panini America Gridiron Football Base 65
    3)Panini America Gridiron Foorball Base 73

    Hope I win!

  35. Knights Lance Contest
    Day 1- The Knights Lance is turning 2!
    Day 2- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Day 3- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  36. If I understood the directions right
    part 1, Knight’s Lance is turning 2 (thought it would be Base 21)
    part 2, Base 65
    part 3, Base 73
    The camera work in Gridiron is PHENOMENAL!!! 🙂

  37. I hope this is right, copied and paste the names of the image files:

    panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-12

    panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-65

    panini-america-2012-gridiron-football-base-73

  38. Friday – The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Saturday – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sunday – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  39. Ok since I can’t tell if my last post went through here it is again
    The Knight’s Lance is turning 2! Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65 Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73
    Devin Hester Brandon Pettigrew Santonio Holmes
    Thanks for the Contest

  40. The Knights Lance is turning 2! Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73. Thanks Tracy cant wait for unwrapped.

  41. Very tricky!! 1) The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2) Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    3) Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  42. Photo #1 – The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Photo #2 – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Photo #3 – Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    The photography in this set is remarkable. Great work again from Panini and another great interactive contest as well.

    Keep it comin’

  43. **EDIT** made a typo here are the correct ones
    the 3 comments under the cards are

    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

    The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!

  44. Here is my answers
    Day 1-Devin Hester
    Day 2- Brandon Pettigrew
    Day 3- Santonio Holmes

    Now I need to win. Good Luck to everybody.

  45. Friday- The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Saturday- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sunday- Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  46. i got the three:
    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73(Santonio Holmes)
    The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!(devin Hester)
    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65(Brandon Pettigrew)

  47. Fri: The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Sat: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Sun: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  48. Devin hester, Brandon pettigrew, and Santonio Holmes. The writing under the images were: The knight’ lance is turning 2, Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football base 65 and Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football base 74. Base set looks great! can’t wait to get some!

  49. #1: The Knights Lance is Turning 2
    #2: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    #3: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Thanks for the contest

  50. Friday:Hester(The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!)
    Saturd:Pettigrew(Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65)
    Sunday:Holmes(Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73)

  51. day 1 the knights lance is turning 2 …. day 2 panini america 2012 gridirion football base 65 ….. day 3 panini america 2012 gridiron foortballbase 73

  52. correction for misspelling in first reply
    day 1 the knights lance is turning 2
    day 2 panini america 2012 gridirion football base 65
    day 3.panini america 2012 gridiron football base 73

  53. Devin Hester The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    Brandon Pettigrew Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    Santonio Holmes Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  54. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!, Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65, Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    1. Oh wait, you mean the fie names?

      Gallery 1: The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
      Gallery 2: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
      Gallery 3: Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

      Either way, I’m covered now. lol.

  55. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!

    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

    Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  56. Thanks Panini for this awesome scavenger hunt! The answers are as follows:

    1. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!

    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65

    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

  57. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!, Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65, Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73. Thanks for the contest. The third one was quite a bit tougher to find than I expected.

  58. Once again, Panini America fans and collectors have proven why they are the best on the planet. Thanks to everyone for participating in this little scavenger hunt. Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did. Alas, there could be only one winner in this contest. That winner — as chosen out of all eligible entrants with the help of random.org — is patsfb. Congratulations and thanks again.

  59. hey tracy, i think i messed up. i posted my answer to the scavenger hunt under the card with the title the knights lance turns 2! instead of here . does that make a difference or am i disqualified?????????????

  60. Oh no not the random monster.. How I wish somebody on the Internet would come up with a new way to scramble names.. That thing and I don’t get along at all 🙂 I’m sure others feel the same way..anyway congrats to the winner and thanks for the contest .

  61. These cards capture the essence of football. As one commentator stated, love the portrait and landscape looks that you give us. Of course as an RGIII collector, this will be a challenge getting new and different cards, but I am sure they will be awesome nonetheless.

  62. Here are the titles to the cards with the blogoversary logo. They are on Devin Hester, Brandon Pettigrew and Santonio Holmes’ cards
    1. The Knight’s Lance is turning 2!
    2. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 65
    3. Panini America 2012 Gridiron Football Base 73

    Congrats Tracy on 2 years!!!! Keep up the Good work!!!!!

Leave a Reply to Mal Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *