On the Routing Table Today: Limited, Century Collection, Timeless Treasures
I was high-tailing it down the far corridor toward the Product Development room today when I was stopped in my size-10 tracks by the vibrant, stop-sign-red shade of paperwork perched predominantly atop the infamous "routing table." In particular, these gifted pieces of paper contained the first gorgeous looks I'd seen of some inserts slated for 2010 Century Collection, due out in late December. Based on this early glance, it's…
A Few Quality Minutes with the Phoenix Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The Swedish-born Oliver Ekman-Larsson has a name like a law firm but he's way more offensive. The point-minded defenseman, the sixth overall pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, has scored 16 points in 21 career international games. He helped Sweden to bronze-medal finishes in both the 2010 World Junior Championships and World Championships, tallying eight…
Quality Controlling 2010 Certified Football (Must-See Gallery and Video)
I don't care what anybody says, Panini America Football Brand Manager Carlos Torrez is a good dude, and here's how I know: He tipped me off just before lunch that he and Product Development Director Ben Ecklar were in the process of quality controlling 2010 Certified Football (tough job, huh?). So I grabbed my trusty Flip Video camera and iPhone and set off…
Panini America Mail Day: A Most Legendary Brian Leetch Game-Worn Rangers Sweater
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qel1eVMrhaI&fs=1&hl=en_US] Spend two minutes with one of Panini America's newest arrivals, a game-worn Brian Leetch sweater from the 2001-02 New York Rangers season bearing a patch of extreme significance.
Pau Gasol ‘Very Interested in the Product’
Late last week, during an impromptu, quick-turnaround trip to Phoenix for a signing session with exclusive spokesman Kobe Bryant, Panini America's Samantha Newman and Brian Bayne took advantage of the proximity and sat down with Lakers center Pau Gasol, too. The Spanish center, a key cog on the last two ring-winning Lakers championship teams, earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and is a…
In the House: A Gallery of Recent Autograph Arrivals
During just the first two days of this week, we've had an NBA legend stop by Panini America headquarters to sign some of his autographs and we've seen Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant discuss via Twitter his recent signing for our company. As a result, their two names have popped up recently in the daily emails from…
Panini Behind the Scenes: Cards . . . Before They Become Cards
Look, I don't know how else to really bring this up so I'll just come right out and ask: Have you ever wondered what trading cards look like before they're trading cards? You know, before they're all UV-glossy and rectangled and emblazoned with printing technology or autographs or memorabilia or all three? Well, at just the right angle under just the right light, they look a…