Now Trending:
- Dallas Card Show Review | January 12-15, 2023 | Ep. 316
- Babe Ruth 2022 Topps Luminaries Cut Signature Likely isn’t Genuine
- 2000 Bowman Chrome Teen Idols Baseball Cards
- 2019 Topps Walmart Holiday Relics Baseball Cards
- 2011 Bowman Platinum Dual Autographs Baseball Cards
- Mike Bacsik 2008 Topps Facsimile Signature Belongs to Someone Else
- 2011 Finest Rookie Dual Relic Autographs Baseball Cards
- 2006 Exquisite Collection Baseball Cards
That is one strong card! Congrats on a solid pull. Hope lady luck stays with you and you pull some stronger cards!
Thanks for the praise man. I was pretty stoked to pull this. Epic find indeed. I hope he pans out in favor.
The AL will win the ASG. The AL is strong, while the NL is weak.
Haha! We’ll have to wait and see. Both teams have muscles. Did you watch the HR Derby? That David Ortiz is a solid hitter.
Pat, I don’t know how “RAD” this cad is, but if you like it. . . then cool Bra!
Haha! I think your comment is just perfect, Dan! 🙂
Gamble looks BOMBED out of his gourd! And, what is up with that hat? It looks like my daughter cut and pasted it to the picture.
Love the compare and contrast! I remember bustin’ packs of ’87 wax… I always felt that the wood border was a nostalgic spin on the Hall of Fame endowed ’62 set. As usual, Chrome brings it to the next level.
Thanks Anthony. I feel the same about the throw back to the classic ’62 set. Chrome just makes it even more exciting. Good call, man! 🙂
Huge score bro. Frank as usual, with a mouth full of gianormous pearly whites. Colla making good use of the brand spankin’ new Comiskey Park score board as back drop. But my absolute favorite part of this card… the crisp, clean signature – this definitely was a fresh out the package, fine tip Sharpie. Truley a rad card!
Epic find indeed! Just love this picture of a young Thomas. The signature, like you said, is classic crispy and clear. A rad card of a rad player. 😎
I have the pack issued one
Like something akin to what a high school year-book committee would create. Another reason to respect the Gamble.
I’m STILL waiting to pull my first 1/1…nice job!
Thanks Tim, big pull for sure. Keep busting and let me know when you pull one. 😎
Need the Lenny Dykstra (#5, 01187/10000)?
Tim! Hey man, thanks for stopping by. Do you have Lenny? Wanna donate him? Let me know 🙂
Donruss was notorious for ‘randomly inserted in packs’, or even not listing the inserts at all. Gotta love them!
Right! I mean, it’s pretty vague but that’s part of the fun. 🙂
Hey Pat!
I like your site and find your comments hilarious. I tried to find your contact information through the link at the bottom of the page but it just looped to radicards.com. Keep in touch brah!
See yous,
Justin
Hey Justin,
Thanks for the compliments! 🙂
When I pulled my redemption from 1997 Donruss Signature, I was contemplating throwing it out. Well, I sold it on eBay for $5 to either a set collector or a player collector. Sure it wasn’t a Strasburg sale, but after 13 years, the card still had some value to it.
Good find. I would have bid on it had I known 🙂
thoroughly enjoyed. good read. aroused some great memories. I found myself a little disappointed when i got to the bottom of the page and it was done. keep em comin’:)
Hey Thanks Bryan! Glad you liked it. 🙂
I graduated HS in ’92, it could’ve easily been a pic in my yearbook. I wonder how long it was b4 this pic was taken that he cut off “the party in the back”! ha!
Haha! Nice Bryan. Good call indeed!
Don’t forget, you can link to the Crusade site if you want 🙂
Oh yea, good call! 🙂
the multi-colored ball was indicative of the ABA. i like how his fro is soooo big that its shadow couldnt even be contained in the card. ha. great COTW!
Good call on the fro observation Bryan! Darnell’s hair is too funny. 🙂
They wouldn’t be so pricey if Arod wasn’t in the set!
Ahhh! The elusive white whale… the Mark McGwire Red Holoview. That is one sweet card. Bold, clean cut, and dripping with Andro. I love it!
I know you live the rock n roll life… “Rock Star” Pat! But, don’t mess with the PBR!
Tim: I absolutely agree with you there!
Dan: Haha, “dripping with Andro.” Classic!
The only mess I’m making is that which consists of a pile of empty PBR cans… and maybe some empty packs of 1992 Bowman baseball in search of T. Jones, the best rookie card in the set! 😛
Mantle, of course, always had a great signature. Those M’s are unparalleled, as well as his peers, Hank Aaron AND how could you forget Ted Williams. All great signatures, IMHO.
And Babe Ruth.
Oh yea, I totally forgot about Bambino. Good call, Tim 🙂
Agreed indeed! All great sigs. I’ve always thought that Cal Ripken Jr. had a really great signature too.
My most memorable was at the National in Cleveland in 1997 I believe. Bought a box of Finest for around $80 and opened the box while waiting on my uncle.
Not sure what pack # I was on at the time, but I hit a Frank Thomas gold-embossed refractor. Showed the dealer and he didn’t seem to care. So, I took it to my local card shop and sold it for $350 to a Thomas collector. If only I knew then what I know about those cards!
Tim,
Epic pull! Huge!!! If only I knew you then, I would have offered you a chunk of cash for that card. I still don’t have that card! Super strong find!
X-D
Awesome post!!!
X-D
Thanks, Lance! 🙂
For pure penmanship and style – I would nominate Andre Dawson. The man’s sig is old school skill and sweet to look at.
Weird coincidence – Dawson was one of the players that Frank Thomas looked up to when growing up. And probably not a coincidence – another football player convert. 🙂
And even though it wasn’t asked – I would put Greg Maddux for ugliest/most illegible autos ever.
I’d have to agree with you Lance, the Dawson sig is pretty classic. As for ugly and somewhat confusing sigs, I’d have to nominate Willie Mays. I don’t know what he’s writing there but those don’t look like W’s and M’s. 😛
I can’t get enough of the ambiguousness. I love it.
Imagine that as a refractor. Man oh man…
Oh wow! Good call, Tim; that would look incredible!
Very informative and laced with strong facts about the cards. Would like to get your comments on current product in all sports as well as where the hobby is going in your eyes. Also, what in your opinion is smart to invest in, modern or vintage sports cards? Lastly, how do you feel about grading cards. Is it good or bad for the hobby?
Regards,
Taycard
Hi Ian,
Thanks for the praise! You have brought up some great questions. These will help me in future posts. Keep an eye out, more to come. 🙂
Bowman’s Best is beautiful. 1999 and 2000 are my favorite years for this product. I know I have some sweet inserts and rookie cards hiding in my collection. I’ll have to dig them up and share!
Patrick – what does that bronze diamond say on the Bagwell/Lee card?
Hi Ryan,
The bronze diamond on the card says “Atomic Refractor.”
Mine is the Mariano Rivera RC. He looks so cheesy in that pic that you can’t possibly take him serious enough to consider him one of the best closers in the game. Yet, he is. 🙂
Good choice indeed, Tim. I still need to get that card. I also like the Chipper Jones card from this set, it’s worth 2x more than his most expensive rookie card. I dig his outfit on that card too, ha!. 😛
Just FYI, Gallery of Stars was released in Triple Play products and not actually Diamond Kings, though I can see the confusion since Perez did those (I think anyway).
Hmm. I would have to say 1992/1993 Diamond Kings are my fav, since 1992 is when they were first inserted in packs as an insert and not a subset. Then you have 1997/1998 when they printed the first 500 on canvas stock. Ah, I miss the 90’s.
Hey Tim,
I chose to use Gallery of Stars for ’93 b/c Diamond Kings from ’92 and ’93 look identical.
I would have to agree with you on the 1992 set. I can remember wishing to pull the Thomas from ’92 Donruss. In it’s day, that card was huge! The Canvas from 97/98 is great stuff. ’01 also had the Studio parallel’s #d to 250. I dig that stuff quite a bit.
Very true, 1992/1993 did indeed look similar. My apologies 🙂
No need to apologize dood! 🙂
Know what’s sad? When this product came out, I hated it because I thought Topps was over-crowding the market with more chrome-like products. I mean, we had Finest and Bowman’s Best, why add more?
