Although there are a bunch of 1990 Pro Set error and variation lists floating around out there, I have found that most are missing a large bit of info (mostly recent discoveries) or as is the usual case, they have incorrect info (i.e. Walter Stanley with #87 on back). I also feel that the popular unconfirmed varieties that may exist are worth noting as well.
So, getting started, I have added the following key:
*** = Very scarce variation and/or promo that is hardly offered for sale. I even considered a four-star just for the Dexter Manley error alone!
** = Scarce variation and/or promo that are rarer than the ‘common’ variations and only seldomly show up for sale.
* = Slightly tougher to find than a common card, the Johnny Holland NNOB is a good example of this.
No star = Can be found with little searching, usually offered for sale on ebay by a number of sellers at any given time.
Enjoy!
#1a Barry Sanders (pack-issued, shows Barry holding trophy on back, LIONS spelled out on back)
#1b Barry Sanders Hawaii PROMO – not a pack-issued variation (Shows headshot of Barry, Lions helmet logo on back)
#2a Joe Montana POY 3521 ERR (back reads “Kelly-3,521 yards”)
#2b Joe Montana POY 3130 COR (back corrected to “Kelly: 3,130 yards”)
#9a Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines through name on front)
#9b Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines partially removed from front)
#9c Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines removed entirely from front)
#15a Walter Stanley ERR (#8 on back) *
#15b Walter Stanley COR (#86 on back NOTE: No #87 version exists despite what Beckett says)
#18a Chris Doleman ERR (error back, wrong stats, “Townsent”)
#18b Chris Doleman COR (back corrected to 104.5 sacks for Taylor; “Townsent” corrected to “Townsend”)
#19a Andre Ware RC w/o stripe(no stripe)
#19b Andre Ware RC w/stripe (draft stripe on front)
#20a Mo Elewonibi (no stripe)
#20b Mo Elewonibi (draft stripe on front)
#21a Percy Snow (no stripe)
#21b Percy Snow (draft stripe on front)
#22a Anthony Thompson RC (no stripe)
#22b Anthony Thompson RC (draft stripe on front)
#25a Franco Harris ERR wrong birthdate
#25b Franco Harris COR corrected birthdate 3/7/50
#27a Jack Lambert ERR wrong birthdate
#27b Jack Lambert COR corrected birthdate 7/8/52
#30a Aundray Bruce (gap in line under stat totals)
#30b Aundray Bruce (solid black line under stat totals)
#37a John Settle (with red line below black line under AVG and TD stats) **
#37b John Settle (with red line behind black line under AVG and TD stats)
#37c John Settle (without a red line under AVG and TD stats – UNVERIFIED)
#59a Mike Ditka LARGE FONT for “Hall Of Fame” on front. ***
#59b Mike Ditka SMALL FONT for “Hall Of Fame” on front.
