“Complete” 1990 Pro Set error , variation and oddity list.

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.

Quick look: 1994 Topps Delino DeShields #102

With the exception of a few variations here and there, 1994 Topps is the last set to fix a handful of it’s mistakes. The most prominant one being #102 Delino DeShields. He can be found with his name and position in either red or yellow on front. A nice reminder of the 1969 Topps name variations.

Quick look: 1993 Topps Russ Swan #96

1993 Topps contains a handful of variations which I will outline in a later blog. But for now, take a look at one of the weirder ones: #96 featuring Mariners pitcher Russ Swan. The first version has the “Complete Major League Pitching Record” heading printed twice. The second corrected it and shifted it to the left as well. Though one can never be sure, I am almost certain that this is one of my own discoveries as it had previously not been mentioned as far as I know.

Quick look: 1992 Topps Gold Winners Rickey Henderson #2

I’ve long been working on a master set of 1992 Topps Gold Winner cards. At last count, there were over 100 different variations in the set! And since I keep discovering new ones with each lot I sort, the parameters for the ‘master set’ title remain ambiguous. Again, I will post extensively about this set at a later date, but for now, take a look at the first card in the set to feature a variation: #2, Rickey Henderson’s Record Breaker card (the base card also features a variation, though a different one entirely). Notice the 2 different sizes of the ‘ToppsGold’ watermark on the back:

Quick look: 1990-91 Score Mike Modano ART #327

Score’s entry into the hockey card market was celebrated at the time by it’s inclusion of young phenom Eric Lindros. The 1990-91 set is also one of those products that, much like 1990 Pro Set, I consumed like oxygen – opening packs as often as possible. A fun set to revist now since it’s loaded with errors and mysterious cards like the Mogilny “defected”  variation (stay tuned for a blog on that). But one of the big variations happened to affect the rookie card, or rookie-year card of future Hall-of-Famer, Mike Modano.  Check out the 2 versions of his ‘All-Rookie-Team’ subset card:

1991 Upper Deck baseball hologram variations and more.

For the last 4 or 5 years now, checking the backs of any 1991 upper deck cards is priority when I come across them. Already known variations like Luis Salazar and Milt Thompson’s (circle around i in Louis and bullseye in 86 stats for Milt) are a couple of very scarce varieties that affect the reverse of their 1991 cards.

But for some unknown reason, Upper Deck used up to 4 different holograms for their 1991 issue.

The most common is the repeated pattern of “1991 Upper Deck”. This was used across several 1991 and 1991-92 (in BK and HK’s case) sets that year, due, likely to it’s unspecific-sport aspect.

But some cards have shown up that show several other hologram types:

-1990 Upper Deck Baseball hologram are a pattern of baseballs and “upper deck” repeated. I have seen at least 25% of the set with these holograms, even high number cards debunking my theory that the ‘90 holo variations were the first batch of ’91’s due to UD using remaining holograms from the previous year. Below is an example of this type:

1988 Topps Baseball: Loaded with errors and even some rare stuff. No, seriously!

Not the most spectacular Topps set, not even the a top contender for best Topps set of the 1980’s due to it’s drab design and lack of a strong rookie crop. But it is loaded with variations of all types. Many, many minor ones that have only recently been discovered, well-known errors as well as several early-corrected cards that have proven to be difficult to locate today. As with all unlisted variations, a market price cannot be established until we start seeing them for sale, so while I can’t pinpoint a dollar value for these cards, I can share what I know and how it backs their rarity.

Let’s take a look at some of the toughest 1988 Topps cards to pull:

1. #51 Baltimore Orioles Team Leaders featuring Cal Ripken Jr and Eddie Murray. The error on this toughie is the single-toned back. All the Team Leader cards have a 2-tone orange colored back. A handful of the O’s card received just a solid, darker orange color. At one point, these used to sell for $20-30 but I can’t say I’ve seen one offered for sale in at least 4 years now. Not a single one among my 50+ copies!

Essential reading for the error & variation collector.

I often get asked if I have a list of all the variations that I know of and the answer is “no, but yes.”

Actually I have everything I know about variations tucked away in my head. It takes up a ton of space that could be used for more important things but what are you going to do, right?

