Rookie Anthology vs SP Authentic

[Breakawaysc]

With the release of Panini Rookie Anthology and Upper Deck SP Authentic fast approaching, which product are you looking forward to the most? We have seen plenty of preview pics of Rookie Anthology courtesy of Panini's blog but Upper Deck has been pretty quiet on SPA. Both products have their own unique attributes, although I think Rookie Anthology might be in the driver's seat with a bonus pack of Prizm in each box. From my understanding SPA will have a bonus pack of SPx, but it won't be one per box.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Chuck

**UPDATE**

We will be going live on our Vaughn Live channel at 1PM EST tomorrow (June 5th). I will be cracking open Rookie Anthology all day if you want to stop by and purchase a box or if you are just interested in watching some of it get ripped open. Here is our Vaughn Live channel:

http://vaughnlive.tv/breakaway

[RGM81]

I've always been more of an SP Authentic fan myself - with a soft rookie crop and the remainder of the product being rehashed versions of previously-released items, I'm not sure how much there will be available in Rookie Anthology for me. I'll have to see a checklist, of course, to make the final determination but I remember just opening up a few packs of it last year and being disappointed at how regularly the rookie "hit" was a $2 Pinnacle RC in a $13 pack. The Prizm stuff will be cool, though who knows to what extent hockey fans will gobble up shiny things that don't have anything other than that going for them -- the sticker autos are a bit of a letdown as well on the auto'd parallels.

With the ability to focus heavily on the veterans while still giving the Future Watch Autos their due, SP Authentic is going to have a bit of an advantage in that regard. I'm also anticipating them getting a Gorges Sign of the Times for the first time ever now that he's under an autograph deal with UD. The usual stuff about the exclusives with Gretzky & Orr apply.

Either way, you'll have your strong points and your weak points.

[pur3strpker0]

Atfer seeing the Anthology preview pics, I am hoping that Rookie Anthology is better than last year's. I will have to agree with RGM about seeing the low end rookie hits in too many packs. Of course preview pics can be deceiving.

With the addition of the box topper in the 12-13 SP Authentic, it will be a first to see what may actually come out of them. There has to be some reasoning to why they are not inserted in every box but rather a suposed ratio of 1:3.

SPA does have the hard signed content edge (with the exception of the 5+ autos on cards) but Rookie Anthology does have the Silhouettes (Two of my PC players will be in the set) so I am exited.

I tried both products last year and enjoyed both. I may have to do that again. I cant wait to see all the mojo being pulled!

[Breakawaysc]

I love Upper Deck products and I'm really looking forward to SPA. I just wish Upper Deck would do the same type of previews that Panini does. Its nice to see what the product has to offer before its released. Helps to stir up some excitement. I think they're both going to be great products but judging by the buzz in our store I think Rookie Anthology is going to come out on top. I guess we'll find out soon!

[Tivo32]

I think Rookie Anthology is going to be LOADED this year. I'm really excited for it.

[odjickfan]

Atfer seeing the Anthology preview pics, I am hoping that Rookie Anthology is better than last year's. I will have to agree with RGM about seeing the low end rookie hits in too many packs. Of course preview pics can be deceiving.

With the addition of the box topper in the 12-13 SP Authentic, it will be a first to see what may actually come out of them. There has to be some reasoning to why they are not inserted in every box but rather a suposed ratio of 1:3.

SPA does have the hard signed content edge (with the exception of the 5+ autos on cards) but Rookie Anthology does have the Silhouettes (Two of my PC players will be in the set) so I am exited.

I tried both products last year and enjoyed both. I may have to do that again. I cant wait to see all the mojo being pulled!

I never heard about these SPA box toppers. What are they exactly?

[RGM81]

Pack of SPx, which is not being produced as a standalone product this year.

[CoolHandLuke]

I will prefer SPA but probably will buy both, A few habs rookies to grab and both will offer many variation.

[30ranfordfan]

To be completely honest: Neither.


SPA is usually a nice product that I don't buy. This year? I suspect that UD will make up for the weak RCs by adding better stuff of vets / retired players... I'll readily admit that I'll pick up any Ranford singles that might find their way into the set... but other than that: I'd be surprised if I aquired anything from this year's SPA that's non-Ranford for my collection.

Rookie Anthology: There are some cool looking cards in their preview pics for sure. I'm not a huge fan of some of the subset names that Panini has come up with (a lot sound rather silly) but they make some nice looking stuff. I have no interest in this product based on principle: I HATE, absolutley dispise, the whole concept. Can't come up with a new product to fill out the license?? Let's mash up a bunch of our other products, and put them all into a blender. We'll call it Rookie Anthology. Again, if they add any Ranford to some of the vet subsets, I'm absolutley after those cards.... and the Rookie Treasures RCs - that may end up being the Phil Cornett RC that I ultimatley decided to add to my Oilers collection (got GU & Auto in there) unless they give him an APR in The Cup.

[Leafsman]

SP Authentic - HANDS DOWN.

I'm not a fan of rookie cards having jerseys in them. Autographs are fine I guess (autographs - at least facsimilies - have been around since the 1950s), but not jerseys. There are literally millions of jersey cards produced, and the appeal has worn off for me.

The ONLY thing I collect is SP Authentic rookies (unless a star player does not have one).