BACKLouisiana Collector Wins Grand Prize in 2010 Panini NFL Player of the Day Contest
Nathan Foster, a middle-school history teacher and coach — and avid NFL trading card collector — from Albany, La., turned one lucky pack of 2010 Panini NFL player trading cards into one fantastic grand prize: The chance for him, his friends and his family to spend a day with New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas.
Foster, a passionate LSU fan and collector, is one of the more than 200,000 NFL card collectors who participated in the 2010 Panini NFL Player of the Day contest, which was conducted at more than 600 hobby shops nationwide from September through November. He is among the thousands of collectors who earned prizes during the promotion, but as the Grand Prize winner, the 24-year-old Saints and LSU Tigers fan will be the only one with the chance to spend a day with an NFL player.
Thomas will attend a private party at Foster’s home in Albany, La., from noon to 1 p.m., on February 26. After that, Foster and his friends will take a limousine with Thomas to their favorite local card shop –- Chuck’s Field of Dreams. There, the community will help celebrate Foster’s victory and football cards in general as Thomas spends an hour signing free autographs and posing for photos.
At least 200 fans will collect a free autograph from Thomas at the event. Collectors can “reserve” a spot at the front of the line in advance by visiting Chuck’s Field of Dreams before the event. All other autographs will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, visit Chuck’s Field of Dreams or call the store (225-567-9200).
“I am thrilled for Nathan, his friends and family,” said Chuck Raborn, owner of Chuck’s Field of Dreams. “He is a regular customer at my shop and a big football card collector. I’m glad to be a part of his special day.”
Foster also will receive $250 to spend on NFL-licensed products at Chuck’s Field of Dreams.
Foster’s journey began when he uncovered the designated Panini NFL Player of the Day from a pack of cards he purchased at the hobby shop. Each participating store selected a grand prize winner for a spot in the national sweepstakes, where Foster proved to be the luckiest of the entrants. More than 100 collectors earned prizes such as autographed footballs and autographed trading cards in the national sweepstakes.
The 2010 Panini NFL Player of the Day promotion, coordinated by Panini America and NFL PLAYERS, marks the program’s 11th consecutive year of giving a football card collector the chance to spend the day with an NFL player. Past players have included: Patrick Crayton, Steve Slaton, A.J. Feely, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Simms, Rudi Johnson, Donald Driver, Ed McCaffrey, Chad Pennington and Frank Wycheck.
