1993 Triple Play Previews

[thelesquad]

I believe gracecollector had posted about this, but I can't find the thread. Besides the fuzziness and thickness of the Triple Play words on the back, what other differences are there between the regular and preview?

 

[gracecollector]

I know most people assume these would say "Preview" on them since other Donruss products of the era did - as did 1994 previews. And the SCD catalog even claims the 1993 do, but it's not the case. The previews for 1993 Triple Play were issued in an 8-card see-thru cellophane wrap and look so alike the normal cards as to be virtually impossible to tell. I have the Grace little hotshots and the Griffey that I know came out of a wrapped preview pack, and these are the only differences:

Ghosted Triple Play logo on back is fuzzy, whereas on the regular card is sharp with thin lines.
Line thickness of the red border may be a little different.

I'll have to post up high res scans later. But definitely this is an issue that drove me crazy trying to figure it out, and I don't think the info is right in Beckett and SCD.

 

[thelesquad]

Thanks, Brad. Someone may have the Sandberg preview. I've asked for high-res scans, so hopefully I'll be able to see the differences.

 

[thelesquad]

Okay, here are the copies I have.

The one on the left is my original. The one on the right is the supposed preview.

Here is a close-up of the logo on the back. Top is original; bottom is "preview."

What are your expert opinions?

 

[goobmcnasty]

Can someone re-post these photos and/or links to descriptions of these?

I sent a Griffey to PSA that came out of the preview pack, and they are claiming it doesn't have the "characteristics" of a preview. When I asked them what the characteristics were, they couldn't tell me.

 

[goobmcnasty]

[MENTION=2805]thelesquad[/MENTION] [MENTION=1845]gracecollector[/MENTION]

 

[gracecollector]

The 93 Triple Plays are really tough to identify. Virtually identical to the issued cards, but the Triple Play logos are "ghosty" on back, while the regular cards have sharp definition. Also from the two I have, the red color outlines and name are darker on the regular version, and the number behind the player name is darker gray. I spent a long time looking for a Grace. The buyer I got it from had an unopened clear cello-wrapped pack of promos, so I know these were the promos even though there's no clear identification.

92 Triple Play previews are clearly marked "Preview" on back, and people assume the 93's are too, but they are not.

 

[mouschi]

Any ideas if Canseco has one?

 

[gracecollector]

Any ideas if Canseco has one?

No Canseco. Only 12 cards available as 1993 Triple Play Previews.

Found the original thread:

http://www.freedomcardboard.com/for...amp-SCD-wrong-about-1993-Triple-Play-Previews

and a picture of my Grace "Little Hotshots" Preview (top) and Regular (bottom). Again, the most identifiable difference is the "ghosty" Triple Play logo.

 

[deadman31]

So can someone tell me if this is the promo or regular. I can't tell.

 

[goobmcnasty]

No Canseco. Only 12 cards available as 1993 Triple Play Previews.

Found the original thread:

http://www.freedomcardboard.com/for...amp-SCD-wrong-about-1993-Triple-Play-Previews

and a picture of my Grace "Little Hotshots" Preview (top) and Regular (bottom). Again, the most identifiable difference is the "ghosty" Triple Play logo.

Thanks for the response guys. Can anyone tell me if a "legitimate source" has ever posted the differences? PSA won't slab it as a preview unless they basically read it in beckett or sports illustrated, even though I saw it come out of a cellophane pack.

 

[RStadlerASU22]

So can someone tell me if this is the promo or regular. I can't tell.

My first guess is Promo, but man they are really hard to tell.

Ryan

 

[goobmcnasty]

My first guess is Promo, but man they are really hard to tell.

Ryan

I was thinking regular. When you zoom in, it seems a little too sharp for the promo

 

[RStadlerASU22]

I was thinking regular. When you zoom in, it seems a little too sharp for the promo

Could be, I compared to Brad's example and it didn't stand out like his. These are def tough to distinguish.

Ryan

 

[banjar]

Thanks for this info guys. Certainly explains why these things are not easy to find or even identify. Good to know exactly what to look for. If anyone has an Alomar promo they can part with, let me know...

 

[Jack Straw]

I believe there is something on the front too. Something with the block lettering on top? Maybe the shadowing?

The 93 Triple Plays are really tough to identify. Virtually identical to the issued cards, but the Triple Play logos are "ghosty" on back, while the regular cards have sharp definition. Also from the two I have, the red color outlines and name are darker on the regular version, and the number behind the player name is darker gray. I spent a long time looking for a Grace. The buyer I got it from had an unopened clear cello-wrapped pack of promos, so I know these were the promos even though there's no clear identification.

92 Triple Play previews are clearly marked "Preview" on back, and people assume the 93's are too, but they are not.

 

[gracecollector]

I pulled my Grace's last night and looked at them closely. Couldn't find any new discoveries, except for this. If you hold the promo version in your hand and tilt it back and forth, the ghosted "Triple Play" logo will disappear at certain angles. If you do the same with the regular card, the "Triple Play" logo never disappears. It's possibly a different type of ink. The "Triple Play" logo on the promo is definitely puffier, less sharp than the regular version. Meant to bring them into work today and scan them ultra hi-res, but forgot them at home. Will try tomorrow.

 

[gracecollector]

I believe there is something on the front too. Something with the block lettering on top? Maybe the shadowing?

The black drop shadow behind the name on front is thinner on the previews. Here's scans of the Ripken card that shows it (tunahead's card). The Triple Play logo is fuzzy as it should be too.

Regular on top, Preview on bottom

Preview on left, Regular on right

 

[gracecollector]

So, playing detective with hi-res scans:

Triple Play logos on back - Top is Preview, Bottom is Regular Issue. The logo on the preview card is blurry and several pixels thick. When the card is tilted, the logo can seem to disappear at certain angles. The logo on the regular card has very sharp definition and can be seen however the card is tilted.

Regarding the border thickness of inset player photo on card back:

I scanned these both at 2400 dpi, then overlaid them. It does not appear that there is a difference in photo border thickness. It does appear that the promo version's shade of red is just a shade lighter on the promo version than the regular issue.

 

[goobmcnasty]

My scanner won't even pick up the preview/promo "Triple Play" Logo.

There are 0 Preview cards on PSA's pop report. PSA refuses to grade any of the Preview cards.