But there are some really great sources out there for the collector who’s interested in starting an E&V collection. Below is a list of my favorite sources of info that aren’t based on my own personal discoveries and research:

-1990-1992 SCD Basketball, Football and Hockey Magazines: These ran from late ‘90 through early ‘92 and every issue has a comprehensive list of the 1990-1991 variations for those three sports. Plus they have a huge letters section where people sick with the error bug would write in all of their potential findings. Many of these are great variations that never received credit in the big guides.

-Dick Gilkeson’s Error and Variation guides ca.1990-1991: Considered by many to be the bible of errors and variations, this incredibly resourceful (but very outdated and limited – goes through 1991 only) self-published guide lists some of the most interesting variations up to that point. They are really difficult to find nowadays so the best bet is to find someone you know who’ll copy it for you. Gilkeson is truly an E&V hero!

-Pro Set NFL book ca. 1991: Shows a picture of ever Pro Set card issued between 1988 and early 1991. Explanations of various errors and the only image of 1989 Pro Set James Jefferson that shows a “scouting photo” tagline on front. A great way to begin your Pro Set football master set. This book also includes the exclusive “Cinderella Story” inserts set so when purchasing them, make sure that you get ask if the cards are still intact.

-1980’s and early 90’s Baseball Card Magazine and Baseball Card Collector Magazines: Like I mentioned above about SCD mags, the letters dept in these old junk store issues often provide invaluable information for unlisted error cards.

-Donovan Ryan’s Error & Variation Guide: Straight from the 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken master himself, Donovan compilled the best E&V guide since Gilkeson’s and has made it very easy to purchase (unlike Gilkeson’s these days). Pullings from a seemingly endless source of wantlists, master set lists and misc. guides, Donovan’s guide is full of information that any newbie E&V collector must check out.

-Beckett and SCD Annual Price Guides: Specifically the blurbs or set summaries under the set headings. This is where the editors mention stuff that they are unsure of listing in the price guide itself. There’s all sorts of usefull information in there as well as in the guides themselves.

-eBay: Arguably the best source of new info out there (until this blog takes off, of course ), checking out completed items searches under various key words such as “error” “variation” etc, gives you a wide range of stuff to check out. I personally, have learned a lot from other sellers and their sharp eyed discoveries that they’ve offered for sale.

There you have it. The training wheels can come off now. You are ready to go. Enjoy the hunt!

Another bat handle obscenity? Take a look at 1990 Score #670

Though I’m not the first to notice it, I find it odd that this card has received such little attention over the years. The card in question, #370 in the 1990 Score baseball set depicting Chicago Cubs 1st round draft pick, Earl Cunningham, has a very obviously doctored bat handle. 1988-1990 Score cards had a specific way of covering up unwanted items that looks almost computer-generated:

Will the owner of the 1991 Donruss Andy Hawkins BC-12A please stand up?

Wow. Have I already sunk so low into the junk era that I’m blogging about 1991 Donruss? Unfortunately yes. 1991 Donruss is one of those sets that I despise from the beloved speculation era. I’m not sure why I hate it so much, the colors? The design? The fact that Ive never pulled an Elite insert? Well, 1991 Donruss gets a little credit in my book because of one card: 1991 Donruss Highlights Andy Hawkins #BC-12A “Pitcher” ERR

This stupid card has eluded me for the years now. My muddled memories of being at summer camp in 1991 are littered with images of frenzied 1991 Donruss, Stadium Club and Topps Traded pack-busting and I seem to think that at some point between 1991 and 1992, that I owned this specific variation. Whether I did or didn’t is pretty irrelevant but I can say for sure that it’s pretty impossible to find today. Probably because it’s a rare 1991 Donruss common (oxymoron).

The card pictured above is the corrected version. It reads: “No-Hits White Sox” under his name on front. The error version reads: “Pitcher” as if it’s in the base card format instead of the Highlights subset format. I am willing to bet that if up for the challenge, that you could pull one of those Ryne Sandberg Legend Autographs before you ever pull the Hawkins error. I truly believe it’s that kind of rare. I’ve never seen a single copy on ebay. None have appeared for sale on beckett, sportsbuy or anywhere whithin google’s search radius – for at least the last 5 years.  Anyone have one these guys?