If I had to choose though, I would say Travis Lee was my favorite prospect. And now you can see why I don’t prospect for a living! 🙂
HA! That’s a good point. I can remember the Chrome craze of the late 90’s. To me, this was the last great trend run of that decade. In my eyes, it will always be highly regarded. I wish card collecting was still this simple.
Regarding prospects, T.Lee is the reason why I no longer invest in new prospects right out of the gate. I need to watch these guys develop before I spend money on ’em. 8) (kicking myself for not buying Pujols in ’01)
Easy, and you prob. thought about it already…..
Ready for it? 1990 Topps Frank Thomas NNF. 🙂
I was out of cards in ’01 but if I had know about Pujols’ cards, I would have bought 1 or 2 when they were “low” compared to now. Or hell, even a LeBron RC.
HAHA! Best reply message for this post, hands down! 😛
Agreed on both. I would like to also add a Sidney Crosby to that list. $350 for a base RC?!? With all the jersey dual cut rookie auto nonsense that plagues the market these days, it’s a miracle that a base card ever brakes the $100 mark anymore. When it does, I’m always amazed that it survived the overshadowing from all of the gimmicks. To some degree, base cards have lost their significance and that’s something unfortunate. I will always be a fan of simplicity in design. It’s the player, not the technology involved in creating the card, that’s ultimately important. At the end of the day, they are just cards. It’s all fun and games. I’ll likely add additional banter about this on another post at a later date. For now, we shall reminisce. 8)
I remember pulling a 93 fleer with a different player on the front and back and thought it was the coolest thing, oh I was 9 btw. I have a page of errors I pulled from my youth and it still only numbers about 5 cards.
Those Fleer front/back misprints are pretty cool. I pick ’em up when I see ’em even today. That’s fun stuff indeed. When I was younger, I didn’t examine my cards to any significant degree past their fronts so I may have stumbled across those errors w/o even knowing it! I didn’t even think to look. 😛
My favorite is John Smoltz’s MVP card from 1990 Donruss. There is an error card that shows Tom Glavine instead of Smoltz. I’ve got both the error and the correct version of the card. I’ve heard of other errors in 1990 Donruss, but I haven’t found them yet.
I remember that error, I also remember the error being more common than the corrected version. It’s a classic indeed. 1990 Donruss is blanketed with quality control problems. The A.S. cards, Ryan KoKs/5000K cards, J.Gon Rev Neg, etc., The set is significantly problem ridden. It’s all part of the fun.
So did you pull the f*ck face card? Nice!
I did, that exact one! 🙂
Two words: Rusty Kuntz.
Or, rather, another player with a weird name: Wonderful Terrific Monds.
Dick Pole? I mean REALLY.
Wonderful Terrific Monds, oh man, I remember that guy. When I first saw that player, I thought is was some kind of joke. HA! Parents…
Great review, Patrick! I just bought the 660 card set off of a craig’s list seller. I’ve only gone through a small portion of the set, but I love it so far. I’m definitely going to try and find some unopened packs of this product. Instant classic!
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the complement! Good work on your recent ’89 Fleer buy! If you find some unopened packs, let me know if you pull the Ripken whiteout variation. Cheers!
where is the best place to find unopened wax boxes like the 1990 Leaf for a good price?
Hi Lushan,
I’m not sure about the best place but they are routinely found on eBay so you might check there.
I’m jealous of your sweet Yogi Berra Puzzle. Are you going to put it together or leave it in pieces?
Hi Ryan,
I haven’t really given it any thought. For now, I suppose I’ll just leave it in pieces.
Alright man, slab that Thomas and sell. What do you want for the Justice?
Haha, nice Tim!
As much as I appreciate your offer, I think I’m going to hang on to them.
I think you should do a blog on vinatge cards and how they compare to modern cards as far as value and collectability.
That’s a decent thought. There’s a lot to cover there.
Call me crazy, but I love 1991 Topps.
What is the value of a complete red holoview set? The cards are not graded. I know that graded A-Rod cards go fro a pretty penny on Ebay, but ‘d like to sell the whole set and not deal with having things graded.
Hi,
Thanks for the comment. If you’ve got the whole red set, that’s a pretty significant investment. My advise for selling something like that would be to put it on eBay as a whole lot auction and showcase the A-Rod, Jordan and Ripken. I would imagine that the actual value for the whole set, and don’t quote me, would be a few hundred bucks or more. How many hundreds, well, the market will decide that. Best of luck and let us know how it goes! 🙂
You’re not crazy, Tim. 1991 Topps loves you too.
Hmm, somehow I don’t think he’s using the right bat… 🙂
I think this is important information for the common collector to understand. I would like to read your thoughts on vintage cards, graded cards and autographed memorabilia. What do you think of investing in Strasburg?
Investing in a pitcher is extremely risky. Remember Brien Taylor?
Haha, that’s actually an interesting comment Tim given the origin of B.Taylor’s injury. I’m still convinced that had he not been at that bar that night, he would have made a great pitcher. Thoughts?
Reports are saying Strasburg has some minor injuries. However, coaching staffs are being careful with their young pitching talent now, so who knows what’s really going on. Great info, Pat. Send your resume to a big card company and try to get a job with them. Put your knowledge to good use!
According to the latest news reports, Strasburg is out for the season. I think he’s an incredible talent but needs to perhaps tone it down from time to time. The kid consistently throws 100mph. Longevity can potentially be compromised with that type of consistent power. He’ll be back upon recovery, I’m just concerned with how his being on the DL is going to affect market demand withing the hobby. Time will tell.
Wasn’t that the problem of Kerry Wood?
and Mark Prior?
See that cool new banner? Thanks to Tatiana Krasovsky for her brilliant work in making my creative idea for that banner a reality. Photoshop has a day dedicated to her. Be impressed by her work @ http://www.illustratk.com.
Love the new vintage-style cards. Too bad there aren’t a lot of goofy looking guys on cards these days. Most of the pictures on cards are all action with no cheesy stances and poses.
Keep your eyes out, there’s bound to be a few goofy looking doods in the modern era.
Hello-I really liked your comments on the 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson card. I was one of the lucky folks who pulled one from a box way back in 1991 or ’92. I immediately bought a “hard” plastic cover for it and have kept it all these years inside a small box. So recently I sent it in to Beckett and got it graded. It came back with 1 “9”, 3 “9.5’s” and “10” on the autograph! It’s #1160 out of 2500 and is just beautiful. I’m a new eBay seller and just don’t know what to ask for it! Any ideas of where I can “compare” or do some good research to know a fair asking price on eBay? Thanks.
Steve Nesbitt
Hi Steve,
Epic pull! Beautiful grade as well! You are the second person I’ve ever spoken with that has pulled one of these gems. If you’re looking for a fair market value, I can tell you this, I’ve seen these guys consistently fetch $120 on eBay. You might try starting the auction at $49.99 and just let the market decide. Best of luck, let me know how it goes. Cheers! 🙂
steve,
did you get any mike witt’s or scott ruskin’s in your 1990 upper deck packs ?
thanks
rich
[email protected]
Hi Rich,
Funny you should ask because those are cards I’m also seeking myself. The Mike Witt black-box variation is considered by some to be the Holy Grail of error cards. Best of luck on your hunt, keep us posted. 🙂
I like how most of this article is about cheerleaders! lol Seems like you had a good time though =) You’re a really good writer. . . maybe I’ll learn a thing or two about baseball!
Haha, in retrospect, I noticed that I didn’t actually talk about the players or the game play to any degree. I suppose I was more concerned with the experience of actually being there than the game itself. That’s something of an interesting observation. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Pat have you Sent your Six Sigma info to Upper Deck? I feel like those clowns at Sea Otter Place have never taken a business/finance class.
Good for Thomas! Now if I can just find a card picturing him in his A’s uni that is auto’ed.
Haha! I haven’t, should I?
Let me know if/when you do, I’m interested.
I’m currently working on the 2006 Bowman Rainbow of Jon Jay and Tyler Colvin.
Also all the Jose Canseco Rainbow’s. All impossible with the 1/1’s
Jamie
Nice! I’m going for the same thing but with Frank Thomas. Those pesky 1/1’s make the goal much less realistic.
Hello,
Another rare error from 1989 Fleer that very few are aware of is the checklist card with positions listed. For more info on FF versions, visit http://www.billripken.com. We have some of the versions listed but there’s more….
Hi Donovan,
Love your site! I came across your site about a year ago, extremely impressive work! Great job! 🙂
RE: The 1989 Fleer Whiteout. Were you looking to buy one of for info/pics or ?
I’m interested in owning a copy of the whiteout variation for my self. That card eludes me.
I tried to find your contact info. I emailed the addy I found when I clicked on your name but it was kicked back. I have a BGS 8.5 Whiteout and a ungraded one that are extras, as I have a PSA 9. My email is info at billripken.com
Donovan, I just sent you an email directly inquiring about the bgs 8.5 and the ungraded whiteout.
He’s got that “who shit themselves?” look on his face!
HAHA! Tim strikes again! 😛
I’d say my best pull as of late is my Ty Cobb bat card from 2009 Topps-206. I also just pulled an autographed Johnny Podres from some 2010 Topps-206. Maybe I should buy more of this product :-). . .By the way, my local card shop has 1993 Studio selling for fifty cents a pack – you got some competition!
Epic pulls indeed! 206 is a great product, as is ’93 Studio. Buy ’em up, those are fun to bust!
I meant to comment and forgot!
I want to say that 1996/1997 was when we started to see low serial-numbered cards. Pinnacle Totally Certified had Platinum Gold /30, as an example. Sure, there were a lot of inserts with a stated print run but not serial numbered, such as the 1997 Pinnacle Certified Mirror Golds /30 or way back to 1993 with Finest Refractors /241. Of course, there might be more than those out there as collectors are finding out, but those are some early examples.
Well, I told you my big pull in 1997 with the Finest Gold Embossed Refractor of Frank Thomas when I was at the National in Cleveland. Since then, nothing has compared!
Tim,
Great call. I forgot about those pesky ’97 Pinnacle Mirror Gold’s. The ’93 Finest refractor’s are still eluding. Regarding your pull from ’97, one word: Epic! I still don’t have that card.
As a fellow math/stat man, I say this: you have way too much time on your hands with all that info! 🙂 It’s not a bad thing though; I enjoy reading your posts and the odds on getting cards in packs, or packs in boxes!
HA! I was a stats tutor pro-bono in college. This may have something to do with my interest in odds and ratios. As always, thanks for reading Tim 😛
denial
trouble
Greedy.
And I say that because of his contract deal in 2007 with the Yankees.
I read that he was making $4.5M/mo with the Yankees!!!
I believe he was also permitted to only pitch at home games and only show up to games in which he was playing.
I miss the holograms, especially when SPx was first released.
Ahh, good call. I remember pulling the Mo Vaughn out of the ’96 SPx. A great product!
Don’t forget Clyde’s most important stat: his 1970 No-Hitter. He’s got a vanity plate on his car that reminds everyone! It’s funny that you mentioned Clyde and Ichiro in the same post because they both played ball in Japan. Great post, Pat. Wish I could have gone to the game too.
Oh wow! That’s interesting. That’s a nice little fact there! 😎
Be sure to check the checklists as well. If you have one with the players positions listed, VERY rare. I know of only 2.
Happy Hunting
Nice tip, thanks Donovan! 😎
i have this card anybody want to buy it?
I just saw your ebay auction. Looks like you got a bit more than $120! Nice card. I hope your pleased. 🙂
I recently bought some 2010 Topps 206 in search of their sweet autographs. I already got one a month ago, and it is one of my favorite auto cards ever! Anyways, I ended up getting a gold mini David Price #28/50. Pretty cool! I’ve never had any significant mini cards before. It’s a great addition to the collection. As an Angels fan, that 94 Tim Salmon is quite appealing. Too bad the eBay prices aren’t too friendly right now.
Sweet pull on the Price mini/50! Speaking of price, you aren’t kidding, the ’94 fish auto is pretty high right now. eBay is a waiting game, it’s only a matter of time before a more affordable copy surfaces. Best of luck!
I always thought the clever card companies inserted error cards on purpose in order to create buzz around their product. However, cards like this still don’t make a lot of sense. I love getting errors in newer products since the quality control over at Topps must be ridiculous compared to the 70s and 80s. I recently received the very top of a card that had been cut off when the pack was sealed. I don’t know what player it is, but it’s still cool!
Hi Ryan,
Your thought on manipulation of artificial demand can easily be generalized in today’s market. Today’s so called “errors” are intentionally produced and are mainstream chase cards rather than actual factory mistakes. These are planned marketing plows. Still cool, but don’t fall into the category of scrap. That card you received sounds interesting and would probably fall into said category. Great find! 🙂
Pat, amazing take on the Aaron piece. And, congrats on nailing one of your chase cards!
Dan! Welcome back! Thanks for the praise. As you can see, that one took some work.
last time was around 2oo5. i had an order of fries. last time b4 that was at least 5-7 yrs. before that. Even tho i just had fries, it still made my stomach all queasy.
Bryan,
That’s excellent! It’s so rad that you answered that question.
October 24, 2010, McRib.
AKA, the Ribwich
Pat – Is this card from your personal collection?
Safe and sound
I’ve owned this cards for 50 years.
if interested, contact [email protected].
I love the old cards, especially the food issues.
Me too! Some even kinda make me hungry. 😛
I must admit this issue is killing me too. The other day I was looking for a proper Andre Ethier RC and found that he has them in 2005, 2006 as well as 2003. I will have to check out the book you mentioned to find what the “true” rookie card is.
Ahh, yes, the newer cards can be somewhat misleading. RE: Andre Eithier – my advice would be to look for cards depicting him in an Oakland Athletics uniform. Best of luck and thanks for reading! 🙂
June 26, 2010 McDonalds Sarlat la Caneda France….had McNuggets (was the only place open sadly)
I find it interesting there we all remember the dates that we last consumed fast food. Yes, it was that traumatic. 😀
wow 23 years. It almost sounds worth it.
Right? 😀
Anybody know what this card is worth??? I’ve had it for at least 12 years or so..
Hi Josh,
I personally have no idea but if I were to put a price on it, I’d say around a buck or so but don’t quote me 😛
Hmm, either my eyes are going bad, or you’re article is talking about a 1997 product yet the card pictured is from 2007. Talk about errors! 🙂
Hey Tim,
I realized that little mishap just today! HA, thanks for the reminder, I will fix that 😛
No worries man, I’ve done the same in the past 🙂
Dear readers,
I made a few mistakes in this post, all of which I have corrected. The following edits have been made: 1997 has been replaced with 2007; ‘Quadruple’ has been replaced with ‘Triple’ and one or two sentences have been omitted. I apologize for any confusion.
Thanks for reading,
😀
Technically, yes, considering it’s still just trash. Just ask the cop that pulls you over next time 😉
Haha! Nice one, Tim. I’ll keep that in mind. 🙂
Law would state that YES it is littering. ive actually had this happen to me with an apple core. My argument was that the apple is biodegradable and if anything i was adding fertilizer and compost to my Mama Earth. As i explained my case to the officer he just continually nodded as he handed me a ticket for littering. Thumbs down! i still do it to this day i just check my surroundings before i toss:-0 oh, and btw-its a good rule of thumb that policemen/women are NOT eco friendly and do NOT like tree-huggers;-)
as a side note, if you’re playing mario-kart, then bombs away:-)
Ahhh, Mario-Kart. Brings back some good memories.
It’s just fruit! Does the same cop threaten to arrest the tree that drops ripe fruit onto the ground when nobody’s around to pick it up? Technically, the same logic applies 😛
Just make sure that if you throw it out, somebody slips on it…would make a good video
Ha! Agreed. So campy and slapstick. 🙂
Being that you are such a collector of Thomas how did you end up acquiring so many Cansecos?
Hi JBob,
I’m friends with a personal friend of Mr. Canseco and his Agent and that person gave me his entire Canseco collection to sell on consignment. Thanks for your bids! 🙂
Hard to not be envious of those kind of contacts. That collection certainly was impressive.
JBob:
I agree with you there. An exquisite collection indeed. It’s been fun auctioning it off to other die-hard Canseco collectors.
