Hobby Musings: Inside Panini’s Product Development of Legacy Football – Offering a glimpse of this year’s rookie class on trading cards, Panini recently released 2020 Legacy Football. Taking over for Classics recently, Legacy is one of the first products of the year to include new NFL prospects after the draft. While the product stays largely the same as the 2019 release, Panini added a key wrinkle this year with Dare to Tear cards.
Each box of Legacy offers two autographs per box. Like the base checklist, you can pull everyone from rookies to retired legends. My own box provided by Panini yielded a pair of newcomers. One of my autos was of former Notre Dame tight end and Bears second-round pick Cole Kmet. My other auto yielded Jaguars rookie receiver and former Texas standout Collin Johnson. In addition to the autograph, the Johnson also contained a jersey swatch that was noted as being guaranteed by Panini.
One of the big highlights of Panini Legacy is the plethora of rookie cards in each box. All in all, my box yielded well over 30 base rookies, as well as additional insert rookies. Featured in their collegiate uniforms, I ended up coming away with cards of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Jacob Eason among others. The big winner of my box was a Joe Burrow Opti-chrome rookie. Given the popularity of rookie cards in today’s market, a key rookie pull can help add some value to your own box break.
To find out more about what went into this year’s product, I had the chance to catch up with Director of Football Product Development at Panini America, Rob Springs via email.
Hobby Musings: Inside Panini’s Product Development of Legacy Football
KS: Rob, 2020 Legacy Football recently hit the market. What are some of the highlights collectors should be looking for in it?
RS: There is a lot that I like about the new Legacy product. I’m a fan of the mini cards, mainly because it’s been forever since we have done something like that for football. I also really love the Under the Lights insert!
KS: This year’s product features Dare to Tear cards. For fans who may not know, what do those cards entail?
RS: We did Rookie, Veteran and Retired players – along with variations. Those cards are sequentially numbered and case hit inserts, so they have a lot of value on their own. But you have to decide if you want to see what exclusive Emerald Sparkle mini is inside the card. It’s pretty clear cut with those minis – only one version and there are less than 25 of them, so it’s a tempting rip.
KS: What went into the decision making process to include them in this year’s checklist?
RS: We have actually been talking about doing this for a couple of years now, but we didn’t really feel like it fit in a program – even Classics, at the time. However, when we introduced Legacy in 2019, we thought it might be a good spot to do it in the future if the program was well received. It was and so we added it into this year’s version.
KS: What are some of the other differences between last year’s release and this year?
RS: It’s mainly just the Dare to Tear cards and the mini cards. Many of the popular items from the initial release were brought back this year, like the Opti-chrome Premium Edition parallel cards and the Future Patch Autographs (and duals).
KS: Legacy is such a melting pot product in that the checklist includes rookies, current players and retired legends. Do you find that fans and collectors tend to go more for the rookies or veteran players when it comes to trading cards?
RS: It’s still clearly the rookies. The Hobby has always leaned towards rookies, but over the past few years, it’s extremely skewed towards rookies first, second and third – and then key vets and retired players after.
KS: Which rookies have been most popular among collectors so far?
RS: There have been a lot of guys that have been popular so far – Burrow, Tua, Jeudy, Edwards-Helaire, Herbert, Love, Lamb – even defensive players like Young and Simmons. There is plenty to like and collect in the 2020 draft class.
KS: Who is a rookie that has surprised you with his popularity among collectors so far?
RS: Being completely honest with you, I’m a little surprised with how well Burrow has sold. Yes, I know he was the #1 pick, but still went to a team that has not been very collectable in the past and even though he was more than superb in his last year at LSU – he did that for just one year. It’s good to see how well he had sold early though.
KS: Legacy replaced Classics in your product inventory. How have collectors and shop owners reacted to Legacy compared to Classics?
RS: I think it was a nice replacement, as it stands alone as a “modern vintage” type of set. Feedback has been great from our distribution network, along with collectors we talked with at last year’s National. But, I don’t think it’s the same program as Classics, which will leave the door open to possibly bring it back down the road. Although, it did pop up in 2019 Chronicles.
KS: Looking at the bigger picture, how has the coronavirus pandemic affected production of football cards, especially for things like autographs and memorabilia cards?
RS: Really, the two biggest items we have had to work around is the temporary shutdown at the printer and the loss of the Rookie Photo Shoot. With the printer, we have just had to alter our release dates, which is pushing programs about a month later than normal. With the loss of the RPS, we are still getting the items we need, just have to do it in a different way with getting autos through the mail for early season releases, doing clone photography, etc. – but everyone on our team has done an excellent job adapting so far. We just have to continue to be nimble, which has always been a strength of this company.
KS: The NFL recently announced that it was shortening the preseason, and so much is up in the air right now. How does the uncertainty affect your strategy for this year from a card standpoint?
RS: Again, be ready to adapt and shift, if necessary. For example, we started planning for not having a photo shoot back in early March – a good six weeks before it was officially cancelled. We always try to work ahead on potential scenarios, so we are ready if they occur.
Hobby Musings: Inside Panini’s Product Development of Legacy Football
- 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale NBA Basketball Cards Checklist - April 25, 2024
- 2024 Fyre Ballgame Relics - April 25, 2024
- 2023-24 Panini Select NBA Basketball Cards Checklist - April 25, 2024