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What's the history of the 1982 Anchorage Pilots Mark McGwire card?

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Austin

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
5,706
41
Dallas, Texas
I remember when this card was a big deal when McGwire was the man. Some people spent a couple hundred bucks on it, despite unconfirmed reports that it was not printed in 1982, but actually 1988 or 1989.

I did a bunch of searches and people keep claiming it's from '88 or '89, though they have no proof.

It still goes for between $30 and $100+ depending on condition, I guess because only a few thousand were made. That seems weird thogh, if it's essentially a Broder card.

And if it was actually printed as a collectors issue in the late '80s, and not an actual 1982 pre-rookie card, then why do PSA and BGS both call it a 1982 card? Beckett's Marketplace description also calls it a 1982 card.

And this Heritage Auctions description calls it a card made in 1982:

https://sports.ha.com/itm/autograph...ue-takes-place-total-2-items-/a/46061-10107.s

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goobmcnasty

Active member
Apr 4, 2014
1,583
13
From what I can remember from back in 1998 (when these cards really hit their peak), was that they were originally produced in 1982. Then in 1988, when McGwire was a star with the A's, somebody reprinted a bunch of them...

Maybe I'm wrong.
 

KLARNOLD

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2008
1,409
147
Owensboro, KY
According to the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, it was actually issued in 1988 (10,000 were made with a price of $5.95 per card). The Pilots team did not issue a set in 1982. There is a card of Casey Candaele that shows 1982 but it was printed in 1988 as well.
 

Austin

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
5,706
41
Dallas, Texas
According to the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, it was actually issued in 1988 (10,000 were made with a price of $5.95 per card). The Pilots team did not issue a set in 1982. There is a card of Casey Candaele that shows 1982 but it was printed in 1988 as well.
I wonder if there is a documented source of the creation of the card. Everything I've read is just here say, but no one can give a definitive origin of the card.

Even that SCBC description does not say who made the card. And if it was made by some amateur, then why is it recognized as an official card and still relatively valuable, instead of being a worthless Broder?

And why do PSA and BGS still grade it as a 1982 card?
 

mrmopar

Member
Jan 19, 2010
6,187
4,087
I remember selling a couple for a local shop around the time it was at the height of popularity. I want to say that was mid 90s. They went for $400 or so each. I suppose it would be easy enough to find one of the older Becektt or similar books that feature minor league sets and see if this "set" appeared before the late 80s. I think minor league sets and cards were fairly well documented up to that point.

I believe that it was a fantasy card issued later due to the huge popularity, otherwise why do a single card? Was he that hyped in 1982?
 

BBCgalaxee

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2011
6,475
59
That card is totally not from 1982 as I recall reading an article about it in 1988 when it was issued.



DTA
 

DaClyde

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2010
1,614
58
Huntsville, AL
The team printed all of their own team sets, including the McGwire and Candaele. They still print their own cards. For while you could still order some of the older team sets thru their website, but they're mostly long since sold out now.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Freedom Card Board mobile app
 

Austin

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
5,706
41
Dallas, Texas
Just saw that Randy Johnson was on the 1984 team.
I wonder if this card is worth anything. I don't see any on eBay.

ApAXhBBCAAIdxLW.jpg
 

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