Since the dawn of the game-worn memorabilia era in modern trading cards roughly 20 years ago, just about everything that can be worn or used in a professional game has been cut up and incorporated into trading cards. Jerseys. Pants. Gloves. Helmets. Face masks. Skates. Sticks. Balls. Pucks. Cleats. Bats. Bases. Towels. But for any number of valid reasons, the jersey has become the predominant memorabilia piece of choice.
But when Panini America’s 2013-14 National Treasures Basketball releases next week, company officials will place a long-overdue extensive focus on some of the most talked-about and fashionable pieces of memorabilia in professional sports: Game-worn NBA kicks.
Game-worn sneaker cards have been done on an extremely limited basis before. In fact, Panini America has featured them as rare inclusions in promotional sets such as Black Friday and Father’s Day for the last three years. But with the Sneaker Swatches insert in 2013-14 National Treasures Basketball, company officials are raising the bar considerably with a 35-card unsigned set and a 25-card autograph set — both incorporating extra-thick pieces of game-worn basketball shoes from some of the NBA’s biggest superstars.
Included on the checklist? Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, David Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Johnson and many more.
The first thing you’ll notice about Sneaker Swatches is the uniqueness of the shoe piece that provides a refreshing contrast to even the most multicolored prime jersey patch. After that, you’ll likely marvel at the sheer girth of the cards themselves, which offers a tangible reminder of just how different processing shoe leather is as opposed to a standard game-worn jersey.
But if you’re like all of us here at Panini America, we think you’ll marvel at the results. Collectors can expect similar cool ideas to follow closely in Sneaker Swatches’ footsteps — beginning with the unique Sneak Peek and Sole of the Game inserts in 2013-14 Immaculate Basketball. But today, let’s appreciate the foot-stomping beauty of Sneaker Swatches.
It’s interesting to see the evolution of basketball shoes from the Converse treads of Connie Hawkins to Leather to high tech mesh of today’s rookies.
The “Pump” ball on the tongue off a pair of Shaq game-worn Reebok Pumps would make an epic card. If you’ve been around long enough to know what I’m talking about then you know how big those were. Panini…get busy. I expect to see it in next year’s NT, lol.
no, no, no…the DEE Browns Reebok Pumps would be legit!
I dont remember Shaq wearing them
Real nice cards. You guys are top notch.
Number one when it comes to creativity in using different memorabilia pieces. I see another company is just starting to copy :p
Panini has hit the nail on the head. Basketball card collectors love shoe cards.
Next possibly game used headbands?
These are reminiscent of the Absolute TOTT cards of the mid 2000s with a multitude of mem cards that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. Definitely some interesting patterns that can only appear on shoe relics, excellent job making standalone cards for this year’s NT. Thanks Tracy!
Looking forward to the upcoming previews as well.
Able to get your hands on that Checklist yet??
Great! Nice designs!
oh my goodness! few more days till the NT madness! These looks extremely nice! On card ftw! Thanks Tracy!