HUGE pickup for my player collection ---- contest

[bouwob]

Picked up the following card for $5.57 with a poorly titled auction.

[ebay:2ismcc6r]260447507798[/ebay:2ismcc6r]

The contest.

Why is this a big pickup??? Contest ends whenever someone figures out what makes this card special (when I log in tomorrow, or the first person there after). If more than one person guesses the answer the person who can come up with a good background story will win (with proof, since I know very little).

winner gets

also a side contest only available to 1 person.

mojodan if you post in this thread you get the don larsen 1/1 I pulled at the national. You are not eligible to get the bench though.

 

[trademhigh]

Meh, that's just all right Sick card! (And i don't even know why).

I'm gonna guess it's the Cocacola Variation with the coke logo on the top right instead of the Drake's logo. But, it probably has to do with the number 1 thing.
Either way, thanks for the contest.

Also, you may wanna fix the IMG code. You wrote <img> <img> instead of <img> </img>
Edit-You fixed that already

 

[thegreathambino]

something w/ it being a Coca Cola Card?

 

[Austin]

I remember the Coca Cola cards were only issued in the team's home state or region.
So the Ryan card was just released in the Houston area.
But I don't know if that's why it's special to you, or if yours is a rare variation.
Yours is #1, but the regular Ryan is #9 I believe.
Here's an entire Astros team set for a $4.99 Buy it Now: http://cgi.ebay.com/NOLAN-RYAN-1981...emQQptZUS_SM_Sports_Cards?hash=item29fd142b18

 

[chippernate]

Coke variation?

 

[1st4040]

its the last card you need to have all recognized from 1980?

 

[LWMM]

It's a prototype card, unlike the regular Coke Team Sets Nolan Ryan issue which was card number 69.

 

[OhioBobcat3]

Is it a 1981 Topps Coca Cola proof?

 

[i43770]

I would guess you have a chest hair fetish and this is the only Nolan Ryan card that shows his.

 

[jarcar]

I would guess you have a chest hair fetish and this is the only Nolan Ryan card that shows his.

I have no idea what makes this card special but I'd say this is the best answer you will get. :lol:

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Test issue/Promo copy

 

[Gwynn545]

It's a proof!

Here is the story behind the 1981 Ryan Coca-Cola #1:

Starting from January 1981, the Coca-Cola sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the Topps Coca-Cola Team series, which would feature 524 major league players, 36 of whom would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nolan Ryan had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, Sunflower seeds and watches. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola asked for Ryan's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. According to an October 12, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, Ryan did not give his consent to appear on the Coca-Cola baseball card. In response to the authorization request letter sent by John Gruber, a Houston sportswriter hired by the Coca-Cola to seek Ryan's permission, Ryan wrote that he "did not care to have his picture on such a highly caffeinated product." He threatened to seek legal action against Coca-Cola if they went ahead and created his baseball card.

The reasons for Ryan's strong negative reaction to the Coca-Cola's request have been the subject of much speculation. The most commonly told account is that Ryan rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the Coca-Cola packs for his baseball card. Ryan held high respect for many of his fans, most particularly his young fans. His granddaughter, Blair, remarked that "he loved children. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. He didn't want kids to have to buy caffeine to get his card."


In short, that card should never have been created! You got an incredible steal!!!

 

[djrulz]

Congrats on the great pickup. I'll say that it's special because it is the last card you need for his recognized cards up to the 1990's.

 

[MOFNY]

You have fond memories of drinking coke and watching Ryan on hot summer days. And then one day, when Ryan was going to the locker room, you offered him a coke. He was so enthralled by the gesture that he threw you his jersey. And that is the origin of your Ryan obsession.

 

[Pine Tar]

Because the sky is blue.

 

[MojoDan]

I'm no fool, I dont pass up #1/1s


Thanks bouwob!!

 

[nevermore]

This is a jumbo sized proof version of the Ryan card which is much harder to find than the regular sized Coke set.

Awesome pickup!

 

[bouwob]

Good call with the best proof (I think )

shoot me your addy.

It's a proof!

Here is the story behind the 1981 Ryan Coca-Cola #1:

Starting from January 1981, the Coca-Cola sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the Topps Coca-Cola Team series, which would feature 524 major league players, 36 of whom would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nolan Ryan had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, Sunflower seeds and watches. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola asked for Ryan's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. According to an October 12, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, Ryan did not give his consent to appear on the Coca-Cola baseball card. In response to the authorization request letter sent by John Gruber, a Houston sportswriter hired by the Coca-Cola to seek Ryan's permission, Ryan wrote that he "did not care to have his picture on such a highly caffeinated product." He threatened to seek legal action against Coca-Cola if they went ahead and created his baseball card.

The reasons for Ryan's strong negative reaction to the Coca-Cola's request have been the subject of much speculation. The most commonly told account is that Ryan rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the Coca-Cola packs for his baseball card. Ryan held high respect for many of his fans, most particularly his young fans. His granddaughter, Blair, remarked that "he loved children. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. He didn't want kids to have to buy caffeine to get his card."


In short, that card should never have been created! You got an incredible steal!!!