Player Collectors - Late 80's / Early 90's uncataloged card back variations - illustrated!

[gracecollector]

Here's info on the uncataloged card back variations I know about for Mark Grace. Some of you may find this helpful for your own collections. I thought the clear scans and descriptions would be helpful.

Does anyone have any info on others I should be looking for? I think there might be some Topps printing plate letters (A*, B*, C*, etc.) and a few Upper Deck UD hologram variations (not gold factory) that are out there. Anyone have specific information?

1988 Donruss
1988 Donruss was printed with two back variations. The most common back is from retail packs and hobby boxes. These cards were printed with a semibold font. Factory set cards were printed with a slimer regular font, which caused the copy on the back of the card to have different line breaks. Factory set cards are roughly 30 to 50 times harder to find than retail/hobby base cards.

Retail / Hobby pack backs - bold font

Factory Set backs - regular font

1989 Donruss
Four back variations can be found for 1989 Donruss base cards.

No period after INC, two asterisks around Denotes

Period after INC, two asterisks around Denotes

No period after INC, one asterisk before Denotes

Period after INC, one asterisk before Denotes

1990 Donruss
Two back variations can be found for 1990 Donruss base cards.

No period after INC

Period after INC

1990 Upper Deck
Two back variations can be found for 1990 Upper Deck base cards from #101 to #199. The no copyright line version is very rare.

Copyright line under MLB logos

No copyright line under MLB logos

1991 Donruss
Two back variations can be found for 1991 Donruss base cards.

No period after INC

Period after INC

1992 Donruss
Two back variations can be found for 1992 Donruss base cards.

No period after INC

Period after INC

1992 Leaf
Two back variations can be found for 1992 Leaf base cards. Cards with no period after INC seem much more plentiful.

No period after INC

Period after INC

1992 Leaf Gold
Two back variations can be found for 1992 Leaf Gold parallel cards. Cards with no period after INC seem much more plentiful.

No period after INC

Period after INC

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Are 1988 Donruss factory sets really 30 to 50 times harder to find? I got one last year for $5, place I got it had a ton of them. I always knew the fronts were different on the factory set vs the pack issued card, never knew the backs were different though.

I remember reading that the 1990 UD no copyright line variations were only on cards 101-199, anyone know if that's true?

 

[BBCgalaxee]

This thread has major kick ass potential.

 

[gracecollector]

Are 1988 Donruss factory sets really 30 to 50 times harder to find? I got one last year for $5, place I got it had a ton of them. I always knew the fronts were different on the factory set vs the pack issued card, never knew the backs were different though.

I remember reading that the 1990 UD no copyright line variations were only on cards 101-199, anyone know if that's true?

Yeah, 88 Donruss factory sets are only about 2-3% of the entire population of 88 Donruss cards, but there was a LOT of Donruss printed, and factory sets are still cheap. I never said they were valuable - but if you are looking for one, it can be a pain to find as a single since most sets stay together.

Though not back variations, I should mention that 90 and 91 Donruss have factory set variations on the front. 90 Donruss has differing spot patterns, and 91 has differing colored stripe placements.

 

[toadfan106]

Are 1988 Donruss factory sets really 30 to 50 times harder to find? I got one last year for $5, place I got it had a ton of them. I always knew the fronts were different on the factory set vs the pack issued card, never knew the backs were different though.

I remember reading that the 1990 UD no copyright line variations were only on cards 101-199, anyone know if that's true?

Even if the 1988 Donruss Factory sets are 30-50 times harder to find, there are still tons of them out there.

The 1990 UD variations are only cards 101-199.

 

[MansGame]

Wow... Very cool... Thanks for putting together

 

[gracecollector]

The 1990 UD variations are only cards 101-199.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to edit the original post with added information.

 

[katieneack]

I have all of the ones you mentioned. Here are some other ones (If I repeat one you already said I apologize):

1988 Topps Big A* vs. B* Variation
1991 Stadium Club F* vs. E* Variation
1992 Stadium Club F* vs. E* Variation (also MC if your player has one)
1992 Topps McDonalds 2** vs. 1* in the bottom right corner)
Note sure about this one but... 1991 Topps TM Placement variation

 

[katieneack]

Also, on the 1988 Donruss Front:

 

[gracecollector]

Also, on the 1988 Donruss Front:

Also, there are hand cut cards from 1988 Donruss Team Books. While this is a front variation, it's interesting to note. The colors are switched on the team book cards. If cut well, they can look like a pack-pulled card.

