PROMOS/SAMPLES/PREVIEWS/PROTOTYPES/PRE-PRODUCTIONS/TESTS

[mchenrycards]

I was going through some of the literally half million cards I have left over from my card shop days and came across these sample cards. I have piles and piles of samples......


You're making my mouth water, please stop

Those are actually very common.

Donruss samples from the mid later 90s can be pricey or at least not so common.

Generally, topps brands samples are very common across the board as are fleer brands, but there are a few exceptions.

Here's a few which can command nice money: early score promos, 93 finest Refractor promos (crazy money), stand up guys promos, Donruss brand promos marked "xxxx/......." On the back, etc.

If you want send me pics of what you have, a gang scan is fine, I'll know what they are, and I'll tell you if you have anything


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When I owned my card shop (had a shop for nearly 10 years) I would get so many promos that there was a time I was begging people to take them off my hands. When the shop closed I had a full box of them somewhere and I know for a fact the Stand Up guys was one I had quite a few of. As I go through all of these boxes of cards I find samples here and there but I have yet to hit the box that had the majority of my samples. I have about 50 more boxes to go through!! I appreciate your offer to take a look at what I have and will try and put a few scans together in the coming week. Thanks for the offer!

 

[jacksoncoupage]

What is the word on 1989 Score Promos?

Many years ago I saw a Biggio and a Nolan Ryan for sale on eBay being advertised as prototypes. The main difference from the base issue being a lack of copyright on the back, neither had the blank previous season stat line - all stats were printed. Donovan's error & variation guide mentions this as well. I'm wondering if the player collectors recognize 1989 Score promos in their collections since the guides don't mention them. Maybe a Ryan or Biggio collector or anyone who owns a copy could chime in?

 

[clarkfan]

What is the word on 1989 Score Promos?

Many years ago I saw a Biggio and a Nolan Ryan for sale on eBay being advertised as prototypes. The main difference from the base issue being a lack of copyright on the back, neither had the blank previous season stat line - all stats were printed. Donovan's error & variation guide mentions this as well. I'm wondering if the player collectors recognize 1989 Score promos in their collections since the guides don't mention them. Maybe a Ryan or Biggio collector or anyone who owns a copy could chime in?

I own a Canseco from the 1989, only 1 I've ever seen or heard of in any collection. I own a couple from 1990, including Will Clark, a couple from 1991 (Biggio, Fielder) and a small handful of the 1988's. A collector on here has the Nolan Ryan 1990 (or at least knows who has it). Early Score promos are some of the toughest promos ever, but some aren't even recognized in the price guide, making it something that seldom gets discussed b/c so few surface. I love them!

 

[jacksoncoupage]

I do recall seeing a Canseco without copyright. So, is that the primary difference? Does your Canseco have stats for 1988 on back? I remember the 1989 Ryan and Biggio advertised as promos had their stats but were missing the copyright.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Any chance the missing copyright cards are just errors?

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[clarkfan]

I do recall seeing a Canseco without copyright. So, is that the primary difference? Does your Canseco have stats for 1988 on back? I remember the 1989 Ryan and Biggio advertised as promos had their stats but were missing the copyright.

Depends on the year. Score promos varied slightly year to year, but rarely said promo on them. Here are the back scans of various years.

 

[clarkfan]

On the 1989 (Canseco), differences are even harder to tell, but the text is different than the regular and color is also different. On the base card, Score added, "In the ALCS, he hit 3 HRs" at the end of the 1st paragraph. Score promos are some of my favorite, probably b/c of the lack of awareness or availability.

 

[jacksoncoupage]

On the 1989 (Canseco), differences are even harder to tell, but the text is different than the regular and color is also different. On the base card, Score added, "In the ALCS, he hit 3 HRs" at the end of the 1st paragraph. Score promos are some of my favorite, probably b/c of the lack of awareness or availability.

Interesting that the copyright is included in the text box. And the green tint is an odd choice as well.

Any clue as to how the 'missing copyright' cards were confirmed as promos? Or is that still up in the air? Since Score seems to like to do 100 card sequences for their promos (ie cards 200-300 in 1991) and the 1989 Biggio and Nolan Ryan cards are in the same sequence, it does sound possible.

 

[clarkfan]

Some of the promos from the Score era are documented and listed in the price guides, just not at all. I don't think they are an error or any kind, it's pretty clear they were released as promos. Although the mintage or how many were produced of any certain player is definitely debatable. I have never personally seen any other 1989 ones other than Canseco (card #1 ). I thought there was a possibility he might be the only one, but I haven't found any evidence to point either direction. At least with the 1988, 1990, 1991 and so on, there have been multiple players spotted or confirmed, including a Biggio from 1991. Remember, in the 1990's, only the RED base has a promo and in 1991, only the TEAL base has a promo, so the entire set wasn't made into a promo. Other big ones from 1991 are Brett and Puckett, which I've seen, but never owned.

 

[jszczech]

I own a 1991 Score Puckett promo but it took a long time to find one and it was spendy.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

The lone score promo from this period I ever had was an 88 Larkin I bought at a show for less than$10.

I sold it years ago but kind of wish I didn't.

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[clarkfan]

The lone score promo from this period I ever had was an 88 Larkin I bought at a show for less than$10.

I sold it years ago but kind of wish I didn't.

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I might have bought yours Not sure, but I've had mine for a few years. I want more from 1990.

 

[mrmopar]

double post

 

[mrmopar]

From former Fleer exec via ebay…I had Will Clark too, but those sold on ebay. I also have Frank Thomas, but not sure I ever scanned them.



I had the entire set, but broke it up on ebay several years back. I think i still have each of these, as they went unsold at the time. Some sold well, others went cheap. I had kept Piazza and Frank thomas for myself, but ended up selling the Frank pair to a collector named Lance in HI who you bigger Thomas collectors probably know. Let's just say he made me an offer I couldn't refuse at the time. t regret selling the set now, but what's done is done!

 

[Will Style 13]

Those Ultra Prototypes are sweet!

 

[Gwynn545]

I'm drooling, too. I saved a few boxes of promos, too, from all my "basement" stuff, but this is the type of stuff that I am finding:
Alan Rosen Promos (two are autographed!)

and this stuff:

Where are all the baseball ones?????!!!!:evil:

 

[Gwynn545]

Oh, heres a few baseball...

 

[BBCgalaxee]

I think your bikini open image should be removed immediately

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[clarkfan]

From former Fleer exec via ebay…I had Will Clark too, but those sold on ebay. I also have Frank Thomas, but not sure I ever scanned them.



I had the entire set, but broke it up on ebay several years back. I think i still have each of these, as they went unsold at the time. Some sold well, others went cheap. I had kept Piazza and Frank thomas for myself, but ended up selling the Frank pair to a collector named Lance in HI who you bigger Thomas collectors probably know. Let's just say he made me an offer I couldn't refuse at the time. t regret selling the set now, but what's done is done!

I love those Ultra Prototypes. I was lucky enough to snag 1 of those Will Clark versions (years and years ago), but haven't seen any since. I would ultimately like to have the other variations.

 

[HawkeyeFan]

I've got this. Not for sure exactly where it originated.

2000 Pacific Archive Slide

ESPN Employee playing cards

2000 Victory Promo?

Fanfest Promos?

1992 Front Row

No idea

Don't know anything about this either. 1995 SP Gold Sig