From Russia with Inscriptions: The Unique Story of Two Cards from 2010-11 Dominion

In this age of omnipresent technology and immediate communication, where our next exchange is merely a text, Tweet, Facebook post or instant message away, never underestimate the barrier-breaking, international language of Panini America trading cards.

In this age of omnipresent technology and immediate communication, where our next exchange is merely a text, Tweet, Facebook post or instant message away, never underestimate the barrier-breaking, international language of Panini America trading cards.

More specifically, two cards from 2010-11 Dominion Hockey that were intended to be autographed by Russian superstars Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin got the cards first and returned them signed, but it’s what happened afterward that really spoke to us. And thanks to some translation help from Gary Greenstin, Datsyuk’s agent, we have the rest of the story.

After Ovechkin returned the cards to Panini America, NHL acquisitions specialist Alex Carbajal sent the cards to Malkin. He signed his allotment but also took the liberty of inscribing a few personal notes (in Russian, no less), to Datsyuk and Kovalchuk.

His message to Datsyuk: “How are you?”

His message to Kovalchuk: “Smile”

Undaunted, Kovalchuk had a one-word retort for his fellow countryman: “Relax!”

How’s that for behind-the-scenes scoop? Our only question now is what to do with these two cards? You got any suggestions?

Share

42 Replies to “From Russia with Inscriptions: The Unique Story of Two Cards from 2010-11 Dominion”

  1. What a great, humerous story. I like seeing athletes with a sense of humor. I say keep the process going to get them signed properly by all parties on the card and give them away as part of a hockey-themed prediction contest for the playoffs!

  2. It is nice to see athletes having fun…and returning their allotted cards in a timely fashion. Swift return is almost as unusual as the unsolicited quotes!
    Fun chase cards that will make someone’s collection…or bring nice coin should they hit the 2ndry market.

  3. To: Panini,
    I think an amazing thing to do with these cards is to give them away as redemptions in May at the Toronto Spring Expo. Fans like me would be very stoked to win a one of a kind card like this.

  4. You should enter them into a draw and pick my name, thank you very much. To all at Panini America have a safe and happy new year.

  5. Cool cards and a pretty great story. I think it’s pretty cool when the athlete’s signing cards do something unexpected with them like this. I once received a Leaf Drew Henson rookie baseball card that he had signed Q.B. instead of his name. I thought it was the coolest thing.
    If you don’t know what to do with the cards, perhaps you could give them to some random commenter in this thread.

  6. I would say hold some form of a raffel on the lancers page so folks who are active collectors and follow the latest Panini info. have a shot at getting a real “rare” collectable with a pretty neat story behind it!

  7. Sounds like a knights lance givaway to me!

    Thats a funny moment in card collecting and this just replaced my most memorable moment from panini this year.

  8. Maybe you could do a when the teams play each other who do we think will win and by how much contest and the winner get the card that’d be preety cool.

  9. No need for the added pressure guys in determining what to do with those beauties,there is enough on your plates already,I will be more than glad to help resolve this minor issue just send them here ….lol….all kidding aside they would make for a super contest prize …

  10. I say sell them and use the proceeds to put a stop, once and for all, to disease, poverty and world-hunger.
    OR….you could use them as a prize in an upcoming promotion. Which option would have the greater impact upon all mankind?
    This one is a no-brainer; some lucky collector will win one or both of these bad boys!

    1. Astronauts have signed cards before, but I’m skeptical that cards have been in space. Astronaut Scott Carpenter smuggled a 1-Wood & Golf Ball onto one of the Apollo missions, does that count?

      1. Yeah I was only looking at some Americana signed Astronaut ones on the Bay the other week. I figured as the Russians are the ones sending both Russian and American Astronauts up that it would be pretty cool. It’s never going to happen but the T-Hack wanted ideas 😀

  11. sell them on ebay for $1000 each, then withdraw the cash and hide the money back to your products in form of $50 notes. thank you for considering the idea.

  12. As cool a story this is. Marketing guys. I would love to have one of these beauties,,,, but auction both off and give the proceeds to charity. Lets say Make A Wish Foundation ( something for kids I don’t care what charity). Promote the auction via the web and the news. As a collector since I was about 6 years old I think that would be the right thing to do. A win win for Panini and to a kids charity. Are we not trying to get more kids into the hobby what a better way to say you care. I would bid on one or both.

  13. Sounds like a great promotional item for you. I only ask that you make it accessible to everyone. Not everyone can attend a major card show across the country or afford $400 packs of cards. They would make a great set matted and framed.

    1. agreed.

      very cool card. its reasons like this that I continue to collect and support the hobby the way I do. thanks for sharing!

  14. really great story, very intersting. its like kids passing notes in class but using hockey cards thru the mail. i find it really cool that they wrote in their native language. u guys should have a contest for the blog raeders to give them away as a set. if they were in my collection they would instantly become the coolest cards in my collection. for me collecting cards is not just about the value but the cool factor as well.

Leave a Reply to list of presidents Cancel reply

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