That’s definitely a printing error….or….maybe it’s a crazy conspiracy and that other players also have targets near their heads and in a few year from now, they will be taken out by some psycho sports killer ….wow I feel an episode of CSI coming on 😛
As one who has not had a need for a hairdresser in many years, I’m thinking they must have help or a very good assortment of mirrors. Hey you could ask the same question for massage therapists
Or a dentist! 🙂
This post inspired me to dig through my collection and and find some old Pinnacle stuff. FYI – there is a lot of unopened Pinnacle up on the bay at the moment. I remember buying some Pinnacle cards that came in a can. . .those were the days.
That’s exactly what I mean about Pinnacle’s packaging. They were way ahead of their time. Has there been a product released in a can (not a tin) since then?
I still have an unopened can with A-rod’s mug on it.
That sounds like 1997 Pinnacle Inside
How much do the Error versions usually sell for? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one for sale. Great writeup!
Hi Gary,
It all depends who’s selling. Keep an eye out on eBay; I got mine there for a cool $15. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Have you ever seen an error like this one?
http://josecanseco.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=43723351
Jamie
Jamie,
Now there’s a pretty nice little error. I actually haven’t seen that card. Love that there’s a hologram on the front! That’s rad! Epic find 🙂
I would like to take a moment to introduce my Editor, Justin Greenough. He helps me maintain proper grammar within my posts. He also holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of New Hampshire. If you’re in that area, you might look him up.
I told this guy to contact you, it was on beckett and I thougt you’d like to do a post on it. I love the way blogs make the world a little smaller and I’m happy to see it worked out. Sweet canseco btw.
Jason,
That was you? Excellent work! Big thanks for the lead. 🙂 Yea, Jamie’s Canseco error adds a nice little touch to his collection. Feel free to share your errors on here Jason.
I’ll dig through some of my old cards from by youth when I see the parents again for the Christmas holiday. I know I have a couple odd errors cards that I never got good info on.
Jason,
That sounds good; I look forward to seeing what you dig up. 🙂
Thanks JBob,
I found it in a Canseco lot I bought on ebay in the late 90’s. I’ve never seen another but I keep looking.
Jamie
Jamie,
I wonder if Thomas made it out with a hologram on front like your Canseco. I’m not sure if all cards in the set share that variation. It’s possible but nobody knows for sure.
Sorry I got behind here but Patrick thanks again for the help with the hat! I also got the bat and love it! Jamie I’d like to say i’ve been to ur site in the past and ur collection is crazy awesome it’s nice to hear from you. We Canseco fans can be few and far between.
Jason,
No problem, I’m glad that the hat made it to you safely! I’m also glad I could help connect some fellow player collectors. 🙂
Hi Jbob,
Glad you enjoyed the site. There’s not a lot of us Canseco fans but were all die hard about collection completion.
I have this card in mint condition, I thought I was the only one who had known of it. The card came in a pack, and all the others were the same (wrong backs). I also saved those cards as well.
Think of it, what are the odds that two hall of famers, one a first ballot the other almost certainly will follow, on an error card? a rookie none the less. Secondly, these were the most dominant hitters of their day. I have never seen this, are there any similar parallels?
Hi Daniel,
I wish I knew the odds, there really is no way to know. My guess is that this was unintentional so it’s really hard to say how many of these exist. As far as parallels, this is the only one I’m aware of. Thanks for reading 🙂
Hi Daniel,
I agree, it’s a conceptual anomaly. While I have not seen other versions of cards from ’91 Upper Deck like this, I’d imagine that they exist given that these were printed in sheets.
Well it’s for sale if anyones interested. Not sure the value, I was told one sold on ebay for a good buck.
Daniel,
Contact me through the Contact Me page at the top of the site. I’d like to discuss this card privately with you.
That’s sweet I love that card!
Me too ::thumbs up::
Pat that card is strong, but more amazing is the guy who made it for you. Wasn’t the SCD published in th 60’s? I tried to find one, but the only copy I could locate had a $200+ price tag on it. I would love to interview Lemke for my website.
Dan,
The SCD, also known as the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards is the primary competitor for Beckett’s Annual Almanac. It’s still in print today and can be found at bookstores like Borders or Barnes & Noble for a cool $44.99. It’s just shy of 2000 pages and well worth the investment.
Strong cards Bra! PS, i am posting from my phone, esse!
Word, let’s collaborate again real soon!
This is pretty cool, I’d actually never heard of it before this post.
I wouldn’t even buy a Canseco rookie card unless it was graded. Although when one reads enough posts from sportscardsuncensored you start to doubt that slabbed cards are all that legit.
Yea, that’s a tough one but It’s probably a safe bet to protect against the probability of potential fakes.
WHAT is the error on the 1991 Michael Jordan White Sox card
No complicated theory needed, just a simple human mistake.
In the printing process of trading cards, printers run a few hundred sheets through the press to check for ink density, color, registration, etc…, before the actual cards are printed. These “test sheets” are called “make-readys” These sheets, once approved, are then discarded and shredded.
The process of foil stamping (of which the holograms are) is a totally separate process, utilizing different equipment. Make-readys are also run to check for registration (position) and foil adhesion. Again, these sheets, once approved, are discarded and shredded.
So, how do these error sheets end up in the production run? Very simple. A pressman, or for that matter, anyone doing the “press-check” puts the make-ready sheet on the wrong pile – the pile intended for production. With many palettes containing stacks of cards in various stages of production, one can see it would be very easy to accidentally place a make-ready sheet on the wrong pile.
Once printed and foil stamped sheets are done, they are loaded into automated cutting machines and off to packaging they go. Very few human eyes see the thousands of cards being packaged, as it’s all automated.
Wow! That makes a lot more sense than my proposed theory. Huge thanks for this info. I’ve been wondering about this since I discovered this cards existence. The info you’ve provided sheds significant light on the matter. I’ll contact the owner of the card and let him know. Thanks for stopping by, taking a read and sharing the info. 🙂
Yo Cheech! I think the Murphy Rev/Neg is a legit mistake. Loading the negative backwards into the enlarger is a real easy thing to do. However, I think the 1990 Donruss JuanGon Rated Rookie #33 Rev/Neg was intentional. I believe Donnruss saw the “chase” for the 89 Fleer Bill Ripkin “F Face”, followed by the 89 UD Murphy Rev/Neg, and hoped lightning would strike a third time.
That’s actually well thought out. I always suspected as much with the iconic ’90 Donruss Juan Gon RevNeg. That’s always been a nice little chase card. If Donruss was smart, they would have printed significantly less of the RevNeg to help maintain integrity and value over time. No matter, I’m still a sucker for stuff like this. 🙂
Dan, I enjoyed reading your post on the Mike Williams XRC card. I’m glad to finally see other sports cards featured besides baseball on Radicards! There is still some potential for your investment to pay off. Williams was second in the AP’s voting for comeback player of the year (behind Michael Vick)…looks he’s on his way to being an elite receiver under Coach Pete Carroll.
Thanks for the feedback. I gotta give Pat a shout out though! When we decided to share random picks, I told him that most of my PC is not baseball. He was pumped to add a new element to his site. So thanks Pat!
Anytime Dan. Variety is a spice of life 😀
Love the site! Very entertaining and informative!
Thanks! 🙂
Never heard of OMR. What prompted you to try this brand? What is your overall take on “off-brands” or novelty cards that aren’t listed in Beckett. Good for the hobby or not?
Hi Lushan,
You know what, I’ve never heard of OMR either. I actually picked this card up as a single and it was my first experience with OMR. I don’t know anything about the brand other than, based on the fact that team names are depicted, it is in fact licensed by both the NBA and NFL (or so I hope). I actually don’t mind “off-brands” as long as it makes sense to the hobby. What I mean by this is that if their products are relevant, it can provide the buyer with more options. In today’s market, I’m all for more options. Additionally, when cards aren’t listed in the major pricing pubs, it makes for an interesting research assignment 🙂
Patrick. Having one of the most extensive Mike Piazza DODGERS card and memorabilia collection, I might just agree with you regarding this issue. My personal All-time favorite catchers are: 1)Yogi Berra, 2)Roy Campanella, 3)Johnny Bench, then 4)Mike Piazza (sorry, Mike). I think Piazza’s offensive numbers alone would rate him as a “monster” in baseball history. Had his defensive skills been better than average, he’d be knocking on Yogi and Campy’s doors. Thank you for your write-up on Piazza’s ’93 Select Rookie/Traded issue.
