The Mysterious 1990 Topps Debut ‘X’ Cards

I’ve been meaning to post about this bizarre card for a couple years now but couldn’t locate the scans I saved. In fact, these images are the only I’ve ever seen and were poached from a message board in 2009. Since I am in the mood to do a little bit of detective work, I feel now is the time to shed some light on this very unusual card:

 

 

Not much is known about this card, in fact, I’ve yet to hear any mention of it since it was posted in the legendary Frank Thomas NNOF thread on the Collectors Universe boards.

Here is what we do know:

• Pulled from a 20-set case of 1990 Topps Debut ’89 sets.
• 1990 Topps Debut ’89 features 152 subjects.
• Topps likes to print cards in multiples of 11 (33 Glossy All-Stars, 132 O-Pee-Chees, 792 base set, etc…)

Here is what I think:

152 subjects doesn’t work with Topps’ multiples of 11 sheet orientation, however, 154 does. This leads me to believe that on a single uncut 154 card sheet, you will find all 152 cards plus two of these “corner” cards. Obviously, the same formula can be applied to a theoretical 77 card sheet, but one X card per.

I believe that these cards were intended to be thrown out as printer’s waste but some, apparently very few, made their way into sets.

I do not believe that the X cards were intended to depict a player. Although I did not do the research, Topps claims that this set features every major league debut of the 1989 season, which would explain it’s unusual subject number (152) , which varied each of the subsequent years lending some truth to the claim.

What’s especially odd is that given Topps’ high production run during this era, those two “wasted” spots would seem like something of loss financially. Given how often Topps put advertisements and offer cards in products, why didn’t they use those spots for something useful? Food for thought.

Obviously, all of this could be simply explained with an image of an uncut sheet but until I get a hold of one, where’s the fun in that?

1990 Bowman Errors & Variations: Ongoing Checklist

Here is a rundown of every variation I have found to date for 1990 Bowman Baseball. A great set, as outlined in a previous blog, is loaded with Hall-Of-Famers, key rookie cards and for many, it started off their prospecting days. For the variation collector, this set is loaded!

#29 Mark Grace with black line on hand and line airbrushed

#34 Earl Cunningham with * next to text on back and with * airbrushed away

#66 Danny Darwin night background and day background

#78 Craig Biggio with night background and day background

#100 Hubie Brooks with natural jersey and airbrushed white jersey

Quick Look: 1990 Upper Deck #101-199 Copyright Variations

Although they are not listed individually in any major catalog, all cards in the #101 through #199 sequence found in Upper Deck’s sophomore issue can be found with or without the copyright line under the MLB logos on back.

Several key players and HOFers can be found in both varieties: