Panini America Explores Undeniable Beauty of 2013 Rookies & Stars Football’s Crusade
Next Wednesday, Panini America’s 2013 Rookies & Stars Football will release in hobby shops across North America boasting a bevy of the bells and whistles that have made the brand a collecting industry staple for more than 15 years. But it’s one insert in particular — the colorful, legendary, technologically unparalleled Crusade — that’s likely to command most of the attention.
Crusade, a proud staple of the Rookies & Stars brand since its original release in 1998, returns to its glorious roots for 2013 with a still-stunning-after-all-these-years design and technology — and a few new color combinations to scintillate player collectors everywhere.
This year’s Crusade insert features five different colors of hobby-exclusive collectibility: Red (numbered to 99), Purple (numbered to 49), Gold (numbered to 25), Green (numbered to 5) and Black (numbered to only one). Unnumbered Blue versions can be found in both hobby and retail versions of 2013 Rookies & Stars Football.
We’ll have a complete Quality Control Gallery starring 2013 Rookies & Stars Football tomorrow right here on The Knight’s Lance. But an insert as historic, as mesmerizing and as magical as Crusade clearly deserves its own gallery. In the one that follows, we profile almost every color of the 2013 Crusade rainbow (we’re missing a Gold for now, but we’ll post a glimpse of that as soon as we can get our hands on one).
Enjoy.
The Knight's Lance 
These are fantastic. It’s nice to see Crusades making a proper return to football.
This is how Crusade basketball should have been done, instead of trying to be pushed out as it’s own brand. Did you hear that Panini basketball team? Stop trying to make a product out of a singular concept. The only really redeeming factor in the whole Crusade basketball product was the Crusade inserts! Not strong enough to carry a product unfortunately. As for the football Crusade inserts, I like the upgrade from last year’s Crusade insert cards and I really liked them last year. Keep up the good work and learn from basketball product team’s mistakes.
Love the design & the colors make the cards **POP**
beautiful product
Insane. So nice. Love that blue Brady.
What is the ratio of these per box on average?
Would have been nice to see some Bears rookies this year. Kyle long, Jon Bostic, Khaseeme Greene. Nothing
I don’t know how I feel about “Crusade” at this point. I feel in order to give a good synopsis, I would need to see “Crusade” in person.
I really like the look of these.
Fantastic looking insert set, the Andrew Luck in blue looks phenomenal. Thanks Tracy!
Wow!! These cards were made for the Packers the Green & Yellow pops !
Welcome back Crusade! Loving the colors on these.
Would just buy the product just for these! Great added bonus and stunning gallery to say the least. Kudos to Panini’s football team!
Love the new colors. Of course, I loved the old colors as well.