Ivan
Hi Ivan,
Wow, Piazza ranks along side some of the biggest name catchers in baseball history. I would agree with you on that note. I would also anticipate a first ballad HOFer. Great contribution Ivan.
i have one those cards i got it in a pack at the corner store in my town. i also went out the day i got it and put in a case. it has been in a saftey deposit box since the day i got. i havent seen the card in over 10yrs. what lead me to this site was i was interested in its value.
to say the least im not impressed with its value i believe when they came out they were around 500. looks like i will be holding onto that one for yrs.
Nice pull! This is an ultra scarce card so hats off to your luck. It’s pretty impressive that you can go so long without looking at it, the card is such a beauty. Thanks for reading.
I recently pulled a Ryan Howard dual auto/jersey from Bowman Platinum. The jersey piece is grey and the card is silver, so it’s a little boring. The sticker autograph does spice it up a little bit. I’m usually not into relic cards, but when they’re done right they can be beautiful.
Ryan,
That sounds like a fairly nice pull. Feel free to post it in the appropriate thread on the forum as others might like to have a closer look, myself included. 🙂
WOW. I guess I never realized just how lucky I was. When I was 11 I bought a pack of 1991 Upper Deck cards, this was in 1991. To my surprise I was holding card number 870. 20 years later I still have it, the crown of my collection.
Very nice! That’s an impressive pull indeed!
Man, seeing those Denny’s cards brings back a lot of memories. As a kid, My mom didn’t like Denny’s (something about the Devil’s food), so I had to go with friends. But despite this road block, I ate a ton of Grand Slam Breakfastes to get the cards.
Ha! That’s awesome. 😀
I puled 912/2500 at a garage sale when I was like 8. The funny thing is I didn’t even realize that it was autographed until I went through the cards again later. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that the BV was $400.00
Oh wow! I bet you were stoked when you discovered the value. That’s a pretty insane card in terms of scarcity. The odds of you pulling one from a garage sale purchase are somewhat astronomical. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Nice work!
I remember this set and the confusion that went with it! Also the debate over these cards if they were even to be considered “cards” since they weren’t paper, but plastic. Very pretty looking cards and a great contender with Flair Showcase.
Jeremy,
Welcome back! Great contribution here and good call on noticing that Topps Gold Label is very similar in production type to that of Flair Showcase from the same year. I hadn’t really thought about that but it’s so correct. Both releases are made of plastic instead of classic paper. Very nice!
I remember the “Chris Everett” interview…that was crazy! no youtube in those days to rewatch it, had to wait for the 11 oclock news.
My fav from this set is the Randall Cunningham rookie #296; he became a fav of mine as helped lead my fantasy football team to greatness when he was a viking.
Ahh yes, the Randall Cunningham RC. That card was monster in its prime!
My most recent acquisition is a 07-08 Upper Deck Black Hockey Marcel Dionne game-used Jersey Card. What’s different about this card from my other memorabilia cards is that the swatches are visible front and back; the card itself is sandwiched in plastic creating a “window” effect with the Jersey.
That sounds like a pretty cool jersey card. I like the window effect. I’ve seen similar things in the basketball card market.
Love the Jim Brown. I’ve that set’s Barry Sanders on my want list
It sounds like the Barry Sanders is a tougher one to obtain.
I have the A & C variations of Wally Joyner. I’m not in to baseball cards much so I’ve been trying to sell them on ebay. Even though Beckett lists them at $250, I’ll be lucky to get $100 for them. I guess the people that would want/keep them still have them in their collections.
It’s interesting how wide the difference is between the prices in the Beckett and the SCD for these cards. The price difference is significant. At the end of the day, the card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I have been trying to get a rough value on a 1999 topps gold label A Rod, red 17/50 card I pulled from a pack 11 years ago, anything?
According to current perceived market value, your ARod is worth around $40-50. As for actual market value, that number could be more or less depending on what the market is willing to bare. If you’re still unsure, list the card on eBay and pull it moments before auctions end. This will give you a better idea of what the card is worth. As with anything, a cards value is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Best of luck. Come back and let us know how it performs on the secondary market. 🙂
I have a 1997 Pinnacle football, Authentic Production Press Plate,Print Date 10/10/97 CYAN (BLUE).Oakland Raiders,Hes a DT. Born 5/27/76 , Ht 6’4” , Wt 305lbs College USC. How much is it worth?
Given that plates are 1/1’s, the only way to put a value on them is to put them up for auction and see what people are willing to pay for them. However, if you wish to research further, there are two main publications that I use to find prices, find links below:
Beckett Almanac 2010
Standard Catalog 2011
One more ball and the batter takes first base!
BTW, hardest laugh in months. Thanks!
Haha! Nice one Colin 😎
I think this is one of the greatest baseball cards ever made.
Yeah, I agree. Even when I think it’s staged, I can’t stop laughing at the result.
I’m the same way. Just look at Keith’s face! Haha {X-D
Did you bust a box for this review? Any nice hits? I remember getting some sweet parallels from 99 and 00 MVP.
Hi Ryan,
This was a single pack that I picked up at a local hobby shop.
This “sportflix-esque technology” sounds very appealing 🙂
Thanks Anne-Marie! It’s classic 3-D technology. 😉
Wow. I didn’t even know this product existed. Great find and great review. Any reason why you left the pack unopened for so long?
I guess I didn’t make that very clear did I? 😀
I bought the pack the day this article was written. That said, I don’t think a few minutes is very long at all but then again, it all depends on how you define a long period of time. 😉
What’s the deal with the “Mantle Card Contest Rules” text on the back of the pack? I dont remember that at all.
That’s a good question Bryan; I was thinking similar things myself. Something else about that little blurb is the complete lack of details about the Mantle card itself. What are we to expect? An original? A reprint? A 3×5? There really isn’t any information other than the general notion of the existence of a contest.
and on the front too? lol
The 1990 Upper Deck set has great photography front and back. This was one of the cleanest designs of the time. Let’s hope they resolve their legal troubles soon. I miss the quality.
Hi Jeremy,
I agree. 1990 was a solid year for Upper Deck in terms of design. The alpine white border does it for me every time. I too hope they will find their way back to the baseball card market.
This is a great SI article on upper deck and other aspects of the industry.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1159241/1/index.htm
Ryan,
Epic find! That was an incredible read. It elicited emotions of excitement and sadness at the same time.
I bought a box of this back in 1996/1997 (can’t remember the year) at a card show in a mall. Man, I’m really showing my age, huh?
Anyway, I thought this was the coolest concept when I saw the ads in Beckett but never saw these for sale anywhere. And, as you can see from the pack, there were supposed to be 2 series for this set, but after poor sales, Topps discontinued this. At least, that’s what I was told from the dealer that sold me the box.
If I remember correctly, Pinnacle had a similar set called UC3, which was out around the same time as Topps DIII.
All in all, the set wasn’t exactly ground-breaking, but it was pretty cool nonetheless.
Nice! I like ’95 UC3 a little better due to the potential for Artist’s Proof parallels. D3 although quality lacks availability in the insert department.
I have one of those authentic press plates.
Nice!
I remember the company Scoreboard who put this product out (i live about 5 miles away from their former headquarters). This was right about the time where the company started to get to get too big for its britches and were putting out some really sub-par products. If I’m not mistaken, the company still exists today mostly dealing with memorabilia and auto’d items. Great blast from the past Patrick. Thank you! Oh, and by the way, did the pack list the odds of pulling a Honus Wagner? Thanks again for another great read.
Regards,
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
Thanks! It’s interesting when a company that’s making big bucks decides to release a low-end product. I suppose this idea has potential to pan out favorably by way of attracting an additional market segment but it’s actions like this that risk the company’s brand image. I would have to at least hope that this concept was considered. If the company can capitalize on an additional market base, however, I suppose releasing a low-cost product isn’t such a bad idea. When I was a kid, I could only afford what my allowance would cover. In that instance, I would have enjoyed a cheaper product because it was within my reach financially.
