Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 4.
The box: 2013 Panini Golden Age
The cost now: $29.99
The cost then: $72
What’s inside this one? Keep reading …
Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper pack)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 146
Base set completion: 103 of 150 (69 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notables on base cards: Bobby Jones, Grace Kelly, Knute Rockne, Abraham Lincoln, Elizabeth Montgomery, Grantland Rice, Rod Serling, Doak Walker, Henry Fonda, Mel Ott, “Spanky” McFarland, Mario Andretti, Tris Speaker, Branch Rickey, Yogi Berra, Seabiscuit, Henry Winkler, Warren Spahn, Buckwheat, The Three Stooges, Lana Turner, Jane Russell, Harry Houdini, Jerry Lewis, Bigfoot, Stan Lee, Bobby Hull, John Belushi, Pete Rose, Sparky Anderson
Inserts: 41 (all in gallery below)
Exhibits (1) – Carlton Fisk (box-topper)
Tip Top Bread Labels (1) – Stan Musial
Bread for Energy (2) – Jim Kiick, Buck Leonard
Headlines (2) – Red Grange, 1906 San Francisco earthquake
The Three Stooges (1) – Three Little Pigskins
DeLong (2) – Carl Yastrzemski, Secretariat
Playing Cards (8) – Jan Stephenson, Evel Knievel, Bo Schembechler, Sham, Goose Goslin, Buck Weaver, Mario Andretti, Barry Switzer
Americans Caramel Mini Red (1) – Joe Frazier
Americans Caramel Mini Blue (14) – Mel Ott, Erin Blunt, Fred Biletnikoff, Henry Ford (2), Barry Livingston, Dick Smothers, Al Kaline, Harry Houdini, Bob Hope, Jacob Ruppert, Herbert Hoover, Mario Andretti, Lou Boudreaux
Carolina Brights Mini Green (8) – Dick Smothers, Apollo 11, Earl Campbell, Lana Turner, Curley Neal, Riva Ridge, Red Schoendienst, William Howard Taft
Carolina Brights Mini Purple (1) – Jean Harlow
Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Historic Signatures (1) – Mario Andretti
Museum Age memorablia (1) – Tim McCarver
What’s Buzz-worthy: Panini America’s retro-styled Golden Age brand is one that’s been on the sidelines for the last few years but this second release is, to this collector, the best one. The base set is loaded with “some of the nation’s greatest athletes, entertainers and newsmakers from the Golden Age of America” and it’s one that really showcases the retro possibilities in its inserts and autograph/memorabilia potential. There are minis and there are Exhibit box-toppers that couldn’t be more unalike and then there are nods to food issue sets, historic moments and pop culture. The ink found here was good and the roster of inserts was fun. There can be better boxes — none of the notable members of The Bad News Bears were found here on either base cards, minis or autos — and there is plenty more to be found if you explore this one. The year before (strong) and the year (weaker) after are also ones to consider if you can’t find this one.
Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: A
What’s next? Be back in an hour …
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YES! Mario Andretti! One of the greatest ever. I am glad that Panini has been able to incorporate him into some releases, since IndyCar can’t get their crap together and get sets made. I hope if someday you give it away, I see the tweet!
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