2022 Panini Absolute Ground Hoggs Materials GH-19

           

          

Here is one of the 2022 Panini cards of Herschel, which I discussed in my last post.  This is a 2022 Panini Absolute Ground Hoggs Materials base card.  It is serial numbered to 99, which can be seen just to the right of the swatch on the front.

There is also a Gold, Silver and Platinum version, serial numbered to 49, 25 and 1, respectively.

Note how Panini cleverly puts the disclaimer, "The enclosed authentic memorabilia is not from any specific game or event."

So I guess the only authentic thing about it, is that it's a  real piece of cloth.

Why Does Panini Make Things Difficult For Single Player Collectors?

        As Panini currently has the NFL license, they are whose cards you have to purchase, if you want modern football card sets.

        Many collectors dislike the plethora of parallel and insert cards(some base sets have upwards of 400 insert sets), but what I dislike is the fact that the checklists are often incomplete, or worse, just plain wrong.

        I use the Trading Card Database as my go to for card information.  It is a member driven site, in which the members do 99% of the work.  These guys have way more knowledge than I do, regarding both sports cards and general computer use.

       For a long time now, there have been no 2020 or 2021 cards of Herschel Walker, listed on the site.  I just assumed he didn't have any cards issued in those years.  I have discovered that he does have cards from those years, mostly in the Collegiate sets, but that Panini makes their checklists so hard to navigate, that it's nearly impossible to upload a proper checklist.

      Here is what a long time member on the site had to say about Panini and their checklists:

          

     I have recently gotten ahold of some 2022 cards of Walker and will be posting them in the near future.  It's one thing when there are so many cards of a certain player that you'll never collect them all, but it's another when you don't even know what is potentially available.

  I haverecentyl

2005 Topps All American Chrome Refractor #51

          

          

          This 2005 Topps All American Chrome Refractor card, features Herschel Walker and is the latest acquisition to join the Hoard.  This series is numbered to 55, with this example being #53.  The serial number can be seen on the card reverse, on the right edge, superimposed over the cartoon.  Also on the reverse, above the #51 in the football, is the word "Refractor".

     This set has a lot of variations.  There is a base card, a regular autographed card and a refractor autographed card. The rest can basically be broken down into two categories.  Chrome or Gold Chrome.  Within that, is a Chrome Refractor card(pictured above) and a Gold Chrome Refractor card. There is also a Chrome X Factor card and a Gold Chrome X Factor card.  The latter is already in the Hoard.

     There are 10 unfilled spaces for varieties of this set, which have yet to be added to the TCDB. Of those, 9 are One of One's, mostly Printing Plates.  There is one 1-5 card still out there, that would be the Chrome X Factor card.  This is a confusing set, to say the least.

ThIs a 

Top Ten Find! 1997 Score Dallas Cowboys Premiere Club #13

           

          

          

I've been on a lucky run, here at the Herschel Hoard.  In less than two weeks, I've picked up five, brand new Walker cards from a Panini 2022 set.  Then I was able to purchase a One of One, printing plate, from that same set.

Now, I've crossed off another Top Ten Most Wanted card, from my sidebar list.  Above is a 1997 Score Dallas Cowboys #13 Premiere Club card of Herschel, from the 15 card parallel set.  The Cowboys card set had a base set and two parallels.  The Platinum Team edition, which is already in the Hoard and now, the elusive Premiere Club card.  When I say elusive, I mean just that.  I have been searching for this card for over two decades.

It is the first card from the set, which has been uploaded to the TCDB. I searched through some old Beckett Price Guides, but I was unable to find out if Dallas was the only team set produced.  

The Premiere Club logo can be seen in script, both on the front and back of the card, near the bottom.

A new card has replaced this one in my wanted list.  That, being a 1995 Collector's Edge 22K Gold Unnumbered #147.

Finding these rare, 1990's parallel cards are what drives me to continue.  Just when you're ready to give up, one appears.  It's like seeing a unicorn!

2022 Panini National Treasures Collegiate Printing Plates Black #19

           

          

Well, that didn't take long.   Just a week after posting five cards from the 2022 Panini National Treasures Collegiate collection, I was able to buy a One of One Black Printing plate of Herschel Walker, from that very set.