Regarding your question about the odds of pulling the Honus Wagner Redemption Card, I have updated this post to include a full description of the redemption program. The program isn’t as easy as just pulling the card. The program consists of pulling a card, entering a contest, and answering trivia questions. It’s all there if you’d like to read it 😉
I was 13 when the 90 Upper Deck high numbers hit the market, I remember just ripping open box after box after box like a mad man looking for one of these to pop up and it never did. It became almost a addiction in itself as a young kid looking for it. Such great memories I will never forget. I was like that with all the insert’s back then. I would , out of all the insert cards from the early 90’s as a kid the only ones I ever pulled out of packs were the 1990-91 pro Set Stanley Cup Hologram, a howard Johnson 92 Donruss Elite card, and a handful of pro line auto card but they were not to card to find at all the pro line auto cards. You are 100% correct all the insert autos from the early 90’s are almost impossible to find becasue of the high number of production back then. People use to open 24 box cases back then one after another and never pulled one. A kid buying a few packs to a box had better odds of hitting the lotto then pulling one of Upper Deck Heroes Autos from the early 90’s it seemed like ?
In 2006 I finally had to pick up the Reggie for myself on Ebay. 1479/2500 and out of all the cards in my collection this is the card I take out the most just to stare at. Just looking at the thing makes me feel like that 13 year old kid all over again ! Also I can’t remember how many it was ? 1 out of every 50,100,200etc but Upper Deck had Reggie sign a few of the cards Mr October and they are alot more Rare. I have only seen a few pop up on Ebay or the net over the years. Also I remember at the height of the craze for this card atleast here in the New York and Hudson Valley area at shows in the early 90’s, I saw this card going for a even grand to as high as $1200 back then more then a few times. Crazy now like you said you will be luckey to get a $100 to $150 on Ebay. Real good read/article I very much enjoyed it. – ERIC VT
PS – remember the TV commerical Upper Deck did for the 90 high numbers and it was all about finding this card – At the end it said something like can you Find the Reggie ? lol
Hi Eric,
I ripped a ton of this stuff as a kid as well and never got a Reggie auto either. To my knowledge a small percentage of total print run was inscribed with the “Mr. October” title. I have never seen a copy surface, but I am aware of its elusive existence.
I don’t remember the TV commercial for Upper Deck marketing the Reggie chase, but would love to see it. The tag line, Find the Reggie still applies in today’s market. I always think of this card when I see unopened packs of 1990 Upper Deck.
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I wish you had told me you were going to the National, I could of got you VIP tickets. Oh well, I am sure you will enjoy the show. I didn’t want to go this year, but you can stop by the Memory Lane booth and ask for me and see what they say. I do have a pile of Frank Thomas cards you could have the next time I see you. Got them from a deal I bought a few months ago…Let me know when you can come by my store. Enjoy the show…IAN TAYLOR
Hi Ian,
Thanks for letting me know. I will let you know the next time I am down in your area. I appreciate the wishes. Be well my friend 😉
The scavenger hunt looks more fun than I expected. Takes me back for sure.
Oh yea, good times.
Thoroughly enjoying your coverage of the National. Keep em comin.
Thanks Bryan! It’s been a lot of fun.
I live in Rochester. I recommend the Rochester card.
Good call. I went with the Ripken.
Without question get the 1981 Rochester Minor League Ripken. Happy hunting Patrick.
Thanks George. Ripken card is in hand! 🙂
Just a wonderment here. Your scavenger hunt list says “Any Howard Johnson card from the 1990?s” but yet you bought an ’83 HoJo????? …..jus sayin’, and oh yeah, the Rochester Ripken for sure.
Its hard enough to find an ’81 Rochester Ripken, let alone, signed!
My thoughts exactly.
Oops! Good catch; I’ll fix that right now. Thanks for letting me know.
I agree. You rarely see the Ripken card. Go with that one. What Thomas cards have you picked up?
Hi Rick,
Ripken in hand. Love it! It’s such a rare card, and one that really upgrades any collection.
I agree, the Ripken’s the way to go because it’s the 81 Rochester card.
Hi Dan,
After some thought, I went with the Ripken, and I’m really glad that I did because it’s such a unique card. My best purchase of the show.
Definitely the Ripken. That nwould be a tremendous part of any collection. BTW, what Thomas cards have you picked up?
Thanks Rick! I went with the Ripken, sub’d it and it came back authentic. It looks amazing. While I’ve been looking for Thomas cards, I have only found a few. Nothing high end, but still a few odds and ends that I didn’t already have. It’s been a good show.
What an awesome array of cards you got on day four. The 1981 TCMA Ripken PSA card was an especially great purchase. The others are not to shabby either. Good luck hunting on day five.
Thanks George. I didn’t find the Thomas Promo at the show. I asked around a lot and nobody seemed to know.
Sounds like you are having an awesome time. Wish I was there with you. BTW, Moyer was released about a month ago and hasn’t been picked up by any team yet. Just off the top of my head, maybe Omar Vizquel?
Hi Rick,
Thanks for letting me know about Moyer. I did find a Moyer card at the show that is a nice addition; a rookie auto.
Hey Patrick. Way to go. Looks like you had an incredible 5 days at the 2012 national and scored some amazing cards. Hope to see more scans in the near future. In particular will you scan the 4 versions (front and back) of the Frank Thomas 1996 Ultra HRKings cards at your convenience?
Thanks George! I am still very excited about my recent acquisitions. The show was amazing. I will let you know when the requested scans available. Thanks again for reading. 🙂
Okay so question. my cards have a completely silver signature and all the cards i’ve seen have black with the silver outline. They’re 1994 ud collectors choice. Are they silver signature or something else?
Hi Bri,
I’m a little bit confused; maybe you can help me understand. Can you more clearly define the cards that you are describing? If you can provide a link to an example, that would help out quite a bit. My guess is that if they have silver outlines, they are the silver signatures. The silver outlining was featured in the ’95 CC SE set. As for the ’94, to my knowledge, they still feature the white boarder. I hope this helps, and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Loved the review Pat!
Great commentary and the pictures/scans were the perfect accompaniment to your product insight.
Your site keeps getting better and better!
Thanks, Lance! 🙂
As usual Patrick a very interesting read. Always enjoy learning about other players and their cards. Keep it coming.
George
Thanks, George! 🙂
Does anyone know if all 2500 autos were pulled?
Hi Brian,
There really isn’t any easy way to know for sure. Personally, I bet there are still quite a few left in packs.
that vlad is sick! name a price and let’s make a deal!
Ha! Thanks Ryan!
1994 Finest. Way underrated, IMO.
Tim, I totally agree. 1994 Finest was a really great product.
What did you end up paying for your copy of the gold Frank??? If you don’t mind the question. I’m just curious:-)
Hi Bryan,
I paid a few bills for it but it’s also a BGS 9, so to me it was worth every penny. Many thanks for reading. 🙂
Pat… Hammered cards are your M.O.! I remember you buying one or two wasted cards in Baltimore!
Yea, man. I love vintage with personality. 😉
just wondering what the LeBron james card is worth it is just like the one on your web page omr gem mint 10 15464 clear case 2003 clevelend cavaliers hard case in like new condition spa authenticated
Hi Doug,
If I can remember correctly, I paid around $10 for the card a few years ago. With the news that has surrounded Mr. James over the past few years, I would imagine that the value is somewhere north of $10. Don’t quote me, it’s just a hunch. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading.
I have this card. I cannot find out anything about it. Can you give me more info on it?
Hi John,
This card was found in packs of 1993 Select Rookie/Traded. This is one of two ROY cards in the set; the other being Tim Salmon. The ROY cards had an insertion ratio of 1:576 packs, which means that for any one particular ROY card the ratio is actually 1:1152. This is a rare card and consistently does very well at auction. Thanks for reading.
I have a griffey jr, piazza, and a jose cruz jr all gold embossed refractors. I cannot find pricing info on the Griffey anywhere?
Hey Phil looking to complete my set and interested in the Piazza and Griffey, are you taking any offers?
My email is [email protected]
I also have a silver ebmossed refractor of abreu and mariano rivera. Any pricing info would be great on those too.
Hi Phill,
Those are all very strong cards. The Gold Embossed Refractors typically yield much higher premiums in comparison to their silver counterpart. There are 150 different cards in the Embossed Refractors set: 100 Silver, 50 Gold. Depending on the player, the golds can fetch $100’s. Most silvers typically fall below or well below the $100 mark. I see prices anywhere from $5-$80, sometimes higher if they’re graded. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading.