Notice the Maddux in this panel from a Team Book. Blue corner on top left.

Normal 1988 card - blue corner on top right

These are the books the variation comes from:

 

[katieneack]

Here is the variation from 1991 Kenner Starting Lineup Cards. The first one is the official release that came with the figurine. It has blue print on the back and a # under Kenner in the bottom right hand corner. The second one I believe is a cut-out from the advertising poster and it has black print and no number:

 

[katieneack]

Here is another interesting variation from the 1991 US Playing Cards. They come in the normal US Playing Cards versions as well as an international playing cards version. Note the difference below. I haven't been able to confirm whether or not the international versions were also available in the silver edge variation or not. Does anyone know?

 

[tunahead]

As far as I know only the US version has the silver edged version. I have yet to run across a silver edged International version

 

[TNP777]

A careful check of the cards listed so far reveals that I've got almost all of 'em. I already knew I was missing the '92 Leaf Gold INC., and had heard rumors of print letter differences in '91 Stadium Club - I've got a C*, but haven't been able to find what I assume would be a D*.

Here are some more that need to be on the list:

* 1987 Donruss - these can be found with reversed (or upside down) backs
* 1987 Sportflics - these can be found with a 1986 and 1987 copyright, and I have heard rumors that they might be available without a copyright
* 1990 Topps Big - I've got print letters *E and *F. I've also got a blank front with a *F designation. I missed out on a *E blank front, so I know it exists as well.
* 1991 Topps Traded - I think it was jacksoncoupage that first alerted me to "white stock" vs "grey stock". There is a definite difference in the paper that Topps used from time to time that year. Anyway, I've got grey stock variations with either * or ** in the copyright line.
* 1992 Topps Gold Winners - I've got one with print letter F*, and another with print letter B* (and the Topps Gold logo is upside down on the back).
* 1992 Topps Kids - can be found with * and ** in the copyright line.
* 1991 Upper Deck extended set - there are supposed to many hologram variations here. Again, jacksoncoupage did all kinds of research on these, and I think there may be more UD issues that had holo variations. Anyway, I've got one with the regular 1991 holo, and one with the 1992 holo.

 

[jacksoncoupage]

Detailed review with images of 1991 Upper Deck hologram variations. Doesn't include the Comic Ball type, which has been found on Nolan Ryan's card.

1994 Topps also has print code variations that are actually very scarce. Any player from series one that typically doesn't have a letter code on back (A,B,C,D,E,F), can also be found with a code. Only a few of examples of a handful of players have been found but they're out there.

1990 Upper Deck copyright variations are becoming increasingly common after the last few "pallet" breaks of high number cases in search of Mike Witt's card. Full sets (101-199) have been selling on ebay regularly anywhere between $10-30 over the last few years. Not nearly as rare as I had previously believed.

Though incomplete due to several recent discoveries, here is an ambitious project started on the BMB by myself and a few others several years ago:

1981 Topps: several cards can be found without their top black border
1982 Topps Blackless: Missing the black ink on front
1982 Topps Blueless: Missing the blue ink on front
1983 Topps Traded: single or double asterisk on back (* or **)
1986 Donruss Highlights: Highlights logo on front can be found in white (rare) or yellow
1986 Topps Mini Leaders: dull or glossy finish
1987 Donruss Backs: back face either left or right, factory vs. wax/rack/cello1987 Sportflics: Copyright '86 or '87 or no copyright on back
1988 Bazooka: White or Gray cardstock
1988 Bazooka: single or double asterisk (* or **)
1988 Donruss: Partial or missing copyright/TM on fronts
1988 Donruss Borders: Factory borders/back text differ from wax/rack/cellos
1988 Topps Big: Most cards can be found with multiple print desinations (ex: E* and F*). Some cards can be found where a part of the print designation has been poorly airbrushed away.
1989 Bowman Father/Sons subset: Textured TV/solid gray TV
1989 Donruss INC/INC. : in copyright on back
1989 Donruss Denotes*/*Denotes* : in stat box on back
1989 Donruss Grand Slammers: 5 different colored borders, one color has black bars in back borders
1989 Score Promos/No Copyright: Missing copyright on back-bottom
1989 Topps All Star Commemorative: White or Gray cardstock
1989 Topps Glossy All-Stars: * and **

