The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo

Mays is first Topps Prime 9 redemption card for 2012

Topps announced its first card in the 2012 Home Run Legends Prime 9 program today, and it belongs to one of the classic power hitters of all time: Willie Mays.

Mays will be redemption card No. 1. Every Friday, Topps will name its “Prime 9…

Panini Playoff football is no longer a secret

Super Bowl XLVI is history, and the NFL draft begins on April 26. If you still have a buzz from the Super Bowl’s exciting finish and are already getting out your draft sheets to begin your analysis (I don’t do this, but boy, there are people who do, and that’s…

Upper Deck previews images from Series 2 hockey

It’s been a good week for unveiling product. Earlier tonight, Upper Deck weighed in with some images from its 2011-12 NHL Series 2 set.

Among the fun inserts hockey collectors can expect to…

Panini Prime Cuts baseball: Here’s a peek

Panini America gave us a bit of a taste earlier today with its photo release of a Jackie Robinson card scheduled for the company’s 2011 Prime Cuts Baseball (It’s 2012 — why is this product labeled 2011?). And later in the day, Panini released more images, and there are some…

Panini inks deal with Baseball Hall of Fame

There’s something special about collecting cards of Hall of Famers. As a kid, I’d open packs of Topps back in the 1960s and ’70s and be thrilled when I’d pull the card of a superstar, like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron or Roberto Clemente. Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver and…

A peek at Panini Preferred reveals bold autographs

High-end basketball card collectors can start drooling. Panini America released some more images of its upcoming Panini Preferred set. Images and information were released just before Christmas and those facts were duly noted here back then, but it’s worth showing a few more as the March 21 release date draws…

In The Game previews upcoming Heroes and Prospects set

In The Game released some photos of its upcoming Heroes and Prospects set, which hits the shelves on Feb. 23.

The 2011-12 set marks the eighth year ITG has put out Heroes and…

Taking a good hack at a landmark record

The 1930 major-league baseball season was the year of the hitter. And for sluggers in both leagues, it was absolutely nirvana.

Of course, baseball officials denied that the baseball had been juiced, but here are some statistics from that season: American League hitters had a…

Upper Deck inserts depict presidential candidates

The Florida primary is history and the candidates for president are becoming clearer. As we wait for the Republican National Convention this summer in Tampa, it’s not a bad time to reflect on those men and women seeking to occupy the White House in January.

Enforcer set pays tribute to NHL’s tough guys

For a set dedicated to the NHL’s enforcers, In The Game’s latest effort certainly has taken its share of hits.

In the several months leading up to the Jan. 19 release of the Enforcers product, the set design — some cards are adorned with fake…