The Books of Love: Panini America Previews 2011 Preferred Basketball’s Booklet Bliss

This morning, in the far back corner of the Panini America production facility (to the left of all the heavy machinery that prints, cuts, stamps, shrink wraps and otherwise wows me every single time I go), I watched as our NBA brand managers, Keith Hower and Wes Elliott, put the finishing touches on the hand-collation process for 2011 Preferred Basketball.

This morning, in the far back corner of the Panini America production facility (to the left of all the heavy machinery that prints, cuts, stamps, shrink wraps and otherwise wows me every single time I go), I watched as our NBA brand managers, Keith Hower and Wes Elliott, put the finishing touches on the hand-collation process for 2011 Preferred Basketball.

OK, so “watched” might not be the most accurate word. I ogled. And the fact that this particular part of the production process was being conducted  in a high-security cage spoke volumes about the precious nature of what was on the other side of the fence.

For the record, it was every card slated for insertion in Preferred, including a presidential library’s worth of what no doubt will become some of the best-selling basketball books of all time; a supreme cache of majestic, multi-colored marvels that will fall one per box in the highly anticipated debut of the product.

Amid all of the Preferred previews we’ve shared to date, this morning was the first time I’d been lucky enough to lay my eyes on the booklets. And for me at least, the wait was well worth it and — in concert with the autographed Silhouettes, Panini’s Choice Awards and Preferred Signatures cards — served to crystallize the unbridled potential of this new product.

You can spend some quality time with a few good books in the gallery that follows. And stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance next week for additional coverage from today’s pre-packout process, including exclusive video.

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45 Replies to “The Books of Love: Panini America Previews 2011 Preferred Basketball’s Booklet Bliss”

  1. I am not a basketball collector any more but if I were to be drawn back in this is exactly the type of product that would do it. Truly a phenomenal effort, I cannot wait to see these live!

  2. Truly awesome product! I love it, and I cannot wait to open some packs of this stuff.
    Book cards are awesome and I want to see more of them for legends, stars, and fan favorites. Tracy: can you check for me? Why is Tayshuan Prince not in the enlarged HOOPS lineup for Panini, and I dont see him again in this product either. It doesnt seem like he has ever signed for Panini. Im just a big Tayshaun player collector and wish he was available in the products. I have seen a couple great low numbered cards and patch cards of him, but no graphs.

  3. Pingback: Anonymous
    1. Quick answer – no. Unlike Hoops however, I understand their omission because this is truly a niche product. $200 a pack, all cards have on-card autographs (except the booklets) and no such thing as a common base card. This product should do very well and I applaud Panini for undertaking such a mammoth effort. But… we still need Hoops rookies!

      1. Appreciate the comments, Scott. One minor correction: All Silhouettes and Panini’s Choice Cards are on-card. The Preferred Signatures will utilize stickers. But the majority of the autos in this set will be on-card.

      2. Scott-Thanks for the information. Totally agree that this product is an enormously undertaking with many moving parts. I am suitably awed by the richness of the content.
        Hoops lol, we’ll have to put it in the hands of the U.N Security Council…or just agree that like so many things in our hobby, it’s a subjective things.
        Best Scott!

  4. do you know what’s going on with the wall/cousins/bledsoe elite black box autos? how about the signature patches from NT 10-11? i’ve been waiting on these redemptions. please let me know if there’s a way to contact u or if u have an update

  5. Tracy I appreciate all the feedback it’s awesome to actually have a point of contact. I have a quick question? Have special are the “Artists Proof” cards? Are they limited?

      1. Cool, would you happen to know if there is a limit of Artist Proof per player? Only reason I ask is cuz I just pulled a Jeremy Lin artist proof and wondering if I should get excited lol

    1. You are far too kind, Kevin. But I appreciate you. Understand the desire for autographed booklets, but it gives us something to shoot for next time. Speaking of, we’ll be showing off many of the autographs in this product early next week.

  6. I haven’t been a fan of the Booklet concept in the past, but I’d be lying if I said those cards didn’t look great & intriguing. Looking forward to the Preferred coverage coming next week.

    Semi-OT: will a Hoops checklist be available online eventually?

    1. I have never actually seen a case that permits booklets to be displayed in all their bi-fold glory. If anybody knows of such a product, I have a 1 of 1 Starlin Castro auto patch booklet that is screaming to be seen.

  7. nasty use of patches…not a b-ball guy but worth a shot at a chance of pulling one of these booklets, might have to grab a box

  8. definitely will purchase several boxes of this product. i only wish, being a west virginia boy, that jerry west was in this product.

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