1989 Upper Deck #2-99: can be found with TM or R-symbol next to logos on front
1990 Bowman 1st printing/2nd printing: airbushed uniforms, backgrounds
1990 Bowman Art Cards: single or double asterisk on back (* or **)
1990 Donruss INC/INC. : in copyright on back
1990 Donruss Splatter variations: factory and wax/rack/cello versions differ
1990 Donruss Grand Slammers: with or without black bars in back borders
1990 Fleer All-Stars: text cropping variations on back
1990 Fleer Baseball MVP's: Thick black line/bar at top of photo/border
1990 Fleer Canadian: copyright on back notes being printed in Canada on this limited release
1990 Topps Traded: Gray backs (wax) or White box (factory)
1990 Topps Traded: single or double asterisk on back (* or **)
1990 Upper Deck No Copyright: cards #101-199 with or without copyright line on back
1991 Bowman E*: players with E** print designations can be found with E**, E*, E * variations.
1991 Donruss INC/INC. Noticeable by the lighter and darker cardstock
1991 Donruss Border variations: Factory and wax/rack/cello versions differ
1991 Donruss Grand Slammers: Blue and Green borders
1991 Donruss Grand Slammers: Blue bordered cards have three different varieties
1991 Fleer: due to use of 2 different printers, each card comes in two versions, most very minor
1991 Stadium Club: most (possibly all) cards come in 2 different print designations (ex: A* and B*)
1991 Topps A* and B*: all cards with this print designation come in either bold red 40th or dull/ghosted 40th logo on back
1991 Topps Traded: Gray backs (wax) or White backs (factory)
1991 Topps Traded: single or double asterisk on back (* or **) (gray backs only)
1991 Upper Deck: Holograms on back come in four different ways: 90-91-style (used for hi# 90-91 Hockey), 1990-baseball style (used for 1990 UD baseball), 1991-style (used for many 1991 UD products) and in 1992 style (used on 1992 UD, 1991-92 Hi # NBA/NFL and NHL).
1991 US Playing Card All Stars: US copyright, International Copyright and US Copyright/Silver Edged versions exist.
1992 Bowman E*: E* sheet players can be found in an E variation (no asterisk).
1992 Bowman Foil: All the non-"SP" foils come in two different photo croppings.
1992 Donruss INC/INC.
1992 Investors Journals: Blue, Gold, Purple borders
1992 Leaf INC/INC.
1992 Leaf Black Gold: Some, possibly all can be found in INC and INC. versions
1992 Score Dream Team: Backs face left or right
1992 Score #736-776: Come with or without the "rookie prospect" banner on front
1992 Stadium Club: most (possibly all) cards come in 2 different print designations (ex: A* and B*)
1992 Topps McDonald's : single asterisk or double asterisk (* or **)
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Future Foundation: Silver Sig cards can be found with base-white lettering on front or with appropriate silver lettering on front.
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Future Foundation: first letter in text on back can be found in white or gray color.
1994 SP Foils: come in either white names on back or gold/bronze names on back
1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond: some, possibly all series 1 cards come in a "silver" version where the stat heading bar on back is silver instead or bronze
1995 Stadium Club Foil Subsets (Transactions/Extreme Corps): Minimum of 4 different color varieties.
1997 Score Hobby Reserve: HR prefix to number and no prefix types exist.
1997 Upper Deck Capture the Flag: some, possibly all cards in this subset come in either white or gold backs
1998 Finest Mystery Finest: Base, refractor number identified with 'R', Refractor number identified with 'Refractor', Refractor identified with 'R' with no refraction

 

[theplasticman]

Great thread.

The 1990 Donruss Grand Slammers also have several border variations. I think I've found about a dozen unique varieties.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

White letter errors

 

[jacksoncoupage]

White letter errors

FYI, those are the "white bar/border" variations. They affect the Up Close subset, the "white letter" variations affect the Future Foundation subset. In two ways, actually: white first letter in text on back and also the Silver Signature versions can be found with white lettering on front instead of silver lettering.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Jackson, its way time to update your awesome site.

 

[katieneack]

I know this is Mid-90's but.... I mentioned this in the 90's thread about a month ago when I discovered it. Has anyone else been able to confirm that this exists for their players? It occurs on the Bronze and Silver 1996 Stadium Club Extreme Player cards. Note the foil placement variations in the examples below. I haven't found the variation in his Gold Extreme Player card yet.