Interesting article and enjoyable read. I am a hardcore Jeter collector and have been wanting this Jeter card for almost 10 years. I know where 3-5 are hiding, but they are buried in serious personal collections. Anyways, an example (graded PSA 10) popped up on eBay this week for $1200 OBO. I offered $1000 which was accepted immediately. I felt like I overpaid a bit, but I had wanted it so long, it it was graded gem mint so I was ok with it. I have almost 2000 feedbacks on eBay – but this was a first for me: The seller messaged me saying he received a higher cash offer after the sale, and that he would refund my money plus $100 if I was interested – or just ship me the card. It was a tempting offer but I am going to take shipment of the card – maybe I didn’t overpay after all. Thought you guys may find this interesting.
Paul,
Congrats! I think you came up on that deal. Those cards are getting harder to find with each passing year. The value for that card will only appreciate with time. These cards are so beautiful in hand. I love the feeling of finally acquiring a card I’ve wanted for so long. It’s like no other feeling. I felt that last March when I finally acquired a high-grade example of the famous 1990 Topps Frank Thomas NNOF. A great sense of achievement. Congratulations again Paul. I’m really happy for you. 🙂
Liked your explanation of the 2005 Classic Clippings Final Edition baseball cards. Looking forward to your future posts.
Thanks, George. Glad you enjoyed it.
45 bucks for rookie Ripken! That’s great!
(Not so great if I ever decide to sell mine).
Right!? We were both pleasantly surprised by that price tag.
Welcome Tim. Looking forward to your future postings. Love the 90’s inserts. Don’t forget the promos 🙂
George
Thanks! I will definitely try to post about promos as well 🙂
I have fond memories of reading 90s Box Breaks, and viewing your Tony Clark collection on that incredible portfolio site you had. I can also remember sharing your sites with all of my hobby friends. Your knowledge on the hobby and technology is impressive and educational. I’m excited about your contributions to Radicards, and I look forward to reading your content on the hobby and sports in general. Welcome Tim!
Thank you, Patrick 🙂
Awesome break Patrick! Extremely nice hit on the Griffey! I opened so much of this stuff and never saw one of those ‘you crash the game’ cards. Weird.
Under your Supply & Demand section there was a typo I figured I’d point out. “hurting do to the annihilating baseball strike”. Should be hurting due to the annihilating baseball strike.
Hey Steve, good eye. I fixed the spelling error. Thanks for catching it, and again for letting me know. Regarding the “You Crash the Card” game card, this was a really peculiar find. The Griffey Gold Sig is a great pull. Good stuff.
Holy cow – NEVER seen that Subway comic before. Must have!
Thanks! Yea, me neither. A very peculiar piece indeed.
Very nice set!
That’s a very nice vintage set. Congrats on putting it together. I know how great it feels to achieve a tough collecting goal. I’m sure if feels nice to cross that one off your list. I’m excited that you will be writing for Radicards. I look forward to reading your articles. Welcome Ryan!
Great pull on the Griffey!
Thanks! Yea, that was really exciting.
I can remember when all of this went down in the early 1990s. This kid had so much potential. It’s really a shame how it all transpired.
I hit a hot pack when the set was live. It was like winning the lottery for me at the time. The design overall was very nice. Crisp, clean photography like Stadium Club. Ah, the memories.
Oh yea! I pulled a Hot Pack out of this box, and it was quite a rush. What a cool concept. From base to inserts, there are so many great designs in this product.
I’d be first in line for the baseball card scent cologne! Another great mid 90’s box break Patrick.
Thanks, Steve. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I still have my original Chipper Jones pulled in 1992. Needless to say, it is not in the best shape. lol. Cool break, definitely brings back memories of a simpler time.
Nice! Yea, this is definitely a memorable release from a different time in the hobby.
I forgot about the Mike Schmidt autos. Probably a way for Classic to move product that was stale, but it worked because I remember a bunch of my friends busting wax for that “golden ticket” as you called it 🙂
Oh yea. While I don’t think this product would have sold as well had it not had the Schmidt auto, I do think that ’91 was a year when the golden ticket insert was starting to really heat up. It’s definitely a good one in terms of generating hobby excitement. I also like how scarce they are; there are no guarantees as far as insertion ratios. The harder it is to pull, the more respect I have for an insert.
Patrick, I feel like you need some facial hair after watching that beard – I mean video!
Anthony’s beard is top notch. There is no way I could possibly look as cool even if I could grow it that way. 😉
3:09…”a Jose Canseco” w no presentation to the camera?… ugh!
I’ll keep this in mind.
🙂
Very nice Gingerbread house Patrick. Merry Christmas.
Thanks, George.
that pile is so neat compared to all your previous piles!
Thanks! Yea, I dig the ’95 Leaf set.
Very nice break! Even back in 95, that box would’ve been worth it!
Not bad huh? Those cards are still really nice looking after all these years.
I have the Ben McDonald mistake card. Number 54.
Nice!
I have on as well. Mint condition. Got it in 1990 as a young teenager. Almost sold it for the $50.00 it was worth back then. Held on to it instead. Maybe some day it will take off but I have a feeling it is like the Chicago Cubs, never gonna be a winner.
Steve,
I can remember when this card was worth way more than I could afford. I can also remember only hearing about it, but never seeing it. Regardless of it’s value, it’s still somewhat rare.
Hey Patrick, I just looked up that Odalis Perez on COMC to get a better view. I’m 99% sure that is John Rocker on the reverse. Best remembered for his racial slurs. doh!
Hi Steve. Great detective work. Strange UER on this one. Not sure how they missed it given the complete different in skin tones.
I got a box of Upper Deck for Christmas in ’91. I got lucky and got number 2223. I put it in a hard case and still have it.
Congrats! That’s a really rare experience. I’ve heard of collectors opening cases of the high series and never seeing a single signed card.
Those Credit Card style cards are actual plastic!
That they are.
Nice!
Thanks!
BAM!
Showing a little Canseco respect right out of the gates – don’t think I don’t appreciate that! lol
Haha! I knew you’d dig that.
Very nice break Patrick! I find it extremely puzzling that you did not hit at least one Reserve Collection insert. I opened a box in 2011, if I recall, and pulled out 2 reserve collections of not-so-great players. The reserve collections are inserted at 1 per 11 packs, and what makes them very rare/hard to locate is the limited print run of the product and not so much insertion rate. That’s one heck of a deal you found. I’d buy as many boxes I could get my hands on for $5 per.
Great comment Steve. The seller that sold me this box only had the one, otherwise I would have stocked up.
It’s not the ’75 Traded card, but I really like it. I’ve got them both, plus a lot more Oscar right here:
http://reallybadbaseballcards.blogspot.com/2014/01/oscar-gamble-worlds-largest-afro.html
Enjoy!
The ’76 card is my favorite Oscar Gamble card. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I notice you Hank is signed accross the bottom of the card like mine. I see a few signed to the far right, did he sign all over the card, most sign in 1 place. My cards number is #425?
Thank You
Hi Don,
That is interesting to hear. I’ve seen auto’s on this card in various places, which seems to be common for this card. I’m curious, however, to know more about why your card is #425. This card has always been #27.
Hi
I sorry to not make myself clear I have #425/2500. Thank you for your reply it good to know my cards is real I think a PSA grade would be a good thing also. Thanks again.
Hi Don,
Good call. I had mine graded by PSA; it came back a 7 (auto grade only), which I think was a result of the auto being ever so slightly faded. Good luck on your submission. Let us know how it turns out.
I will let you know I will send in for a full grade and see what I get, let you know.
Don
I will get a full grade and let you know
Thanks,
Don
I Love it! Walter Alston kinda looks like Brian Wilson. Your dad was predicting the future!
I have this card do you have any idea how much its worth
Hi Brad,
I think I paid around $10 for my Thomas. Other players may bring more or less. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading.
I got a box for Christmas from my mother in “91”, I got the 1269th card out of that box. I found it in the 3rd pack i opened. Not sure of its worth but still keeping it safe.
Very nice! Those are tough pulls. Worth $30-40 at the time of this writing.
This is quite bizarre in that you did not find ANY Reserve Collection cards. You should be guaranteed at least one with almost all boxes containing two. Also, it would be interesting to hear if the card numbering was normal or had the HR-prefix. The HR-prefix are slightly harder to find, but worth the same. Back in the day you may have complained to Pinnacle – I would have!
