Gilded Glimpse: Panini America Peeks First Autos from 2012 Golden Age Baseball

If you really want a poignant visual summation of what Panini America’s upcoming 2012 Golden Age Baseball is all about, look no further than the 12 images below showcasing the first on-card autographs that have been returned so far.

Let’s see, there’s one of the greatest hockey players of all time (Gordie Howe) . . . a pair of principals from the Watergate scandal (including the first trading card of legendary journalist Bob Woodward) . . . a perfectly penned autograph from a made-for-TV genie that captured America’s hearts in the late 1960s . . . a Triple Crown-winning jockey, baseball Hall of Famers, NASCAR legends, one of the greatest LPGA members ever . . .

Boasting a checklist as historically profound as it is athletically gifted, Golden Age includes a little bit of something for everyone. Stay tuned for more preview images as they become available — until then, enjoy these: