The expected named were rarer than others in this set such as Joe Namath, Jim Brown, Joe Montana, and Barry Sanders. I was surprised to see the rarest of all be Michael Irvin. Stay tuned for more official short-print information throughout the week.

# Player Name Team QTY
1 Joe Namath New York Jets 25
2 Lydell Mitchell Baltimore Colts 250
3 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns 25
4 Charley Taylor Washington Redskins 200
5 Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks 65
6 Pete Retzlaff Philadelphia Eagles 250
7 Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 25
8 Todd Christensen Los Angeles Raiders 100
9 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers 20
10 Rick Casares Chicago Bears 250
11 John Elway Denver Broncos 20
12 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles 45
13 Bart Starr Green Bay Packers 40
14 Fred Biletnikoff Oakland Raiders 55
15 Art Monk Washington Redskins 35
16 Dave Casper Oakland Raiders 40
17 Floyd Little Denver Broncos 50
18 Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills 25
19 Michael Irvin Dallas Cowboys 15
20 Daryle Lamonica Oakland Raiders 55
21 Leroy Kelly Cleveland Browns 75
22 Jim Plunkett Oakland Raiders 100
23 Jim Taylor Green Bay Packers 60
24 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings 45
25 Don Maynard New York Jets 40

XAVIER HENRY 2011 PLAYOFF CONTENDERS ROOKIE AUTO AUTOGRAPH GRIZZLIES TICKET US $4.80 (6 Bids) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 12:27:09 PST   | Watch this Item

SHERRON COLLINS 2011 PLAYOFF CONTENDERS ROOKIE AUTO AUTOGRAPH BOBCATS TICKET US $6.05 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 12:28:40 PST   | Watch this Item

JEREMY EVANS 2011 PLAYOFF CONTENDERS ROOKIE AUTO AUTOGRAPH JAZZ TICKET CARD US $3.80 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 12:31:24 PST   | Watch this Item

LAZAR HAYWORD 2011 PLAYOFF CONTENDERS ROOKIE AUTO AUTOGRAPH T-WOLVES TICKET CARD US $4.80 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 12:32:41 PST   | Watch this Item

2010/2011 PANINI PLAYOFF CONTENDERS ALEXANDER VASYUNOV ROOKIE TICKET AUTO # 149 US $0.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:46:25 PST   | Watch this Item

Officials at Panini America announced today the complete list of short-printed Legendary Contenders from 2009 Contenders football.

Archie Manning/35
Bart Starr/62
Bert Jones/33
Bobby Bell/24
Boyd Dowler/77
Brett Favre/4

“We are excited to have Donruss on board as a title sponsor at this year’s Trading Card Show at NFL Experience,” said NFL Director of Consumer Products Rich Seidlitz. “This is great exposure for the category and a creative way for Donruss to get its brand out in front of millions of NFL football fans.”

The agreement also allows Donruss access to officially licensed Super Bowl XLIII memorabilia, including game-used equipment, such as footballs and end zone pylons, and Super Bowl XLII ticket stubs. All of these items will be uniquely incorporated into future trading card programs.

“Our goal at Donruss has been to market around the NFL’s marquee events, so being a title sponsor at an NFL signature event, the NFL Experience, takes our marketing efforts to another level,” said Donruss Vice President of Sales & Marketing Mike Anderson. “By adding in sponsorships at the Pro Bowl and NFL Draft, we hope to expose an entirely new audience to the Donruss brand.”

Anderson is referring to the fact that the agreement also includes a sponsorship at this year’s Pro Bowl and the exclusive designation as the “Official Trading Card of the 2009 NFL Draft.” Specific details on Donruss’ plans for these events will be released in the coming weeks, but the agreement will grant Donruss access to additional game-used memorabilia and unique photo opportunities at both events.

“We felt the memorabilia from these events would be a great way to enhance our programs throughout 2009,” adds Anderson. “With the excitement about the Pro Bowl moving to South Florida next year and the growing popularity of NFL Draft day, we’re excited at the prospects of gaining exposure for Donruss and our products during these NFL events.”

Donruss Announces Playoff Contenders Baseball
January 07, 2009

In 1998, Donruss revolutionized the trading card industry by introducing autographed rookie cards in the Playoff Contenders brand. Fast-forward 10 years and Donruss is at it again, this time in baseball. Donruss officials today announced its fourth and final baseball release of the year: 2008 Playoff Contenders Baseball.

Donruss previewed the Contenders cards in the highly successful Prime Cuts release, fueling speculation within the hobby that Contenders would finally be taking the baseball field for the first time.

“This is something we have kicked-around for years,” said Donruss Brand Manager Ben Ecklar. “As we expand our baseball offerings and look at what brands translate well in baseball, the timing was right to finally release Contenders in baseball.”

The product will feature 50 un-signed base commons cards and 100 signed rookie cards. The program will feature the first certified autographs of 19-year-old White Sox third base prospect Dayan Viciedo, who signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the club in November after defecting from Cuba last summer.

“Viciedo is a guy who could find his way to the majors sooner rather than later,” said Mike Payne, part of the Donruss baseball brand team. “Even if he’s two years away from the South Side, the White Sox believe in him enough that they signed him to a multi-year deal at significant dollars.”

Other firsts include Yankee prospects Pat Venditte, an ambidextrous pitcher, and two-sport athlete Mike Jones, a wide receiver on the 2008 Arizona State squad; Rangers prospects Jared Bolden, an outfielder drafted in 2008, and LHP Derek Holland; Twins slugging outfield prospect Angel Morales; Dodgers prospects Pedro Baez, a third baseman, and Devaris Gordon, a shortstop; Reds shortstop Alex Buchholz, drafted by the club in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB First Year Draft; and Red Sox shortstop prospect Yamaico Navarro. Also included in the program will be 2008 first-round draft picks Buster Posey and Gordon Beckham and 2007 first-round pick Rick Porcello, among many other top prospect names.

As an added bonus, Donruss will also be including the FIRST Playoff Contenders basketball cards: Rookie Tickets of OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley.

“We couldn’t have asked for three better NBA draft picks to debut Contenders basketball with,” adds Ecklar.

Other program highlights include:

Legendary Rookies: Look for autographs from legendary names such as Pete Rose, Cal Ripken Jr. and Willie Mays, among others.

Round #’s: Look for combinations from this year’s MLB First Year Player Draft, such as Posey/Beckham and former University of Arizona pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Ryan Perry, among other combinations.

Draft Class: Look for the top players taken in the MLB draft.

2008 Playoff Contenders is scheduled for a late-January ship date. Each five-card pack will carry a $6 SRP. For more information, visit www.donruss.com.

The product will feature the first certified autographs of Chicago White Sox prospect Dayan Viciedo. The rookie tickets in the set will include Buster Posey, Gordon Beckham, Rick Porcello, Neftali Feliz, OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose.

Each box is stated to include at least 5 autographs. Some legends such as Cal Ripken, Mike Schmidt, Robin Yount and Willie Mays will also sign cards to be included.

http://www.magazine-exchange.com/info/pdf/2008%20Playoff%20Contenders%20BB%20PIS.pdf