This weekend I came across a small collection of Nolan Ryan stuff. Mainly just base junk with some oddball sprinkled in, but as always, I flipped over the 1991 Upper Decks included, to see if any of the rarer hologram types were printed on back.This time it was a hologram that looked familiar but didn’t fit any of the 4 known types. It turns out, its the hologram UD used for it’s 1990-issued, Comic Ball 1 set. Keep in mind that these variations scan terribly, but in person are easily recognizable:
Ughh. Those scans are awful, but the best I can get for the time being. The actual pattern is what appears to be a series of trophies, the words “upper deck” and “90.” And the Comic Ball set is the only UD issue that I could find matching this. Pretty fitting that I find this variety on a Nolan Ryan card when he would eventually become a spokesman for the Comic Ball line in 1991.
To recap the already-known hologram varieties (see my in-depth, previous blog on them for details):
-1990 MLB type: This hologram is the exact same one used on UD’s 1990 cards. A pattern of baseballs shows up when held under the light.
-1990-91 NHL type: This hologram has a crossed hockey sticks and ’90-91′ pattern if held under the light.
-1991 MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL type: This hologram is the most common, and shows a pattern of ‘1991 Upper Deck’ when held under a light source.
-1992 MLB type: This hologram depicts a pattern of UD’s diamond-logo and is commonly found on most 1992 issued card sets. Funny that these were being found on 1991 cards!
Junk Wax Gems 
Interesting…I have about 30 1991 UD baseball cards that have the 1990 holograms. I guess I’ll have to take a closer look at them to see if they differ amongst themselves.
Let me know if you come across a copy of Robin Ventura’s card #263 with any of the unusual hologram variations.
Has anyone seen a uncut hologram sheet of all the team (at that time) in circulation. In my searches I cant find an example like the one I own.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130737435872
Just got back from the National and found these 1991 UD hologram variations: (90 baseball) – 158 Biggio, 172 Eckersley, 174 McGwire, 306 Hoiles, (90 hockey) – 11 B.Williams, 345 Ryan, 347 Ripken, 353 Larkin, 376 R.Johnson, 544 Puckett, (90 comic) – 324 Molitor, 677 Fisk/Ventura, (92 baseball) – 444 R.Henderson.
Bought a box of 1991 UD High #’s for $8 at a show. Got zero hologram variations out of it. On singles, I’ve found the High #’s have the 1992 UD hologram, which is very easy to differentiate from the regular in a picture or scan. If anyone else buys 1991 UD boxes, post your results.
You lucked out. I’ve opened many 1991 UD High # boxes and failed to find any hologram variations, including 1992 holos. Some factory sets produced them but I usually found them in lots.
So I went through tons of old baseball cards and came across a ’91 UD card #168, Franklin Stubbs, the UD hologram logo is completely blank, no symbols or “upper deck” lettering. I’ve tried to find info on this.. anyone heard of it?
I admire and thank you for the work you do and have done! I have used your resources and knowledge many times while (finally) sorting through my collection and once and for all (chuckle) getting organized. And then I look back at this era and see how many variations there are!
I see the last comment on the ’91 UDs was four years ago. I may be opening an old wound, but, here goes.
I have been researching the 91 UD baseball with the different holograms. I have identified in my sets several of the baseballs but no other holograms yet. (I’m only about 1/10 of the way through.) I did, however, run across a possible new variation that I cannot find any discussions about: reverse negative holograms. (NOT upside down as we know that is the norm.) These you can identify easily by the numbers Currently, I have only found them in the 200’s, specifically:208-213, 215-216, 220, 222-224, 226-229.
Would you have any information on these or any other collector out there?
Thanks!
Thank you for the kind words.
Unfortunately, this issue comes up every few years and I am not convinced that all 1991 Mlb hologram type cards don’t have a repeat pattern of the “1991 UPPER DECK” that contains portions that are “mirrored” and upside down. This is not a separate, unique variety. Just a portion of the holographic sheet that shows this. In one of the card forums someone produced a very accurate mock-up of of what the pattern looked like in its uncut (full, not home plate shape) form.
Serious question here: are there other people out there looking for these variations? In 2021, do these cards even have value?
Even in 2021, I’d hope there are still collectors who aren’t worried about value and actually enjoy collecting for collecting’s sake.