2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – WOW! That was the first reaction I hide when examining the confirmed but not yet finalized checklist*. I have been a big fan of and strong proponent of this product since its inception. However, to title this year’s release the same as all of the other previous releases, somehow seems to not do it this blockbuster release any justice.
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – Why I LOVE It
Leaf Trading Card’s CEO, Brian Gray, is himself a collector and major aficionado of pop culture. It’s been reflected in the quality of previous Pop Century products. This year, however, he has truly outdone himself. The bar has been raised so high, I wonder how he could ever top it.
Last year, Leaf incorporated its collector-favorite, Metal technology into this iconic brand. This year’s release follows suit and combines two of the hobby’s most popular concepts into one MEGA brand, 2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century. But again, in looking at the checklist, a more fitting name might add any number of adjectives. Extravagant, Blockbuster, Colossus. You get the idea.
So why does this year’s release of Pop Century have me sooooo excited?!? Plain and simple, its the autograph checklist. Let’s take a look.
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – First Time Signers
Some celebrities are easier to pin down for autograph deals than others. In all honesty, most, want absolutely nothing to do with signing autographs. So when a trading card manufacturer can land A-list celebrities like Geena Davis and Jennifer Love-Hewitt its truly a cause for celebration in the hobby.
- Jennifer Love-Hewitt’s only previous (non-cut) autographs were released in 2009 and 2010’s Ghost Whisperer set.
- Geena Davis, has never had a non-cut autographed trading card.
Other notable first-time signers for Pop Century include:
- Brand Routh (Return of Superman, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)
- Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight, Single White Female, Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
- Jamie Foxx (Ray, White House Down, Django Unchained)
- Jeremy Renner (Avengers, Captain America, The Hurt Locker, Mission Impossible)
- Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off War Games, The Producers)
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – MORE Signers
Brian Gray has developed a great working relationship with a core stable of celebrities through the years. Many of them are household names who have been featured in previous iterations of the product. Collectors who have not yet had the luck of pulling one of their autographs will be happy to know that many make a return in 2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century.
Over 100 celebrities have signed for 2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century. The bast set checklist, is currently listed with 58 cards and includes several current Hollywood A-list celebrities. It also features some long-time favorites from year’s gone by.
BASE SET SIGNERS
- Al Pacino
- Anthony Michael Hall
- Ben Affleck
- Charlie Sheen
- Daisey Ridley
- Dean Cain
- Denise Richards
- Emilio Estevez
- Gena Lee Nolin
- Harrison Ford
- James Caan
- Lee Majors
- Lindsey Wagner
- Pamela Anderson
- Richard Dreyfuss
- Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Val Kimer
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century also includes several appropriately themed subsets including, with a few examples:
Classic Roles – Features some of Hollywood’s most recognized stars in the role that made them famous.
- Barbara Eden
- Burt Reynolds
- Christopher Lloyd
- Dawn Wells
- Dean Cain
- George Wendt
- Kristy Swanson
- Michael Imperioli
- Robert Carradine
- Shirley Jones
Heartbreakers – Showcases some of Tinseltown’s most recognizable sex symbols through the years.
- Brande Roderick
- Lea Thompson
- Nicole Eggert
- Traci Lords
- Tricia Helfer
Sci-Fi Signatures – To the edge of space and beyond.
- Laura Vandervoort
- Sadie Sink
- William Shatner
Vinyl Signs – Singers, songwriters and musicians that left an impact on American pop culture.
- Bella Thorne
- Mary Wilson
- Mickey Dolenz
- Pat Boone
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – Multi-Signed Cards
One of the ingenious things about multi-signed autographed cards is the unique themes that can be created. Pop Century includes several dual autograph combinations. Each are sure to be a big hit. Some of my personal favorites are listed below.
- Al Pacino/Jamie Foxx (Any Given Sunday)
- Brandon Routh/Dean Cain (Superman)
- Christopher Lloyd/Lea Thompson (Back to the Future)
- Dennis Haysbert/Charlie Sheen (Major League)
- Michael Imperioli/Federico Castelluccio (Sopranos)
- Erik Estrada/Larry Wilcox (CHiPs)
- Vincent Pastore/Federico Castelluccio (Sopranos)
Cast signed autographed cards are always a treat. Let me just say there are a couple of BIG surprises just waiting for collectors to pull.
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – Prop Power
When it comes to BIG hits in Pop Century, autographs are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Leaf has secured a plethora of celebrity worn memorabilia from a wide variety BIG names. Titled, Prop Century, there are cards featuring multiple memorabilia pieces in Co-Stars, Trios and Four Stars. Also chase cards with as many as eight pieces of celebrity worn memorabilia! Some pairings to look for in Co-Stars includes:
- Bill Murray/Chevy Chase
- Jack Nicholson/Dennis Hopper
- Jennifer Lopez/Alex Rodriguez
- Kim Kardashian/Kourtney Kardashian
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Brings UNPRECEDENTED Star Power – Cut Signatures
While I understand why they exist, I’ve always felt that cut signatures should be reserved for those athletes and celebrities that are no longer with us. However, given the MASSIVE cut signature checklist in 2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century, I wouldn’t at all be disappointed in pulling one of these living celebrities in the form of a cut signature.
- Angelina Jolie
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Ben Kingsley
- Billy Crystal
- Bob Newhart
- Carl Weathers
- Chris Pratt
- Colin Powell
- Crystal Gayle
- Diane Keaton
- Forest Whitaker
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Ivanka Trump
- James Earl Jones
- Jason Alexander
- John Malkovich
- John Romita Sr.
- Jon Bon Jovi
- Jon Voight
- Lady Gaga
- Margot Robbie
- Peter Gabriel
- Sally Field
- Scarlett Johansson
- Sean Connery
- Sophia Loren
- Sting
- Talia Shire
- Woody Harrelson
- Yoko Ono
However, despite how robust that list is alone (and it’s only a partial!!) the list of deceased celebrities with cut signatures in this year’s product is equally, if not exceedingly, unbelievable!!
- Adam West
- Arnold Palmer
- Barbara Bush
- Danny Thomas
- Debbie Reynolds
- Don Rickles
- Edmund Hillary/Junko Tabei
- Fats Domino
- Fred “Mister” Rogers
- George Burns
- Ginger Rogers
- Henry Hill
- Jack Dempsey
- Jack Lemmon
- Jim Belushi
- Johnny Carson
- Lauren Bacall
- Lee Iacocca
- Lloyd Bridges
- Mae West
- Mamie Eisenhower
- Muhammad Ali
- Richard Nixon
- Roger Moore
Again, this is just a partial list! Are you kidding me?!?!
2019 Leaf Metal Pop Century Trading Cards delivers a combination of (4) Autographed, Multi-Signed, Cut Signature and Memorabilia Cards in Every Box! The product will be part of Leaf’s Redemption Program at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention. It’s scheduled release date is Wednesday July 31st, 2019.
- Reflecting on the National: #TheHobby is Thriving . . . and it Always Will Be - August 10, 2023
- Collecting 101 – Card Company Mergers, Acquisitions, Licensing - October 10, 2022
- Breaking Barriers: Top Female Athletes Cashing In - January 17, 2022