Panini America Honors Odell Beckham Jr.’s Immaculate Reception . . . Virtually
It was the catch caught ’round the world. Odell Beckham Jr.’s reality-defying one-handed touchdown grab on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys — while being interfered with, falling backward and seemingly using the matrix to come down in bounds — was quite possibly the greatest catch the world has ever seen.
The catch — and the world’s immediate reaction to it — created nothing less than a social media frenzy and turned the bionic Beckham into an international sensation almost instantly. The fact that Beckham Jr.’s New York Giants wound up losing the game, 31-28, did nothing to dampen a buzz that seemed to grow into the wee hours of Monday morning.
This wasn’t the Immaculate Reception, but make no mistake about it: This was an immaculate reception. What it lacked in big-game import or Super Bowl-clinching momentum, it more than made up for with an impossible degree of difficulty and superhuman athleticism.
It was the subject of 360-degree coverage from The New York Times; ESPN’s John Clayton ranks it the fourth-greatest catch of all time. For its part, Twitter fell head-over-heels in love with Beckham Jr.’s feat. Some examples . . .
Trust us, there were millions of additional reactions to Beckham Jr.’s one-handed heroics. Truth be told, all of us here at Panini America were mesmerized by the catch, too. In fact, we were so taken aback by a catch that defied reality that we decided to honor it . . . virtually.
At the top of this post, and again below, we’ve modified the Immaculate Moments insert from Panini America’s upcoming 2014 Immaculate Football to create two different virtual cards that pay tribute to Beckham’s remember-where-you-were-when touchdown grab.
Enjoy.
Trackbacks
- Great Catch: Panini America Appreciates the Spectacular 2014 NFL Rookie Receiver Crop | The Official Panini America Blog
- Odell Beckham Jr. Driving Giant Early Sales for Scorching 2014 Contenders Football | The Official Panini America Blog
- Breaking News: Odell Beckham Jr. NT Autos Arrive at Panini America HQ (Gallery) | The Official Panini America Blog
The Knight's Lance 
Beautiful… Sport reduced to its most elegant essence and captured within a single frame.
Nicely done, Panini.
Reblogged this on The 4519 – NFL News, Fantasy Football, Football Scores.
Let’s do a real card of the catch and I am a Cowboys fan
Any way to make a buck!!!
Best regards, Steven R. Salfi
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It’s not a real card!
Reblogged this on Locating Frankenstein's Brain.
Unbelievable! I watched it live and jumped out of my chair! 2 fingers and a thumb! You could see thru the gap between the ball and his hand. So glad I was able to see it live. I’ll never forget it.
This would be a great “added value” card to put in a surprise product later in the year, especially if he continues with his excellent rookie season. Thanks Tracy!
The irony is that ODB’s previous reception, a diving grab along the left sideline also demonstrated his otherworldly body control and unparalleled hand strength, and THAT catch would have been the stuff of legend… Had he not plucked the 1-handed touch’ several plays later.
This is very arguably the best Wide Receiving class in the history of the draft…& highlighting each pass catchers’ “signature reception” would be a really interesting and fun insert/chase.
Jamey, my son and I were talking about that very thing just last night — how this could be one of the greatest WR drafts of all time.
Tracy, that you can share your sports passion w/your son is wonderful, it’s the passing of the baton and its a blessing bro.
My 7 year-old daughter enjoys watching Viking Football & Yankee Baseball together, and we enjoy opening packs together…but our bonding is less related to conversations about “active 1st Ballot Hall of Fame hurlers” and more akin to “who’s the prettiest My Little Pony.”
Just to touch base on the stud, unparalleled Wide Receiver class of ’14! ODB, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Kelvin Benjamin, Martavis Bryant, Brandin Cooks and Jordan Matthews? Each receiver has already made a mark in the league and served notice that they intend to treat opposing DBs with bad intent!
Instead of crafting virtual cards of these gifted and formidable pass catchers, it would be truly impressive to see Panini craft a real, limited chase series encompassing these players, be they auto’d, Mem’ or otherwise. Quite frankly, there may never be a group quite like them again.
And lastly, a HAPPY, HEALTHY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR’S, TRACY, TO PANINI’s EXEMPLARY STAFF…AND TO THE KNIGHT’S LANCE COMMUNITY!
Great stuff, Jamey. Thanks for contributing. Happy Thanksgiving!
Such an incredible catch. I still give the Tyree helmet catch an edge over all time catches. I mean this one was spectacular, but pinning a ball to your helmet with one hand and coming down with it with Rodney Harrison pulling on you. Thats hard to beat