I didn't have to pay a whole heck of a lot for it and the fact that I was able to fill in another 1 of 1 space in Walker's TCDB page, pleases me no end.

For those who may not know, there are four printing plate colors used in the manufacture of most trading cards.  Black, Yellow, Magenta and Cyan.

2022 Panini National Treasures Collegiate #19 Base + Parallels

      After being left out of the 2020 and 2021 Panini sets, Herschel Walker makes a return in the 2022 National Treasures Collegiate set.  This is a 40 card set of college greats.  The base cards are numbered to #99, while the parallels are in the following runs:  Blue-#'d to 75; Silver-#'d to 39; Gold-#'d to 10; Silver-#'d to 5 and Platinum, which is a One of One.  There are also four Printing Plates available, again in 1-1 runs.

     Because the back of the base card and the various parallels are all the same and for the fact that I was able to acquire them within a short period of time, I decided to show them all in one post.  So to begin, here his Walker's base card in the set.

     

     

      As mentioned, the reverse is the same on all of them, so I will only show the obverse going forward.

     Here is the Blue, which is numbered to #75

     

     Next is the Silver parallel.

     

     Then comes the Gold version:

     

     And finally, at least to this point, is the Emerald version, which is #'d to just  5.

     

     So I'm glad to be able to check off several cards from the latest set to feature Herschel.  Who knows? Maybe someday a printing plate will pop up for sale and not be too crazy expensive. Of course, I have  uploaded these images to the Trading Card Database.

2022 Panini Gold Standard Golden Records Signatures #GRS-HWA

      

     

          Honestly, I was floored when I saw this card on EBay.  Herschel Walker had not been featured in a regular issue card set since 2019.  I was beginning to think that any new examples of Walker on a football card was a thing of the past.

         When I came across this example, I was able to snag it and immediately went about researching the 2022 Panini Gold Standard set.  As Panini is wont to do, there are an incredible number of insert cards, in addition to the base set.  I counted at least 48 individual insert sets.

          This particular subset, the Golden Records Signatures, is an 18 card set featuring players from the past, who hold a certain record. In Herschel's case, he is the only player in NFL history, to have at least 4,000 yards rushing, receiving and returning kickoffs.  All these cards are autographed.  The cards are serial numbered to 10.  The #'s are very hard to see.  They are in the upper left of the card front. This one is #6 of  10.

          From what I could tell on the Cardboard Connection set list, this is the only card Herschel has in the entire set.

1996 Pacific Red Parallel #298

           

          

          

          I'm very pleased to announce that another one of my top ten most wanted Herschel Walker cards has been located and added to the Herschel Hoard.

          This is a 1996 #298 Pacific card of Walker, in the much harder to find, red parallel version. I have been unable to locate this particular card for years, until a few days ago, when one appeared on EBay. From what I have been able to discern, the red parallels were placed in retail boxes that year, at the rate of 9 cards in every 37 packs.

          So now, I am only lacking the silver parallel from this set.  Those were also issued 9-37, but in hobby boxes, rather than retail.

          As I've said in the past, nabbing a Walker card from his playing days, especially a hard to find version, gives me more of a thrill than even a more modern, 1 of 1, or autographed card.

          Usually, I find these cards in a very random fashion.  I can look on EBay, or other secondary market sites every day for months, with no luck.  Then I'll get busy with life and not check those sites for a few days. When I go back, THAT is when I find my treasure!

          This beauty has left the Top Ten Most Wanted list and has been replaced by a card from the '90's, which is even tougher to locate.  That would be the 1997 Fleer Decade of Excellence Rare Traditions card #9.  It looks quite similar to the regular Decade of Excellence card(already in the Hoard), however, this version is marked "Rare Traditions" and is stamped in foil.

          According to Beckett, these cards were only issued in 1 of 330 packs.  I couldn't be more pleased to add this baby to the collection.

2006 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Tools Of The Trade Red Spectrum #TOT-60

      

     

     I am pleased to be able to fill in a space that was empty for a long time, both at the TCDB and here at the Herschel Hoard.  This is a 2006 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Tools of the Trade Red Spectrum card TOT-60, featuring Herschel Walker.

