Panini America 2013 Black Friday Set Packs Most Memorable Memorabilia (Gallery)

One of the greatest things about any holiday season is our penchant for sticking steadfastly to tried and true traditions that bring us joy, rekindle fond memories and make our seasonal celebrations so special every single time. So it is with Panini America’s annual Black Friday set.

Indeed, as we prepare to give thanks for our many blessings this Thanksgiving (mindful to eat enough so that it sustains us for the next day’s Black Friday phenomenon), there’s something comforting — and highly collectible — about the nontraditional memorabilia cards that have become something of a Black Friday tradition.

To be sure, Panini America’s 2013 Black Friday memorabilia lineup promises to be every bit as eclectic, endearing and in demand as the two iterations that have come before, incorporating headbands worn by the NBA’s top rookies, sweat-soaked towels used by top rookies from the NBA and NFL, game-worn shorts from Anthony Davis, a game-used basketball from the Los Angeles Lakers, player-worn Pro Bowl jerseys and much more.

But the two subsets likely to stand out most when Panini America’s 2013 Black Friday promotion kicks off in earnest next week are the always-entertaining, sick-patch-generating Happy Holidays cards (featuring player-worn pieces of team-specific Santa hats) and the poignant Breast Cancer Awareness inclusions.

The following gallery provides a detailed and delightful exploration of many of the cards mentioned above. We’ll follow up tomorrow on The Knight’s Lance with a preview gallery devoted exclusively to the Breast Cancer Awareness memorabilia cards.

Until then, enjoy . . .