What's Kind of Old is New Again With 2010-11 Score Hockey

Score debuted as a hockey line back in 1990-91. They made quite the splash too, landing then prospect and next-big-thing Eric Lindros to appear. I fondly remember opening two boxes of the stuff at Christmas and scouring for the remaining six cards I needed for my set. I also remember a sense of wonderment when I found out about the different versions, American and Canadian, that could be discerned by the color of the logo on the front.

1990-91 Score Hockey (American) - blue logo

1990-91 Score Hockey (Canadian) - red logo

Well, Score hockey is back. Set to hit shelves October 13, it will be the second NHL set released by Panini. Here's what you can expect with the base set:

2010-11 Score Hockey

Yup, pretty much the same as it was 20 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I dig retro tributes - when they're retro. These two are pretty much in the same era. Plus, 1990-91 Score is still (sort of) popular because it was the only set that year to offer Lindros and Martin Brodeur rookie cards, not because of the way they looked.

Scanning over the promo materials for 2010-11 Score Hockey and it's easy to see that Panini is going to the throwback appeal, recycling not only designs but the old-time inserts as well. This I personally don't mind as much as it highlights that inserts can have continuity and importance rather than just being ways of getting more superstars into packs.

2010-11 Score Hockey will carry a suggested price of $0.99 per pack. Not bad for seven cards. The set is a beefy 550 cards. Fifty rookie cards will fall 1:2 packs. There will also be ten redemption cards for additional rookie cards as they debut in the early part of the season. These redemptions will be relatively easy to collect as they fall one per box.

A Glossy parallel will be inserted one per pack as well. Basic inserts such as Franchise, Net Cam and Snow-Globe Die-Cuts will fall at a combined rate of 1:3 packs. 2010-11 Score Hockey will also have autographs, including 1990-91 Buy Backs. Collectors should expect one autograph per 20-box case. Finally, rack packs will have exclusive Canada Greats and USA Greats inserts.

I Love Film Cards

I was taking a gander at Upper Deck`s Facebook page last night and came across this thing of beauty from 2009 UD Black Football. Seeing as how I don`t buy any football, there`s no chance I`ll ever hold this card in my hands but here`s hoping they take the concept and carry it over to baseball.

The black and white photo, the modern design, the silver signature, the film slide - my golly this is purdy.

This isn`t the first time slide elements have been used. In 1997 Upper Deck had a sweet insert set in SP entitled Game Film. Later in the year it was used in hockey for their McDonald`s set. Other sets using the concept include 2001-02 Upper Deck Hardcourt Basketball and 2008 SP Legendary Cuts Baseball.

(1997 SP Game Film image from Old-School Breaks)

Depending on how you look at it, Upper Deck might not be the first company to use the idea. In 1994 Donruss introduced the Slide Show inserts in Leaf Baseball. Although they didn`t use actual film slides, the see-through technology sure does look like it. Slide Show returned the following year but the concept was changed to reflect old Viewmasters rather than slides.

Film cards have been used in the non-sport realm for quite some time. From what I can gather NECA introduced them to that end of the hobby in 2001 with their Nightmare Before Christmas Film Cels. At least on a wide-spread scale. I know I have a Batman Forever film cel looking card that was a promotional item during the film`s release back in 1995. But the concept really took off in Upper Deck`s Disney Treasures releases, which were put out during 2003 and 2005. They`ve continued since in different forms ranging from Harry Potter to Spider-Man to the original Frankenstein. What I like about many of the film cards are that they`re all different. They show images direct from the print. I`ve personally been more agressive in my bidding for a few of the Disney Treasures Reel Piece of History cards that have key moments. For example I`d rather have a Fantasia card with Mickey Mouse dressed as the Sorceror`s Apprentice than I would from one of the darker numbers. The sadistic side of me picked up a Bambi card where Bambi`s mother is meeting her fate. Grim, I know, but it`s one of the major moments in cinema history.

Hi. My name is Ryan and I`m a sucker for film cards in all their various forms.

Here's How You Do a Cut Signature Card

The following cut signature autographs will be released in In the Game's upcoming 1972: The Year in Hockey:

First off, notice how there's a picture of the person. It might make licensing and permissions a little tougher but it goes a long way in increasing the visual appeal.

Second - the autograph window fits the entire signature. Yes, this is only three cards from a set, but here's hoping that the trend sticks true throughout all of the cards.

Third - the set has a theme that actually makes sense and isn't totally vague. The checklist is an impressive sight and includes several cards connected to The Godfather: author Mario Puzo, director Francis Ford Coppola, and stars Marlon Brando (whose signature is extremely rare), Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duval and ABE VIGODA!

Fourth - Canadiana, baby! While there's been countless Amnerican Presidents getting their own cards and cut signatures, we've got ourselves our first Prime Minister cut signature from what I can gather.

Yeah, I know that I never pull one of these but a handful of collectors will. And they're legitimately sweet cards from the subjects to the signatures to the overall design. Now I just wish the same care would be taken in all cut signature cards.

1972: The Year in Hockey is scheduled for release on September 9.

In the Game Pays Tribute to 1972 with 1972 - The Year in Hockey

A few months back, hockey manufacturer In the Game offered collector's a unique opportunity to pick a future set. An online vote was conducted where participants selected the year they thought was most important for hockey history. The winning year was 1972, synonymous with Canadians for the dramatic Summit Series victory versus the USSR. While the USA and USSR were embroiled in the Cold War over Nuclear weapons and such at the time, for Canadians the real cold war was played on the ice with pucks and sticks replacing bombs and tanks.

Today ITG offered a first look at 1972 - The Year in Hockey, which will combined old school set building with plenty of hard-signed autographs.

1972 also marked the first year in which the rival WHA set up shop and began play. It was a new era of expansion and global recognition for the sport.1972 - The Year in Hockey will consist of a 200-card base set featuring players from the NHL, WHA and international play.

Autographs will all be done on-card and the checklist is extensive. ITG plans to have around 150 signers for the set and judging by the preview you can expect two find a mix of superstars as well as lesser-known fan favorites. ITG also promised some signers from the USSR team, which one would expect to be relatively tough to find. Autographs will be inserted at a rate of 1:7 packs (two or three per box).

ITG also plans for several game-used inserts: Game-Used Number, Forever Linked, Scoring Leaders, Trophy Winners, First All Star Team, Second All Star Team and Quest For The Cup.