Will Panini change how Hockey collectors view RCs/Parallels?

[Hckyfan47]

This has been something that I have thought about now for quite a while since Panini got the go ahead to step into the hockey card market. The hobby has changed quite drastically over the past 10-20 years and it got me thinking if this is another evolution we may see. Let's face it, most hockey card collectors (I say that referring to those who mainly collect hockey excusively and not any other major sport) seem to have different standards for Rookie Cards and that reflects heavily on interest, sales, and values of cards.

What I mean by that is mainly looking at parallels of RCs. When it comes to parallels of RCs, you see in a lot of instances where parallels serial numbered to less than the "true RC" print run actually sell for less than what the "true RC" does. Take for example The Cup Rookie Patch Autos /249 and The CUp Patch Auto Rookies Rainbow /#'d to players jersey number. Ive seen quite a few cases where the RC is getting more attention than the much lower numbered parallel. Now of course this doesn't apply to situations like the Cup Gold RCs /25 with no patch or autograph as it just doesn't compare apples to apples.

I notice this to be most apparent with hockey cards as opposed to football, basketball, and baseball. It seems that in those sports, the lower numbered card usually gets the most attention and in turn ends up selling for more. The "true RC" tag and definition we tend to go by doesn't seem to mean as much to collectors as it does in the hockey card market. Do you think that with Panini now in the hockey card market that collectors will start having more interest in parallels as the year goes on, or will things stay the course as they have for quite some time in the hobby?

 

[The Great Zo]

I'm not sure it will change much. If Panini keeps pumping out so many parallels, I think it'll actually drive even more attention to the true RCs.

Historically, you're correct in that many RC parallels seem to be worth less than their "true RC" counterparts. There are obvious exceptions -- but these occur mainly when the parallel has a drastically lower print run in relation to the regular card.

(Remember that guy on Beckett who thought that because he felt that rookie parallels were true RCs, then everyone should feel that way too? )

Anyway, if there's a blue, red, green, purple, gold, die-cut, polka-dotted, and mirrored version of a card in addition to the "regular" version that actually counts toward the base set, I think we'll see collectors continue to focus on the card that actually earns the RC tag.

 

[JohnnyDrama]

Not in the least. It'll be just like UD and when they have parallels.

 

[es_19]

i've been avoiding all parallel versions of the RCs in certified like the plague. just because it's popular in the other sports, doesn't mean it will translate well to the hockey market. we already grumble about artifacts and panini comes along with a parallel hell of their own? no thanks.

 

[Burner]

As far as I'm concerned, as long as it's not an insert (ie. SPXcitement or SPessentials or HoloFX) and there is some kind of rookie designation to the name of the set, it's a rookie card.

That's just me though. I know people stick to the /99 or greater and must be numbered same as the base set rule.

 

[JTMcCool]

An interesting question, but ultimately I think that hockey collectors will continue to view parallels of a true RC as less desirable, with certain exceptions. It's kind of funny how us hockey collectors can be so different from baseball collectors.

 

[g-force]

I don't think Panini will have any more of an impact than Pacific did when it introduced 7-8 parallels in each set.

 

[phate]

I've always collected nothing but hockey... but I've always thought that the lower numbered parallels were a more attractive option. I'm not a huge fan of 1/1s, but if there were a version of a rookie card that were /5 as opposed to /99, I think I'd want the one /5 the most. I know I'm in the minority, but I really could care less - everybody gets to collect what they want. Just because a group of collectors tries to tell me it's "not a true rookie card" doesn't make it any less valuable to me. I can understand why the rules are in place due to how ridiculous some of the releases could get... but in my opinion, the rules are stupid.

 

[webernaslundco]

hi there .

i agree ,my black dia rookie /10 , cup /6 and hg young gun /10 are my top cards of my weber collection and i would trade or buy them for more any time , but the plate 1/1's are not as important to me.

jason

I've always collected nothing but hockey... but I've always thought that the lower numbered parallels were a more attractive option. I'm not a huge fan of 1/1s, but if there were a version of a rookie card that were /5 as opposed to /99, I think I'd want the one /5 the most. I know I'm in the minority, but I really could care less - everybody gets to collect what they want. Just because a group of collectors tries to tell me it's "not a true rookie card" doesn't make it any less valuable to me. I can understand why the rules are in place due to how ridiculous some of the releases could get... but in my opinion, the rules are stupid.