Hi Eric, to my knowledge, the HR prefix was assigned to approximately 20% of print run. I imagine it was the first run before it was quickly removed. I don’t see too many cards with the prefix. None of the cards in my box had the HR prefix.
Hi, I pulled 499/2500…..unfortunately it was damaged out of the pack so I contacted Upper Deck, they replaced it with a perfect conditon card and Ofcourse autograph, with a letter authenticating what transpired, I still own the card.
Wow! I would never have thought to have done that would I have been in a similar situation. I’m glad to hear that Upper Deck helped you out.
I have a Roger Maris topps Gold label / 98 Home run race , HR1 Red label . Numbered. 33/61 , I believe it to be a very rare card , could you please tell me what this card is worth
Hi Joe,
Nice card! A great way to gain an understanding of actual marketing value of your card is to check eBay Completed Listings.
I pulled #869/2500 back in 1991 when I was 13 yrs. old. I have shoe boxes full of 1991 upper deck. Loved buying those packs, too bad they’re worthless for the most part now days.
Nice! Pulling that card must have been a huge rush at 13 years old.
I just found a 2002 leaf Rookies and Stars frank thomas on the front and Wendell McGee on the back.. I can’t find any history of this existing.. Any help?
Hi Tyler,
That’s an interesting card. Wrong front/back errors are the most common of the errors. You don’t find any info because from the quality control perspective, that version of the card wasn’t supposed to exist. It’s as valuable as someone is willing to pay for it.
I collected this entire set hoping that one day it would be of some value…not so much but I still love looking at this set, reminds me of those old Kelloggs sets from the 60s and 70s.
Oh yea, me too. I remember those Kellogg’s sets. Good call.
Great job! Especially love the stack of ’89 Fleer pic! Great set, great story.
Thanks, Jon! ’89 Fleer baseball is a classic.
Hey Patrick small world, my name is also Patrick and about 1 year ago I bought an overpriced box 97 finest from a local hobby shop. I happened to pull the same Thomas you have pictured if you are at all interested in having another make a fair offer and I am sure we can work something out. I would say offer a trade normally but recently purchased my first home about the same time 1 year ago and any extra cash goes into maintanence of the home.
PM sent.
Hey Patrick, I like your site. I have been looking for this card (1993 SELECT ROOKIE/TRADED AL (ROY) TIM SALMON) for 3 years and even though the Mike Piazza NL ROY card is more expensive it seems like it is easier to find on the market. Do you have any ideas or where I might find one? Thanks, Ed Gray
Hi Gray!
I found my copy on eBay. I’d keep an eye out there as, while very rare, they do surface from time to time. Good luck, and thanks for reading.
Ed,
I currently have one of these Tim Salmon ROY-1 rookie cards in my store inventory.
I can post it on E-Bay if you would like to purchase this item.
Please let me know and I’ll get it done.
Thanks
Paul Sawyer
Hi Paul! Thanks for the offer; I really appreciate it. I’m actually all set on this card. The one you see depicted here is my own. Many thanks for reading. 🙂
85 topps Steve Garvey
Nice! I remember that card. A classic.
I was one lucky guy to have pulled a Mr October right after they came out. I have had it put away and am going to send it in shortly for grading. I lived in Washington State, and was offered up to $1500.. I have gotten many signatures over the years including Michael Jordan, and Nolan Ryan. I even had the honor to have an unopened pack with Michael Jordan’s rookie showing through the pack. I sold them all except for my Reggie card. Since it was my first signature card and the first signature card to be put in packs, it might be a while before I can sell it.
Hi Einar,
Wow! Congrats! That’s a really impressive pull. I know very few people who have been lucky enough to have pulled this card from a pack. Every time I hear it, it shocks me. It’s such a rare item. Thanks for reading and sharing your comment.
I have a mint condition frank thomas on front tony Gwynn on back knew I had since I was nineteen but recently my son got interested in collecting and I redisdivered in my closet let me know anything you know about this card
Hi Donny,
You’re the first person ever to inform me that another copy of this card exists. Logic might state that if this card suffers from this error, surely there are other cards in the set that suffered the same fate.
I was 9 years old and had just cashed in some bottles and used the money at the store which had a card shop in it and got one pack. I was lucky to snag the hank autograph you guys are talking about. I put it in a hard casing and it currently sits in a relatives safe. I would love to trade it for the ted Williams autographed insert I believe upper deck put out the following year. Life long red Sox fan and teddy ball game is my all time favorite player.
Wow! Congrats on pulling this statistically monster card. The Williams AU is another epic addition.
I miss this series Patrick. Bringing it back anytime soon?
Hey Steve! 🙂
Yes, my schedule is freeing up a bit and I’ll be doing more of these. These episodes will continue to be a part of Radicards. Thanks for watching.
Awesome stuff! I love seeing your pickups and hearing you talk about said pickups and the hobby in general. Do you plan on going to the NSCC this year? I remember your videos from the National a couple years ago, those were gold!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy these videos. Regarding the NSCC, we’ll see what happens. Are you planning on going?
Great cards Patrick. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy watching your videos and seeing what you purchase!
Thanks, Shane! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy the videos.
Awesome stuff Patrick. Do you have your 1981 Topps autographed set uploaded anywhere. I’d love to see your progress. 1995 Leaf Statistical Standouts will never go stale! Mike Trouts twin from ’66 hahaha
Thanks, Steve! 🙂 I’m glad you’re watching these as they’re really fun to make. Regarding the ’81 Topps AU set, I keep a G-sheet to track my progress. I would assume that at some point, I’ll begin covering my progress via these videos.
Hey, it was cool talking! The site is great! Keep in touch and let me know if you ever head to any shows or anything. I’ll be keeping Frank Thomas variations in mind too.
Hey, Dylan! Thanks, buddy. It was great meeting you. Keep writing and sharing content. Be well and please keep in touch.
I’m usually curious what people do to. Maybe the person was independently weathly and didn’t work or something. Either way, I don’t think it’s rude to ask.
I didn’t think it was rude either.
Great review. I really appreciate it when people relay their experiences at the National. I also get curious about what collectors do for a living, it’s an honest question.
Love the video rundown. I’ve seen that Kittle minor league card a few times on ebay. It’s always signed, which I’m not interested in, but I love the card.
Thanks for reading and watching. I thought it was an honest question too.
I was looking at completed listings on Ebay and noticed a Barry Bonds 1/1 sold. I am a little confused because the card looks like the red version of the race to Aaron but it is stamped 1/1 on the back of the card. I thought the red version is numbered out of 44. Can you provide any info on that particular card?
Hi Brad,
This was a confusing issue when it was released. As you may know, there are three separate classes of the base card for each player (1, 2, and 3) and three separate label foil color variations for each card (Gold, Black, and Red) for each of the three classes. This makes for a total of 9 different versions of any card in the set. Each of the 9 cards can also be found as a 1/1. That Bonds that you saw there was the 1/1 version of the Red Race to Aaron card.
I hope this helps. 🙂
So are you saying there are three 1/1 race to aaron cards for Bonds? Black, red, and gold? One other thing I thought was interesting was it appears there is a 1 above bonds head on the front of the card. I don’t see that on the other cards. Go on Ebay and take a close look at the card. Also how do you tell which card is the one to one card of Bonds? There should only be 1 card made correct? From what I understand there shouldn’t be a one to one black, red, and gold version of the race to aaron cards.
Hi Brad,
Upon closer look, for Barry Bonds, 10 1/1’s exist: one for each of the three classes with each of the three label colors, and one for Race to Aaron. It looks like the 1/1 for the Race to Aaron card depicts the red label. All 1/1’s have “1/1” printed to the right of the portrait on the backs of the cards.
I have serious doubts about your theory of this card being a special prize. I think it’s much more likely this was an unstamped replacement card that later entered the hobby through the Pinnacle Brands bankruptcy auction, then was stamped by a seller who wanted to increase its value by deceiving buyers. While I can’t be 100% positive of either theory, my evidence is the difference in fonts of the stamped serial numbers. Pinnacle was very consistent across all its 1996 brands in the font used for the numbers. Notice the “1” on your card has a bottom foot to it – the horizontal bar at the bottom of the number. Pinnacle’s font didn’t have a bottom bar, like the “1” on this card. The stamping on your card looks amateurish in comparison, and I can