     The card has a rainbow effect on the middle of the card front, hence the spectrum name.  I had the other three red versions of Walker's Tools of the Trade cards, but have been looking for this one for a long time.

     As can be seen on the card back, it is serial numbered to just 25.

2011 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Veteran Signature Variations #SS-HW

      

     

          Another nice autographed card of Herschel, joins the Hoard.  This is a 2011 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Variation #SS-HW card, signed by Walker on the helmet.  The regular version of the Sweet Spot series, shows a team logo on the helmet, while this variation has the college mascot on the helmet.

          I am fortunate to already have the regular version, which is serial numbered to 50, in my collection.  As can be seen, this variation is serial numbered to 30.  This one is #1 of 30, as shown on the bottom of the card front.  I am pleased to add yet another signed card to the Hoard.

2018 Panini Flawless Collegiate Diamond #40 One of One

      

     

     This one of one Panini Flawless Diamond card, is the trifecta in the #40 series featuring Herschel Walker.  I already have the base card and the Emerald version, which is serial numbered to 5.  

     It has been a long time since a card I was seeking found its way into the Hoard.  I had to pony up a bit for this one, but I did so, first, because I didn't have the card in my collection and also, because it is a one of one example.

2004 Playoff Prime Signatures Silver Proof #29

      

      

               The latest addition to the Herschel Hoard, is this 2004 Playoff Prime signatures Silver Proof #29 card.   The Playoff Prime series had several cards which were available to collectors.  Walker is featured in 11 different card variations, of which seven are in the Hoard.

              In the Proof examples, there is a a Bronze(# to 50), the Silver(shown here, # to 25), the Gold(#1-5) and a Platinum(which is a 1 of 1).  I have the first three, so am lacking only the 1 of 1, in this subset.  The Proof designation is clearly visible on the card front.  On the back, just as easy to see, is the serial #, in this case, card #21 out of 25.

            As to autographed chances in this Playoff run, there are 5 possible cards available with Walker's signature. I was able to collect two of those. First, the Signature Proofs Bronze autographed card(# to 134) and the Signatures Proofs Silver autographed card(# to 34).  It would seem unusual for an autographed card to have a higher serial number run than a non signed card, but that appears to be the case here.

         Here's hoping that more elusive Walker cards will continue to trickle into the Hoard.

2006 Leaf Limited Silver Spotlight #122

      

      

          To be honest, when I saw this card pop up on EBay, I wasn't sure if it was already in the Hoard or not.  A quick check revealed that, not only wasn't it in my collection, but it didn't have an image uploaded on TCDB. That made it a no brainer purchase for me.

          The 2006 Leaf Limited Spotlight series has a base card and 4 parallels. Bronze Spotlight(# to 50); Silver Spotlight(# to 25); Gold Spotlight(# to 10) and Platinum Spotlight(1 of 1).

           The serial number is easy to spot on these cards.  It's right in the middle of the card back.  The base card, the Bronze and now the Silver are in the Hoard.  Who knows, maybe someday I can add the Gold, if not the one of one Platinum.

          This card is the 861st different Herschel Walker card in the Hoard.

1992 Wild Card Field Force Gold 100 Stripe #21

       

   

     

     This could easily been a top ten, most wanted card, for the Hoard.  The reason it wasn't is that there are so many of these Wild Card stripe cards that I don't own, there are too many to list under the most wanted sidebar.

     For anyone unfamiliar with Wild Card Football cards in 1992, there were two full base sets, with 460 cards in each set. There were several insert sets as well.  In Walker's case, he was shown in three of these insert sets. Running Wild,  Stat Smashers and Field Force.

     Furthermore, as in the base set, striped cards were available, in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1,000. The higher denominations were supposed to be more difficult to find, however in Walker's case, I haven't always found that to be true, on the secondary market.

     In any event, I discovered that the striped cards in the insert sets are much harder to locate than in the base sets.  I have all the base striped cards in the Hoard, but am missing several of the striped cards for the insert sets.

      The above card is one such example.  It is a 100 stripe, Wild Card Field Force Gold card. There is also a Field Force Silver edition.  The horizontal lines on the left of the card front are gold colored here and obviously silver colored in the Silver set.

