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The box: 2013 Panini Golden Age (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper pack)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 148
Base set completion: 104 of 150 (69 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notables on base cards: Tatum O’Neal, Bo Derek, Jackie Earle Haley, Sparky Anderson, Jerry Lewis, Jane Russell, Henry Fonda, Eva Gabor, Branch Rickey, Earl Campbell, Grace Kelly, Jim Thorpe, Jimmy Carter, Seabiscuit, Henry Ford, Johnny Carson, Red Grange, William “Buckwheat” Thomas, Curley Neal, Yogi Berra, Bob Hope, Mel Ott, Penny Marshall, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mario Andretti, Evel Knievel, Abraham Lincoln, Knute Rockne, The Three Stooges, Walter Cronkite, Henry Winkler, Harry Houdini
Inserts: 41 (all in gallery below with some base)
Exhibits (1) – Bo Derek (box-topper)
Tip Top Bread Labels (1) – Brooks Robinson
Bread for Energy (2) – Buck Leonard, Jim Kiick
Headlines (2) – Stan Musial, 1972 Miami Dolphins
The Three Stooges (1) – The Kings of Slapstick Comedy
DeLong (2) – Al Simmons, Mark Fidrych
Playing Cards (8) – Bo Derek, Titanic, Joe Wood, Seabiscuit, Harry Houdini, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Joe Tinker
Americans Caramel Mini Red (1) – Red Schoendienst
Americans Caramel Mini Blue (14) – Jane Russell, Darrell Waltrip, Stan Lee, Seabiscuit, Ralph Terry, Joe Tinker, Ted Simmons, Sham, Miller Huggins, Tommy John, Bobby Jones, Al Lopez, George “Spanky” McFarland, Fielding Yost
Carolina Brights Mini Green (8) – Darrell Waltrip, Seabiscuit, Ralph Terry, Sham, Tommy John, Bobby Jones, George “Spanky” McFarland, Fielding Yost
Carolina Brights Mini Purple (1) – Mike Schmidt
Autographs/Memorabilia: 3
Historic Signatures (1) – Barry Livingston (Ernie Douglas in My Three Sons)
Museum Age memorabilia (2) – Joe Frazier, Jane Russell
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 of the three. 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 different and then there are nods to food-issue sets, historic moments and pop culture. The ink found here overall is pretty solid and the roster of inserts was fun. As for this box, it included an extra hit (extra memorabilia card) — and two notable names among them. The mini inserts in this one were repetitive and didn’t include as many big names so that wasn’t as fun but this one still gets a solid grade because it delivered so much for its price. (Original price on these boxes was just $65 — and they delivered very well even then.) The year before (strong) and the year after (weaker) are also ones to consider if you can’t find this year.
Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A-
Fun Grade: A-
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