#63a Rickey Dixon RC ERR (no bio notes under photo) *
#63b Rickey Dixon RC COR (with bio notes)
#68a Sam Wyche CO ERR (no bio notes under photo) *
#68b Sam Wyche CO COR (with bio notes)
#75a Ozzie Newsome ERR (Little Rock)
#75b Ozzie Newsome COR (corrected hometown: Muscle Shoals, AL)
#75c Cody Risien SP (NOTE: Found in late series 1 packs) *
#110a Johnny Holland ERR (no name,number on back) *
#110b Johnny Holland COR (corrected)
#111a Perry Kemp ERR (Ken Stills photo on back)
#111b Perry Kemp COR (corrected)
#114a Sterling Sharpe ERR (says he was born in Glenville)
#114b Sterling Sharpe COR (corrected birthplace: Chicago, IL) *
#134a Andre Rison NO TRADE STRIPE (With top of card number “clipped off” on back) **
#134aa Andre Rison NO TRADE STRIPE (With complete card number on back)
#134b Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE (With top of card number “clipped off” on back) ***
#134bb Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE (With complete number on back)
#134c Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE and Mail-In Offer on back (With signature printed next to “Sincerely”) **
#134cc Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE and Message on back (With signature printed 1-2mm away from “Sincerely”)
#152a Mervyn Fernandez ERR (Draft status incorrect)
#152b Mervyn Fernandez COR (status corrected to “Drafted 10th round ‘83″)
#161a Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/25/46 on back, small HOF print in banner on front)
#161b Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/25/46 on back, large HOF print in banner on front – UNVERIFIED)
#161c Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/26/46 on back, small HOF print in banner on front) **
#161d Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/26/46 on back, large HOF print in banner on front) **
#204a Fred Marion (49ers player with belt) ***
#204b Fred Marion (49ers players belt airbrushed out)
#207a John Stephens (Red slash through 1988 TD’s) *
#207b John Stephens (Slash removed)
#210a Morten Andersen (name in white on back)
#210b Morten Andersen (corrected)
#216a Eric Martin ERR (name in white on back)
#216b Eric Martin COR (corrected)
#221a Jim Mora CO ERR (name in white on back)
#221b Jim Mora CO COR (corrected)
#247a Randall Cunningham (Large gap in last line line of text on back) ***
#247b Randall Cunningham (Complete text on back)
#289a Charles Haley ERR (incorrect fumble recovery stats)
#289b Charles Haley COR (stats corrected to 5 total fumble recoveries) *
#319a Ray Perkins CO ERR no name or position on back) *
#319b Ray Perkins CO COR (corrected)
#338a Eric Dickerson PB (Short Print – withdrawn early then later released in massive amounts) *
#338b Lud Denny PROMO (Not a pack-issued variation, created as gift for Pro Set President) ***
#338c Eric Dickerson PB (front shows mock-up test of 1990-91 Hoops Jerry Reynolds – not pack-issued) ***
#343a Chris Hinton PB (no stripe, text on back begins: ” Has been named”)
#343b Chris Hinton PB (with traded stripe, text on back begins: “Has been named”) ***
#343b Chris Hinton PB (with traded stripe, text on back begins: “Six-time Pro Bowl”)
#386a Randall Cunningham (large print on front)
#386b Randall Cunningham (small print on front)
#449a Dan Hampton ERR (DE back)
#449b Dan Hampton COR (DT back)
#449a William Perry (gap in line above stat headings)
#449b William Perry (solid line above stat headings)
#496a Kevin Glover RC (C-G back) *
#496b Kevin Glover RC (G back)
#536a Derrick Thomas (name in thick, BOLD font) *
#536b Derrick Thomas (name in correct font)
#567a Rick Fenny (black line through RICK on front)
#567b Rick Fenny (line removed from front)
#607a Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in Black)
#607b Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in RED)
#610a Jim McMahon (Black TM by Pro Set logo, barely visible)
#610b Jim McMahon (Black TM w/ white TM added for visibility)
#626a Rod Woodson (Red fumble interceptions header)
#626b Rod Woodson (Black fumble interceptions header)
#627a Rod Bernstine (position listed as TE)
#627b Rod Bernstine (position corrected to RB)
#630a Anthony Miller (position listed as WR-KR on front, WR back)
#630b Anthony Miller (position listed as WR-KR on front and back)
#630c Anthony Miller (position listed as WR on front and back – Unverified )
#632a Leslie O’Neal (position listed as LB-DE on front, LB on back)
