Almost immediately following the celebrated release of 2012 Contenders Football earlier this week, the annual frenzy began as collectors across North America began scrambling to determine the relative scarcity of the set's ample selection of Rookie Ticket SPs and RC variations.
Almost immediately following the celebrated release of 2012 Contenders Football earlier this week, the annual frenzy commenced as collectors across North America began scrambling to determine the relative scarcity of the set’s ample selection of Rookie Ticket SPs and variations.
It’s a captivating phenomenon that takes place every year and explains, for instance, how a base Rookie Ticket of New England Patriots speedster Jeff Demps can sell for $21.95 on Wednesday while another sells for $76.01 just one day later. Indeed, it didn’t take savvy researchers long to figure out just how short Demps’ RC is. (For the record, it’s limited to 99 copies, while his variation is limited to just 25 copies.)
Although it took some consistent groveling from yours truly late Friday afternoon, I finally managed to coax the first of what promises to be many 2012 Contenders Football SP lists from Panini America Production Manager Carlos Torrez. This one is by no means complete, but it does provide a tip-of-the-iceberg illustration of Contenders’ scarcest Rookie Tickets and RC variations.
ROOKIE TICKET SPs | ||||
Card # | Player | Team | Pos. | Qty. |
167 | Michael Brockers | St. Louis Rams | DT | 38 |
131 | Dont’a Hightower | New England Patriots | LB | 47 |
120 | Courtney Upshaw | Baltimore Ravens | LB | 57 |
135 | Jeff Demps | New England Patriots | RB | 99 |
168 | Michael Smith | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | 99 |
ROOKIE TICKET VARIATION SPs | ||||
Card # | Player | Team | Pos. | Qty. |
124 | David DeCastro | Pittsburgh Steelers | G | 10 |
131 | Dont’a Hightower | New England Patriots | LB | 10 |
132 | Dontari Poe | Kansas City Chiefs | DT | 25 |
135 | Jeff Demps | New England Patriots | RB | 25 |
137 | Fletcher Cox | Philadelphia Eagles | DT | 25 |
138 | George Iloka | Cincinnati Bengals | S | 25 |
141 | Harrison Smith | Minnesota Vikings | S | 25 |
157 | LaVon Brazill | Indianapolis Colts | WR | 25 |
159 | Luke Kuechly | Carolina Panthers | LB | 25 |
163 | Marvin Jones | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | 25 |
167 | Michael Brockers | St. Louis Rams | DT | 25 |
168 | Michael Smith | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | 25 |
179 | Riley Reiff | Detroit Lions | OT | 25 |
196 | Whitney Mercilus | Houston Texans | LB | 25 |
225 | Russell Wilson | Seattle Seahawks | QB | 25 |
Oh, and if you’re looking for a surefire visual tell-tale to differentiate the base Rookie Tickets from the variations, you can find it on the backs of the cards (check out the image below). The base versions include each player’s draft, college, height and weight information. The variations do not.
Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance as we’ll have much more to share in the coming days. Below, you’ll find a few examples of the cards listed above.
Is Blair Walsh an insanely short print? I hope not!
I haven’t seen the rest of the list but I don’t think he’s “insanely” short.
So this isn’t all of the list? There could be others that are numbered to 10?
When should we expect a complete list, 1 week, 2 weeks?
Love seeing Kuechly getting some national attention!
Any clue on the SP run of legendary contenders autos? I pulled the Junior Seau and I would think that has to be a super SP.
ALL Legendary Contenders Autographs are limited to 5 copies!
What about the Rookie Ink On Card Autos, do you have that list?
Rookie Ink – 75 of each player except for Andrew Luck and RGIII – they are limited to 25 copies.
Any word on Justin Tucker as an SSP? I’ve yet to see one.
Is the variation always rarer than the regular one?
Good question. I’ll find out.
Except for Courtney Upshaw – Super Bowl XLVII Champion linebacker.
How many of the courtney upshaw variants?
which Luke is the SP?
Just pulled a Dont’a Hightower Variation SP. WOOOOOOOOO Thanks for the teaser.
That kid Greg Zuerlein surely demands a lot of cash…
How about St Luis Ram, Daryl Richardson?
Bought 2 boxes, got 12 auto rookies but no on card at all. Thought it was supposed to be at least 2 per box. All lineman and other no names. Should have at least 1 good hit per box. Not happy
Do all players have a Variation version? In particular Miles Burris? Thanks guys for the great product!
Except for Rookie Tickets 236-245 – NO VARIATIONS!
Sweet thank you. What a shame, no second auto of Miles Burris. Oh well hopefully he will feature in at least one other product this year!
HI Tracy, is there any chance you can put up photos of the base autos or the variations next to them? It’s easy to tell by the back but most sellers on ebay don’t put pics of the back up. I am building the base set to start so I don’t want to buy the variations. Thanks!
I’ll try to produce a complete visual gallery of base RCs and variations on Monday.
Scott,
On Friday I compiled a list of what to look for in most of the variations. While I only have notes for the first 100, there are visual comparisons for most of the RPS variations.
http://www.cardboardconnection.com/2012-panini-contenders-football-rookie-ticket-autograph-variations-guide
Thanks guys! Very helpful Ryan!!
I opened 2 boxes yesterday and pulled two cracked ice autos and a luck thanks Panini keep the hits coming!!!!!!
I pulled a Luck Rookie Ink.How many are there?I put it on ebay.
There are 25 copies of the Luck Rookie Ink.
What’s the run for the LaMar Miller Rookie Ink?
Any print run verification for Kellen Moore both variations?
Great looking cards!
Ahh a very nice way to tell!
Quite frankly, haven’t seen ANY Michael Smith and very few Marvin Jones…
legendary auto sp?? are there any?? I have a Ted Hendricks legendary auto.. none on ebay.. SP??
Why is Oliver Vernon so hard to find? I have one but have only seen 8 on eBay total sold and active listings.
You might wanna try spelling his name right. You will find a few more.
any idea when releasing the rest of the variation short print numberings?
I’m waiting for an update as well. I have a Bryce Brown variation and would like to know if it is on the SP or SSP list.
The remaining list will be released by end of week!
Will Bryce Brown variation be on that SP list?
Is Blair Walsh a retail exclusive since none of his have hit ebay or any other sites yet, or just one of the lower numbered SPs? Also, since he falls in the 236-245 range, does he just lack the photo variation SP, or the /99 Playoff, /20 Ice, /1 Championship, and /1 plates as well?
So how in the hell are they going to list courtney upshaws regular run but not the variant? Lol does anyone know what run is on his variant? Or is it 57 all together?
What is the count on the Upshaw variation auto. Pleople are selling it on ebay as the /57 card. Is that true?
I have no idea I am still trying to find out