If the 1989 Bill Ripken ERR guy is still around, I want to wish him a happy 30th anniversary!

Estil

Well, 30th anniversary of the infamous 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken F-Face card (or Rick Face as Beckett likes to call it; don't ask me why)...has it really been that long ago already? Coincidentally 1989 was the first year I started getting baseball card packs (I was nine years old at the time) but they were 1989 Topps and 1989 Donruss). in any event did they ever find out for sure what caused the infamous incident/card? Did Bill and/or the photographer and/or Fleer do this on purpose? How did the bat get those words on the knob (I doubt it could've been an accident...if Bill "accidentally" grabbed the wrong bat the chances of the words being neatly right-side up by chance is slim to none.

And what did Bill himself think of all this? Then and now? And lastly, can any of you imagine how it would've been had this incident occurred in this modern Internet/YouTube/social media age?

DotStore

Wow, amazing it's been 30 years. I used to set up at shows and sell the full wax box with a guarantee you would pull at least one of them or else I would give you one from my display case (my little brother had to sit at a table with you and watch you open the packs). Fleer distribution of cards ran pretty evenly for FASC boxes - every box I sold with the guarantee had the FF Ripken. Happy 30th!

RyansRust

@Estil said:
Well, 30th anniversary of the infamous 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken F-Face card (or Rick Face as Beckett likes to call it; don't ask me why)...has it really been that long ago already? Coincidentally 1989 was the first year I started getting baseball card packs (I was nine years old at the time) but they were 1989 Topps and 1989 Donruss). Did Bill and/or the photographer and/or Fleer do this on purpose? How did the bat get those words on the knob (I doubt it could've been an accident...if Bill "accidentally" grabbed the wrong bat the chances of the words being neatly right-side up by chance is slim to none.

And what did Bill himself think of all this? Then and now? And lastly, can any of you imagine how it would've been had this incident occurred in this modern Internet/YouTube/social media age?

Urban legend has it that many thought it said Rick Face. In my research, Beckett coined this term first in print and did so to refer to the card while keeping it kid friendly.

Bill did it. Here's the story- https://www.cnbc.com/id/28116692 Follow up piece https://www.cnbc.com/id/28159667

From what I've last heard he is still embarrassed by it. With the Ripken legacy, this is not a great thing to have on your resume.

I think if this happened now it would have less of an impact. We are more acclimated to violence, profanity etc. It's a different world. In 1989 I don't think we even locked our doors!

Happy Anniversary FF!

Donovan

originalisbest

Fond memories. I really need to pick one up.

LarkinCollector

By 1991, no one was taking any chances with Billy ...

countdouglas

Delete

CommemKing

I fondly remember, I was around 12 yeas old and every month we had a little card show at the local bowling alley. The cards were just released and there was a show. There was a great rumor that this card existed but nobody around the show had seen one yet. I bought a few packs from a dealer and bam, I hit the FF error right away. Everybody crowded around me in amazement. I was shock, being a young child and all. Later during the show a pushy dealer convinced me to sell it for a little over $20 or so. Wish I wouldn't have. In any event I know own a perfectly centered PSA 10 example. I will always love this card as it was one of my first memories of collecting cards. Maybe Bill was tired of living in the shadows of his father and brother. Who knows. I like it, though.

Estil

@RyansRust said:

I think if this happened now it would have less of an impact. We are more acclimated to violence, profanity etc. It's a different world.

https://youtu.be/I9lVlt5FpYc

RyansRust

And to those unaware, billripken.com is an amazing resource for FF info. Versions, articles and similar cards.

Estil

Why did you change your name/handle on here if you don't mind me asking? And what does it mean?

RyansRust

@Estil said:
Why did you change your name/handle on here if you don't mind me asking? And what does it mean?

I left the hobby as I had to sell my collection and start hustling to pay a unexpected 40+K debt. Once I decided I wanted back in the hobby, seeing the name hurt as it was a reminder of a niche I helped grow to unexpected levels. Not sure if I could change my user name, I made a new account. Unsure if it was this board or another but I was questioned by a mod about two accounts. I could not remember my password to my old one and was fine either way at that point. Never got my old password so here I am.

Ryans Rust was our business name my family and I (really me) came up with. I was buying storage units and doing a lot of picking. Focus was antiques and collectibles. My wife and boys all helped (last name Ryan) The stuff we liked to sell was old and rusty (Rust). Started with $168 and 1.5 years later the debt was cleared and we closed the store to enjoy life again (1.5 years with 0 days off). Worked 60+ hours at my regular job and then this side job. Plus I killed my back. Was hard work but glad my kids saw it happen as it showed them hard work and dedication can have positive results.