There was a time in the sports collectibles industry (like 15 or so year ago), when Promo or Sample Cards were as much a part of a new product release as fancily worded press releases and mylar wrap. These so-called Sample Cards were a way for manufacturers to preview the look and feel of an upcoming set. And the more unique the design or the technology, the more the need for the Promos. And so it is with Panini America’s upcoming 2017-18 Vanguard Basketball release.

Last week, hobby distributors and select hobby shops were on the receiving end of what has become an increasingly rare delivery in the current collecting climate: Honest-to-goodness Sample Cards showcasing the upcoming Vanguard Basketball, a proud brand from the hobby’s past that last appeared on the market during the 2002-03 hockey season. A lot has changed in the almost 20 years since; Vanguard, however (as those nifty sample packs prove), still looks great.
https://blog.paniniamerica.net/2018/...tball-gallery/