New 1990 Pro Set variation: #135 Rohn Stark

Finding a new variation in the 1990 set is not generally big news, as tons of minor varieties pop up every day, such as hairlines in text, broken stat lines etc. New varieties featuring types of changes not previously seen before, are another thing.

Take a look at a recent find, unearthed while sorting over 30,000 1990 Pro Set commons. Card number 135, Rohn Stark, Punter for the Indianapolis Colts:

Notice how Rohn’s right foot lines up with the K in STARK on the first example and on the second, his foot lines up between the A and R in STARK. It appears as though Ron’s name was shifted to the left and eventually centered to fit the set’s format.

Out of 43 copies, just 3 had the first type with his name shifted to the left. Is it rare? Not sure, because, as with 1990 Pro Set, a collector out there could have 40 copies of the left-shifted name and 3 of the centered-name type.

Why is this a noteworthy find?

This marks the first of this type of error. As far as I know, there are no previously documented variations that involve the placement of the player’s name in the team-color bar, which opens the door to the possibility that there are others out there. Thus creating a new variety type to be on the lookout for.

I’d be interested in hearing  of any other cards affected by this type of variation.

1990 Bowman Baseball. Shades of Topps Heritage.

To get things started, let’s take a look at the enigmatic, and Topps Heritage-esque, 1990 Bowman Baseball Set:

It took me almost 17 years to notice the approximately 100 different variations found in this set. Many longtime collector’s who own an annual price guide already know about the semi-rare, David Segui #251 with his bio information missing on back. This interesting error is the only one like it in the set and currently lists at $3.50, though I’ve seen them sell for much higher and and a little lower at times. But what many collectors don’t yet know of, is that Bowman issued 2 different versions of several of the subjects in this set. Like today’s Topps Heritage line, some of the players can be seen posed against night backgrounds and daytime backgrounds due to some expert airbrushing. Some players sport both gray and white jerseys on their cards and a handful of players had troublesome light posts and clouds airbrushed away in their backgrounds.

Robin Ventura #311 has had his background and jersey re-touched by Topps’ editors.