In sports cards, one of the most crucial parts of collecting is deciding which boxes to buy. And in this process, everyone has likely come across a panini baseball product. These are tempting products to buy – they are much better value than Topps.
For example, the premium product of Panini, Panini Prizm, is about $130 for three autos in baseball. However, a box with one auto goes for $130 in Topps Chrome.
This can further be seen when Panini products are compared across sports. That same Prizm two auto box that costs $130 for baseball is almost $800 for basketball. But why is there such a big disparity?
Why Are They So Cheap?
The reason for this is the MLB licensing agreement.
The way this works is that Topps has the only right to use team names and logos on their cards. Thus, the opposite is true for Panini. If you look at any Panini baseball card (or the one pictured below) you will notice one bizarre thing:
There is nothing signifying what team they play for. Instead of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on their helmet, there is just a normal blue helmet. Instead of the card saying “Toronto Blue Jays”, it just says “Toronto”.
This is the reason why Panini baseball cards are so cheap. Because they do not have licensing rights, they are not as desired in the card world. This explains a lot in terms of prices, but now you might be wondering if it is even worth buying Panini.
Should I Buy Panini Baseball Cards?
The answer to this question is as such:
It depends. Panini baseball products are cheaper, giving you better auto prices and cheaper cards of the same players you know and love. However, they are not necessarily boxes to buy if you want high-value or nicer cards. I have had a lot of fun with Panini Stars and Stripes, which are five prospect autos for $80.
On the other side, you should always avoid buying singles from Panini. They are not very desirable cards, and unless you are buying them for pc, do not buy them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Panini baseball cards are less valuable than Topps cards because of their lack of licensing agreements, preventing them from using team names or logos. However, Panini baseball boxes can still be fun breaks and good boxes to buy.
On the other hand, Panini baseball card singles should not be bought for investment or anything other than your PC. I hope this advice finds you well, and thank you for reading.
