These arrived at work today and there was no way I could possibly wait until I got home. I busted the boxes at my desk but didn't take photos until this evening. So stand by... a "delayed" four box Panini break is coming up!
Took the photos with my DLSR. It was a little more effort, but what's the point of getting nice cards if you don't display them to the best of your ability?!
I started with the smaller boxes first. Donruss Limited Cuts from 2011 with a wide array of hits available (just one card per box).
Ralph Houk (1919-2010) played catcher for the Yankees from 1947-54 and also managed them for periods throughout the 1960s, as well as the Tigers (70s) and Red Sox (80s). He is a six-time World Series winner in the Bronx but perhaps his greatest service was fighting under General George S. Patton in World War II, leaving the army as a Major.
The card is numbered 4/49 and appears to be cut from a cheque signed by Mr Houk.
Here is what was inside the second box of Donruss Limited Cuts.
"Smokey Burgess" (1927-1991) played for five teams in a career spanning from 1949 until 1967. He won the World Series with the Pirates in 1960 and was selected as an All Star an incredible nine times. Batting a solid .295 across his career, Burgess as a pinch hit specialist with a (then record) 145 relief appearances at the plate.
The card is the first one in the range, numbered 1/25.
Here is the contents of the first box of Panini Playoff Prime Cuts (2011). There are five cards in each box and they are contained in a neat little sealed package inside of the box. It feels like a beautiful high end product (which it is). I flipped the deck upside down and went through them from the back, meaning I could see the player name on the back, but didn't know what type of card it was. Nothing beats the rush when you see a big name and pray that it's an autograph! Nevertheless, here is the contents:
Notable Nicknames: Jim Palmer #21/25 (love the inscription!)
Timeline: Lou Gehrig #17/25 (features a piece of bat at either end and a lovely jersey swatch with visible wear in the middle)
Colossal: Josh Hamilton #16/49 (was REALLY hoping this was an auto, but still a nice piece nonetheless!)
Prospect: Cory Mazzoni #19/299
Prospect: Michael Tulmer #138/299 (learn to sign inside the sticker young man!)