#632b Leslie O’Neal (position listed as LB on front and back)
#632c Leslie O’Neal (Missing line of text on back: “Moved from defensive end to…” – Unverified )
#633a David Richards (position listed as G-T on back)
#633b David Richards (position listed as G on back)
#644a Dave Waymer (jagged, thin line below stat totals)
#644b Dave Waymer (solid, printed line below stat totals)
#645a Steve Young (“season gume” on back – incomplete ‘a’) *
#645b Steve Young (“season game” on back – completed ‘a’)
#657a Curt Jarvis (no “Official NFL card” on front)
#657b Curt Jarvis (“Official NFL card” added to front)
#669a Jeff George Illinois (Indianapolis Colts)
#669b Jeff George Illinois (Atlanta Falcons) *
#669c Jeff George Illinois (New England Patriots) *
#669d Keith McCants (Atlanta Falcons) *
#669e Jeff George (Indianapolis Colts – Series 2 issued)
#688a Steve Broussard (lower-half of Falcons helmet/logo is gray on front)
#688b Steve Broussard (Falcons helmet/logo is black on front)
#687a Reggie Rembert (Top of name “clipped off” on front) **
#687b Reggie Rembert (Name fully printed on front)
#698a Terry Wooden (back number 90)
#698b Terry Wooden (back number 51)
#701a Fred Washington (printed before death – no mention)
#701b Fred Washington “Special Collectible” (memorial card – mentions death)
#718a Pat Terrell (back number 41)
#718b Pat Terrell (back number 37)
#719a Mike Bellamy (“MY” in last name “clipped off” on front) **
#719b Mike Bellamy (“MY” in last name fully printed on front)
#723a Oliver Barnett (position listed as DT on front) **
#723b Oliver Barnett (position listed as NT on front)
#735a Willis Peguese (Period at end of text placed far away from last sentence)
#735b Willis Peguese (Period placed close to end of text – UNVERIFIED)
#743A Johnny Bailey RC/(Back says 46)
#743b Johnny Bailey RC/(Back says 22)
#744a Eric Moore (no prospect stripe)
#744b Eric Moore (prospect stripe added)
#760a Eddie Anderson (incomplete 9 in 1989 in text on back)
#760b Eddie Anderson (corrected 9 in 1989 in text)
#772a Dexter Manley (mentions substance abuse problems on the back of the card) ***
#772b Dexter Manley (does not mention substance abuse, ” Backwards t ” in the word “photo” on back) ***
#772c Dexter Manley (does not mention substance abuse on back)
#785a Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “peered through the Berlin Wall” )
#785b Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “posed at the Berlin Wall”)
#785c Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “peered through” different photo on front – UNVERIFIED)
#795a Photo Contest – 49ers (printer’s lines in top left border on back)
#795b Photo Contest – 49ers (printer’s lines removed from back)
#SB 22a Super Bowl XXII (1989 date on back) *
#SB 22b Super Bowl XXII (1988 date on back)
#1990a Santa Claus ( no comma after “Andre Ware” on back)
#1990b Santa Claus (comma after “Andre Ware” on back – UNVERFIED)
NOTE: Cards 1-30 (Stat leaders, Award Winners, HOFers) can be found with a thick, bold black inking on front or corrected. They can also be found where it appears the gold foil is stamped over the black ink instead of the correctly-opposite way.
NOTE: All cards of the New York Jets can be found with a pink bar/strip on back where the team logo appears above the stats. These are very scarce.
For Christmas 2009, Santa brought me a most-unusual but awesome gift. A gift that may seem like the cardboard equivilant to coal for some: 30,000 1990 Pro Set cards! This was a Pro Set researchers paradise. A random assortment of unsorted and of mysterious origin, Pro Set goodness – a great sampling but we all know that 30,000 1990 Pro Set cards is still just 1 30,oooth of the print run. Though I didn’t find a Manley error or any of the big rarities, I did get to add weight to previous discoveries and in many cases, debunk what I had been ready to deem a variation as not much more than a single-run printing flaw.
Pro Set football cards are receiving a heavy amount of collector attention these days. Likely due to a mix of nostalgia experienced by the children of their era (1989-1993, who’re now grown adult collectors) and the staggeringly expensive recent online sales of such previously ‘hidden’ or little-known variations as the Dexter Manley and Lud Denny errors.
This list is complete as of today. Obviously there will be many, many additions to it over time (and I welcome any contributions) and they will be added as they reveal themselves.







