Sports Card Release Calendar: 7/20/22
As manufacturer reps and dealers head for this year’s National Sports Collectors convention, they’ll have some new products to show off.
From a high-end basketball release to some summertime NFL from last season’s calendar, here’s a look at what’s coming between now and early August.
7/20
2021-22 Panini National Treasures Basketball
For those who prefer to chase the big rookie hits, NT release day is the one they mark on the calendar. While First Off The Line boxes with their exclusive content came out a few days ahead, the Hobby boxes will arrive with the usual single pack box format.
Each pack has ten cards: four autographs, four memorabilia cards, a printing plate and one base or base parallel.
While the Rookie Patch Autographs, 1/1 Logoman and other low serial numbered cards will again be the most sought after cards in the product, there are some new things to look for including Treasure Chest Booklet cards featuring some current stars and new dual and triple autograph cards.
Boxes are currently selling for $4,500-$5,000 on eBay.
7/22
2021 Donruss Optic Football
It’s a very late arrival for Optic, which will deliver one autograph, 20 Rated Rookies, ten parallels (eight are numbered) and four inserts.]
New this year are Ice parallels for base and Rated Rookie cards that are both numbered to 15.
Downtown inserts are back as case hits.
Boxes are online for $950-$1,000. The FOTL version runs higher. Check pricing here.
7/27
2022 Topps Tier One Baseball
Another all hits product arrives in the form of Tier One, with each box holding a single three-card pack that will have two autos and one relic.
Among the new creations for this year: Gripping Autographed Relics, which feature pieces of the handle tape from game-used bats paired with an on-card auto.
They’ll be numbered to 10 or less with 1/1 Platinum parallels in the mix.
7/27
2021-22 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey
Black Diamond offers a single six-card pack per box. Look for one autograph or Diamond Relic card, one base or base set Pure Black parallel, one Exquisite Collection card and three additional cards per box.
New this year is Band of Color. Each card features six diamond relics, each a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The vets and legends are numbered to 21 while the rookies are numbered to 22.
Boxes are landing at around $350.
2020-21 Upper Deck Clear Cut Hockey
Upper Deck’s second NHL release on the 27th, Clear Cut boxes (and yes, it’s a 2020-21 product) offer a single hard-signed autograph card on acetate stock delivered in a sealed one-touch.
Canvas Signatures (legends, active stars and rookies numbered to 25) and Canvas Rookie Debuts sets are back. All Canvas cards are hand-numbered. Canvas Signatures (legends, active stars and rookies #’d to just 25) and Canvas Rookie Debuts sets are back as well. All will have low numbered parallels.
Among the new subsets is Hall of Fame Showcase, devoted to the NHL’s all-time greats. There will be 1/1 Gold parallels produced.
Boxes are running $225-$250 online.
7/29
2021 Panini Eminence Football
Another product set to arrive during the ’22 training camp but still part of last year’s calendar, Eminence is another super high end type product and comes in a wooden box. Nine of the ten cards in it will be autographed.
Every card in Eminence is numbered to 10 or less and displayed in a magnetic, one-touch holder, where all cards are either signed on-card, feature diamonds, precious metal, or a cut signature.
Yes, they’re going to be expensive. We’ll know a little more where things stand closer to release date but think at least low to mid five figures.
Also set for release: Pro Set Multi-Sport (7/27); Topps Chrome Bundesliga (7/27); Upper Deck AHL (7/27); Leaf Pearl Multi-Sport (7/27); Leaf Art of Hockey (7/29) and Panini Impeccable Soccer (7/29).
About Rich Mueller
Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 35 years and a collector for even longer than that, he’s usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]
