What was the first GU card/set for baseball?

[zyceoa]

I'm familiar with the 1996 Ultra Ripken GU dirt card, the 1997 UD game used set of 3 with Griffey and Gwynn, and the 1997 Leaf Frank Thomas GU set, but I don't know which of these came out first. On a side note, does anyone know anything about the 1998 Topps Clemente "Memorbelia Madness" cards?

 

[Austin]

I wasn't aware of the 1996 Ripken dirt card.
But the 1997 Upper Deck jersey cards of Ripken, Gwynn and Ordonez are generally considered to be the first major game-used jersey cards.

 

[corockies]

I wasn't aware of the 1996 Ripken dirt card.

 

[mrmopar]

I believe those Ripken cards were only given to dealers and not available to anyone who wanted one. I also want to say there was a slightly different version that was later a mail-in deal, but I am not positive on that.

I got mine from a local shop, who said they got their's directly from Fleer.

If talking about 1st GU issue, I'd assume that would mean the first issue that anyone had a chance to own via pack purchases.

 

[predatorkj]

Wow that Ripken is clean! I'd love to add something like that to my collection!

 

[smapdi]

Yes, the dirt cards were shipped directly to shops. IIRC, the little bubble of dirt sticks up above the surface of the card like the thickness of 2 dimes, as I recall. Would be fairly easy to search.

The 1997 UD cards came out in base UD, so late 1996-early 1997. 1997 Leaf I think came out around June or July.

But I think there was a Press Pass racing set with "race worn" cards slightly before 97 UD. And did UD's 1996-97 Hockey jerseys precede baseball?