DA Drops of the Week: 2/20-2/26

We’ve got quite the week ahead in DA Drops with the anticipated release of new Pokemon, a football series previously delayed finally coming out, and some new basketball product just after All-Star Game Weekend.

Football

Due to release is a popular Leaf product that’s been around for years. It’s the 2021 edition of Leaf Valiant Football.

Into early 2022, we’re still seeing the release of 2021 draft class products, and that’s evident with Valiant’s drop.

Key rookies to look for in these boxes are Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and many more.

The hobby box includes three autograph cards, plus a BGS graded autograph that Leaf says is 9.5 or better.

Basketball

This past weekend, we saw Obi Toppin take home the dunk contest trophy, Karl Anthony Towns win the 3-point contest, and Team Lebron took home the $450,000 for the Kent State I Promise Scholars program.

Last week saw the release of 2021/22 Donruss Elite, and now, this Friday, Panini will release the 2021/22 edition of Donruss Basketball. 

It’s one of the early products featuring the exciting new class of rookies, including Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, Scottie Barnes, and more.

Panini says collectors can find one autograph per box in Rated Rookie Signatures and Next Dat Autographs, as well as one memorabilia card in Jersey Kings and Rookie Jersey Kings.

There is also a lineup of “hobby exclusive” inserts, Panini says. That includes Net Marvels, Craftsmen, Duos, Production Line, Retro Series, and Crunch Time.

Donruss Basketball comes with ten packs per box and 30 cards per pack.

Hockey

Upper Deck is dishing out what it calls a “robust” 600-card base set on Thursday with 2021/22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey.

O-Pee-Chee will feature a 100-card high-series subset featuring Marquee Rookies (35), Rookie Season Reviews (15), Team Checklists (31), League Leaders (9), and Season Highlights (10), Upper Deck says.

The company also says OPC Playing Cards are returning with four per box on average.

Upper Deck says there will also be retro variations of the entire base set with an expanded parallel lineup for both the base set and the retro variations in O-Pee-Chee. Here’s what that will include:

• Base Set – Blue Border Parallel (6 per box, on average)
• Base Set – Red Border Parallel (1 per box, on average)
• New + Hobby Exclusive! Base Set – Neon Green Bordered Parallel (#’d to 50)
•  New + Hobby Exclusive! Base Set – Printing Plates Parallel (#’d 1-of-1)
• Base Set Retro Variation (1 in every pack, on average)
• Hobby Exclusive! Base Set Retro Variation – Black Bordered Parallel (#’d to 100)
• New + Hobby Exclusive! Base Set Retro Variation – Printing Plates Parallel (#’d 1-of-1)

Collectors can find two of the numbered parallel cards above from every box, on average in O-Pee-Chee.

The Patches insert set also returns with all-new manufactured patch cards. The set includes super rare Stanley Cup Trophy, Logo Update, and Hall of Fame Logo patches.

Upper Deck also tells O-Pee-Chee collectors to look for Premier Tallboys cards featuring short print 2021-22 rookies and super short print rookie updates on mini (2″ x 3.5″) cards.

Look for Hobby Exclusive Patterned Rainbow Foilboard parallel cards. For a full product breakdown, click here.

Gaming

And last but not least, it’s the awaited release of the latest Pokemon TCG expansion with Sword & Shield: Brilliant Stars on Friday.

“Overflowing with light, Arceus VSTAR descends from on high to share its celestial powers with other Pokemon V. Shaymin VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR find themselves wielding awesome new VSTAR Powers, while Mimikyu VMAX, Aggron VMAX, and Kingler VMAX in its Gigantamax form boast tremendous strengths of their own. Discover glimmering constellations and start your journey toward stellar greatness in the Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield Brilliant Stars expansion,” Pokemon said.

Pokemon also says the set is more than 170 cards. It has four new Pokemon VSTARS, 20 powerful Pokemon V, and three Pokemon VMAX.

In the Trainer Gallery subset, there are 30 cards with “special” art. There are more than 20 Trainer cards and a new Special Energy card.

The booster box is 36 packs with ten cards per pack.

As for the Build and Battle Kit, it’s a 23 card Evolution pack, including one of four unique foil promo cards, four booster packs, and one code card for the online Pokemon TCG.

Pokemon also says there is an Elite Trainer Box that contains:

• [8] Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars booster packs
• [65] card sleeves featuring Arceus
• [45] Pokemon TCG Energy cards
• [1] player’s guide to the Sword & Shield- Fusion Strike expansion
• [6] Damage-counter dice
• [1] Competition-legal coin-flip die
• [2] Acrylic condition markers
• [1] Collector’s box to hold everything, with four dividers to keep it organized
• [1] Code card for the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online

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