Black Box Intrigue: Panini America Readies Rare Gems for 2013 Industry Summit

With the 2013 Industry Summit now less than a week away (man, that year went fast), Panini America officials — including project point men Scott Prusha and David Sharp — have steadfastly been putting the finishing touches on the legendary Black Boxes that have come to virtually define one of the sports collectibles industry’s most important events.

Panini America 2013 Industry Summit Black Box Main

With the 2013 Industry Summit now less than a week away (man, that year went fast), Panini America officials — including project point man Scott Prusha — have steadfastly been putting the finishing touches on the legendary Black Boxes that have come to virtually define one of the sports collectibles industry’s most important events.

The showstopping Black Boxes provide an explosive conclusion to the Panini America corporate address every year; so expect the hobby to be gripped by some seismic shifts originating from Las Vegas at about this time next week. Once you see the hits we have in store for Summit attendees this year, you’ll know exactly why.

To be sure, the laborious, hand-picked process of assembling these Black Box beauties is a massive undertaking. The payoff, of course, is that it produces some of the most gorgeous must-have cards in the hobby every year. For an exclusive sneak peek at the prime memorabilia selections dotting the checklist this year, we present the massive gallery below.

And be sure to stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance all week long. We’ll showcase some of the autograph hits tomorrow. Friday, we’ll reveal exciting details behind a special bonus inclusion in this year’s Black Boxes.

The cards used to create the Black Box hits include small quantities of overruns from our roster of products printed specifically for inclusion in Black Boxes and for other hobby marketing promotions. It’s something like a multisport Greatest Hits collection incorporating highlights of the year’s best Panini America sets. Every Black Box built for the 2013 Industry Summit will include a slabbed prime memorabilia or autographed card numbered to only one. But this year, Panini America officials are raising the bar by including a little something extra in those boxes. (We’ll have more on that Friday.)

Panini America has been wowing Summit attendees since delivering the first Black Boxes in 2002. Now the signature end to the company’s Summit-wide address, “Black Box” day has become one of the highlights of the show. After looking at the following images, you’ll understand why.

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51 Replies to “Black Box Intrigue: Panini America Readies Rare Gems for 2013 Industry Summit”

  1. I guess I don’t understand, were these specially created, bought back from secondary, or do you pull top hits out of products prior to pack out from the checklist meant for everyone and distribute them to select industry insiders? I mean I guess I’m happy for the people at the summit but I’d be a little disappointed if my odds of pulling a prime patch were lowered to do it.

    1. We DO NOT pull hits from a product prior to packout.

      As mentioned in the story, “the cards used to create the Black Box hits include small quantities of overruns from our roster of products printed specifically for inclusion in Black Boxes and for other hobby marketing promotions.”

      1. I wouldn’t have really thought you would, I guess I just don’t understand the process of how overruns work, if it’s prime hits it’s obviously planned. Sorry if it came off accusatory.. just confused. Beautiful hits, very jealous.

  2. This may be a dumb question, but is there ANY WAY that people who cant attend the summit have a chance to get one of these? These are amazing! Thanks!

  3. Always wished I could attend. But I can’t. Anyway, I do enjoy the galleries and once again Panini has done a great job awarding their fans and collectors. Some sweet and sickening cards to drool over.

    1. I’m sure Tracy will give some of these away to some of the readers here on Knight’s Lance. I’m also guessing that we will be required to like their facebook, follow them on twitter and subscribe to them on the blog. But, I am sure there will be some people that will find this to be too much of a hassle.

  4. Those are some very nice cards. But im not to thrilled on how this works. Mostly hobby shop owners end up getting these cards and us true collectors then have to front a few hundred bucks for these cards when they hit eBay.
    And im guessing this takes up a lot of time to get all these cards ready, time that could have been spend more wisely (11-12 XRC auto rookie redemptions, other pending redemptions, limiting future redemptions, new designs, etc.)

    I wish all the shop owners the best of luck with their Black Boxes, but nothing really for me and many other collectors to be happy about as i have no chance what so ever to actually getting one of the cards (unless i pay those insane amounts).

    Still a beautifull sneek peek, and yes i am jealous!

    1. Not directly from us, although you’ll likely be able to find them online from Summit attendees. Stay tuned, though. We’re likely to have a contest right here on the blog to award some of these beauties.

  5. There is some beautiful patches on these!!

    Two questions: 1, Will there be a checklist of these available at some stage? and 2, when you say “the cards used to create the Black Box hits include small quantities of overruns from our roster of products printed specifically for inclusion in Black Boxes and for other hobby marketing promotions.” Does this mean that these are serial numbered differently to those packed in boxes?

    Keep up the good work guys!

  6. Please just send the Namath card directly to me. It will save me a lot of time and effort trying to track it down after it has been distributed. You can do that, right?

  7. Oh. My. God. Those have got to be the nicest cards I have seen in one single gallery. I am totally bummed my flight gets in on the 20th 🙁 I have always wanted a chance to go to one of these. Very cool! Yall are going to make some really lucky people very very happy.

  8. AMAZING !!! Would give anything to have any of the Walter Paytons..cant wait to see how, if any way, we can win one. Thanks Tracy

  9. Great now I need a new laptop because this one just got soaked with drool. That is insane the number of amazing cards available, they look crazy and would be enough to draw me to Vegas just to try and get one. Another amazing promo by the great ones at Panini.

  10. Don’t mean to rain on the parade here, but I find it difficult to show excitement over something that’s simply not available to the average collector. And it’s a shame, cause a lot of these cards are real beauties.

    I would like to see a better diversity for hockey too. Seems like all the sports are getting a nice royal treatment, but the hockey looks kinda bland… Maybe it’s the selection you had, but some of those football patches are insane!

    Still very nice of you to post these up, Tracy, thanks!

  11. Panini America’s Black Box is my favorite part of The Summit. In 2011, I pulled a Taylor Hall Auto Patch RC 1/1. In 2012, I pulled a Gold Standard Cam Newton Auto Patch RC 1/1. Now the pressure is on. Can I go three for three? Is there a Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson Auto RC 1/1 in Sport Cards Plus’ future??? We had a 2012 Panini Prime Signatures Robert Griffin III Auto NFL LOGO Patch RC 1/1 pulled in our store….. Is that a sign???

  12. I am going to the convention for the first time and want to make sure to get one of these beauties. How and when will these be distributed? I don’t want to miss out on this!

  13. Wow! That Tom Brady Stadium Stars is a must have for any collector. Thanks Panini for showcasing some of the best cards from 2012. Keep up the Awesome work:)

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