     I had one of my most interesting bidding experiences for this card since I've been collecting.  On EBay, the same seller offered this card, as well as two 1,000 stripe cards for Walker, in both Field Force Gold and Silver.

     I already had a 1,000 stripe Stat Smashers card in the Hoard, so I bid what I though was a pretty high amount on both examples.  Imagine my surprise when I was outbid in minutes! I have been outbid many times at the end of an auction, but never that early in one.  I wanted the cards, but had no intention of going any higher. Someone really wanted these 1,000 stripe cards!

     I placed a bid in the $40 range for the card seen here and no one else bid and I got it.  The same guy outbid me on both the other cards, with no one else bidding.  I'm sure he ended up paying more than he wanted, but he ponied up and I hope he enjoys them.

2013 Fleer Retro E-X Century Essential Credentials Now #27

      

     

     This Herschel Walker card just recently popped up on EBay and I was able to snag it for the Hoard. The card is from the 2013 Fleer Retro set.  It is an E-X Century Essential Credentials Now #27.  There is also an  Essential Credentials Future version, which I already have.

     The interesting thing is that the Futures version of the card is serial numbered to 16, while this "Now" version is serial numbered to 27.  However it took me much longer to find this card.  As can be seen on the lower center of the reverse of the card, this example is the 27th out of 27 made.

     The card image was, of course, uploaded to the TCDB, as I try to fill in as many blank spots as possible on Walker's page.

Picture Perfect The Game of Famous Faces Herschel Walker

      

     

     At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to add this card to the Hoard, but as it is from a licensed game set, I decided to.  This is Herschel Walker's game card from the 1998 Picture Perfect  The Game of Famous Faces, board game, manufactured by the Lang Gang Inc.  

     There were 400 different celebrity face cards in each game, from the world of sports, entertainment, history, etc.  Though I've never owned the game, it seems similar to the previously blogged about, Celebrity Guessing Game, in which you try to identify someone famous from their, in this case, drawn image.

    There is currently no space for this card at the TCDB.  It would take someone creating a checklist of the 400 cards available in order for that to occur.  If that does happen, I'll upload the card image.

     As can be seen, these cards are unnumbered.  Like I've mentioned before, the only cards I really try to stay away from on the Hoard, are unlicensed, custom cards.  Seeing as how this game was trademarked, I feel the card is a legitimate addition to the Hoard.

2019 Leaf In The Game Used Franchise Favorites 6 Relics #FRF-15

      

     

           I haven't seen too many Herschel Walker cards come up for sale, that I don't already have, or that aren't next to impossible to get, because of low print runs, etc, but I was able to nab this 2019 multi player, jersey memorabilia card of a Walker jersey swatch,  along with other Cowboy greats, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Bob Lilly, Michael Irvin and Bob Hayes.

     This card is from the 2019 Leaf  In the Game Used  Franchise Favorites set.  It is serial numbered, 23 of 35.  The serial number can be seen on the card front, right in the middle in blue writing.  There are several other variations of this card, with the same players, but in lesser print runs.

1995 Score Promotional Backs #196

      

     

     

                 Thanks to Ryan, owner of DanMarinoCards.com; another top ten most wanted card has been added to the Herschel Hoard.  Today, it's the 1995 Score Promotional Backs #196 card.  I didn't know much about these cards at all. They are exactly the same as the base set, save for the word "Promotional" splashed across the back of the card. The total # of cards in the set is also the same as the regular base set.

     A member at the Sports Card Forum informed me that these cards were issued in four count cello packs, before the release of the actual 1995 Score set release. I'm not sure if they were released to the general public, or to card industry insiders.  Ryan tipped me off that someone on Sportlots had a few of these for sale and I nabbed one.  I don't think they are particularly rare, you come across them now and again, but some players seem harder to find than others.  This card was already in the TCDB, uploaded by another member.  Despite that, I was not able to locate one until now.

    As I've said previously, adding a card to the Hoard from Herschel's playing days, which I have tried to track down for a long time, is always a thrill.  Now that this card can be crossed off the top ten list, I have added a new one.  That will be the 1995 Collectors Edge Excalbur Die Cuts Sword & Stone Diamond #58.