Cleveland-Area Collector Earns Grand Prize in 2014 Panini NFL Player of the Day

Tom Pavich, a trading card collector from the Cleveland suburb of Fairview Park, Ohio, turned a pack of officially licensed Panini America NFL trading cards into the rare opportunity to spend a day with an NFL player. As the grand prize winner of the 2014 Panini NFL Player of the Day hobby shop promotion, Pavich will spend the day with Cleveland Browns running back Terrance West on April, 19.

West will attend a private party for up to 25 friends and family members at Pavich’s home to share stories of his breakthrough rookie season, toss around a football on the lawn, sign autographs and pose for photos with all of the party guests.

Following the party, guests and attendees will ride by limousine to Pavich’s favorite local hobby shop — B&B Sports Cards, a Panini Roundtable Store — for Pavich’s $250 shopping spree courtesy of Panini America. While they’re at the shop, the entire community will join in as winners as the Browns halfback will spend an hour signing free autographs and posing for photos with up to 200 customers

‘I was a big card collector as a kid and just recently got back into collecting after attending the National Sports Collectors Convention last year in Cleveland,” Pavich said. “To be selected as the winner from so many collectors and getting the chance to have this unique experience is thrilling. It’s especially gratifying to be able to share it with my friends, family and fellow collectors at B&B Sports Cards.”

“The Panini NFL Player of the Day has been the hobby’s favorite promotion for more than a decade because it helps hobby shops sell more Panini NFL trading cards and rewards loyal collectors,” said Jason Howarth, Panini America’s Vice Preisdent of Marketing. “Connecting collectors to their favorite players and teams is what we do at Panini, so we’re excited to host this special day for Tom, his family, friends and all of the loyal customers of B&B Sports Cards.”

At least 200 fans will receive a free autograph from West at the event. Collectors can “reserve” a spot at the front of the line in advance by visiting B&B Sports Cards before the event. All other autographs will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, call B&B Sports Cards at 440-777-5234.

“I have hosted the Panini NFL Player of the Day promotion at my shop for more than 10 years because it’s easy to run, fun and rewarding for my customers,” said Bob Prunty, owner of B&B Sports Cards. “Although we’ve awarded thousands of prizes over the years, it’s exciting to finally be able to share the excitement of the grand prize with all of our customers.”

Pavich was among more than 150,000 NFL fans and collectors who participated in the 2014 Panini NFL Player of the Day contest at more than 750 hobby shops last fall. He is among the thousands who earned prizes, but as the Grand Prize winner, he is the only one spending the day with an NFL player. His journey began just like thousands of other collectors, when he uncovered the Panini NFL Player of the Day in a pack of Panini NFL cards. He was then randomly selected as the B&B Sports Cards grand prize winner and entered into the national sweepstakes with 750 other shop winners.

West, a third-round round draft choice out of Towson University, led the Browns with 673 rushing yards during the 2014 season, good for fourth among all NFL rookies.

This marks the 14^th consecutive year that the NFL Player of the Day program has given an NFL card collector the chance to spend the day with an NFL player. Past players have included Antonio Brown, Prince Amukamara, Beanie Wells, Pierre Thomas, Patrick Crayton, Steve Slaton, AJ Feely, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Simms, Rudi Johnson, Donald Driver, Ed McCaffrey, Chad Pennington and Frank Wycheck.

Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for complete coverage of next month’s 2014 NFL Player of the Day festivities.