Nolan Ryan rookie card question

sjeanblanc · June 1, 2004 6:15AM

Hi,

I have never heard of this before but a collector that I know came into this card that I never knew existed.

He has a 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan Blank Front card.

My question is, is it real?

If so what would it book for?

Scott Jeanblanc
jeanblanc@iconnect.net
Ebay UserId : sjeanblanc
---------------------------------------------
Collecting Nolan Ryan cards (68-94)

CON40 · June 1, 2004 6:26AM

Scott;

Wow! That's a new one on me... but since it is a production/printing error most likely, it may be uncatalogued (kinda like the 1941 Play Ball and 1976 Topps wrongbacks). The only 68 Ryan rookies that are catalogued are Topps, OPC, Topps Venezuelan, and Topps Milton Bradley (betcha didn't know about that one!!).

sjeanblanc · June 1, 2004 6:38AM

Never heard of the Topps Milton Bradley Ryan? Have any info to share on it Keith, is it another 74 Deckle Edge scenario?

Scott Jeanblanc
jeanblanc@iconnect.net
Ebay UserId : sjeanblanc
-----------------------------------------
Collecting Nolan Ryan cards (68-94)

CON40 · June 1, 2004 6:52AM

Scott;

This is why I'm the Don!! LOL!

If the 68 MB were only as "common" as the 74 Deckle! Back in 1968 Topps had a venture with Milton Bradley to release the "Win A Card" game. It came with stacks of Topps cards -- at least baseball and football cards. It has been confirmed that the Ryan rookie was included in this game. The cards are identical to the Topps release with the exception of the trademark on the back. It was different from the regular Topps card. Trouble is, no one seems to know the difference in the trademark and no confirmed copies have surfaced yet. The set is extremely rare and virtually no information about it exists today. But if you found one (someone may sell one thinking its the Topps version), the price would have to be many multiples of the Topps price. By most accounts, it is likely rarer than the Venezuelan.

There is also a 1970 Topps Cloth sticker of Ryan as well (card #197). Only one copy has ever been seen and no one knows where it is today!

Just a couple more things to keep us searching for the next decade!

Bighurt4 · June 1, 2004 6:57AM

Now I know where to come for my X Files fix. I always suspected something was up at Topps. Great info Scott and Keith, I have yet another thing to keep my eyes on. BTW Scott, the Ryan in the refractor set is listed as o/c.

Brent

Bighurt4 · June 1, 2004 6:58AM

I forgot to mention, my 91 UD Ryan Heroes auto shipped today for authenticating and grading, wish me luck.
Brent

jackstraw · June 1, 2004 8:22AM

i know my friend has a ryan rookie that he found in a game box of some sort. i remember him telling me this. i would like some more info on the way to tell the difference and what kind of price tag is on such a creature?

pandrews · June 1, 2004 8:30AM

<< <i>Scott;

This is why I'm the Don!! LOL!

If the 68 MB were only as "common" as the 74 Deckle! Back in 1968 Topps had a venture with Milton Bradley to release the "Win A Card" game. It came with stacks of Topps cards -- at least baseball and football cards. It has been confirmed that the Ryan rookie was included in this game. The cards are identical to the Topps release with the exception of the trademark on the back. It was different from the regular Topps card. Trouble is, no one seems to know the difference in the trademark and no confirmed copies have surfaced yet. The set is extremely rare and virtually no information about it exists today. But if you found one (someone may sell one thinking its the Topps version), the price would have to be many multiples of the Topps price. By most accounts, it is likely rarer than the Venezuelan.
>>

i saw one on ebay a few weeks ago.. i didnt know anything about it, and i swear i think the description said it had never been open.. i'm sure it was the same game you're talking about, because i remember the description claimed it came with actual Topps Baseball cards (but i remember thinking it sounded as if they were regular issue topps cards, and you wouldnt know which ones you would get).. i didnt follow the auction, so I dont know how it ended up or anything.. wish I wouldve paid closer attention..

perry

67standup · June 1, 2004 8:52AM

<< <i>
i saw one on ebay a few weeks ago.. i didnt know anything about it, and i swear i think the description said it had never been open.. i'm sure it was the same game you're talking about, because i remember the description claimed it came with actual Topps Baseball cards (but i remember thinking it sounded as if they were regular issue topps cards, and you wouldnt know which ones you would get).. i didnt follow the auction, so I dont know how it ended up or anything.. wish I wouldve paid closer attention..

perry >>

I was thinking the same thing, was that a Milton Bradley Ryan?

Also, why did this 68 uncut sheet with Ryan go for only $50.95, besides the fact that the seller has a 89.% feedback?

1968 Ryan uncut

goodriddance189 · June 1, 2004 8:59AM

might have something to do with the "UNIQUE NOLAN RYAN "ROOKIE CARD" PROOF 1 OF 1000 REPRINT SHEET" tagline on the top of the sheet

CON40 · June 1, 2004 9:08AM

Some reprint! That looks exactly like an uncut press proof sheet that Topps auctioned a few years ago. They both have a blank checklist card on the extreme right side. My guess... this is a pirated reprint from that press sheet. I bet it is completely unauthorized by any manufacturer.

Back to the MB game... I did see that auction as it was relisted a time or two. Trouble is, it's a lot of cake and no guarantee on a Ryan and with the cards all rubber-banded, you know it will have bad corners, bent edges, and warping.

I do not know what the difference in the trademark is that makes the MB version unique. But, I bet if you looked at enough copies, eventually you'd come across the MB version somewhere. The game was probably available nationally, so there may be a decent number of them out there to be found.

67standup · June 1, 2004 9:08AM

<< <i>might have something to do with the "UNIQUE NOLAN RYAN "ROOKIE CARD" PROOF 1 OF 1000 REPRINT SHEET" tagline on the top of the sheet >>

I'm that kind of seller's dream come true: a buyer who doesn't read.

67standup · June 1, 2004 9:16AM

Is the 1968 Milton Bradley set listed in the Standard Card Catalog, I'm not at home right now so I can't check?

Bighurt4 · June 1, 2004 9:39AM

This info is from www.oldbaseball.com.

"1968 Milton Bradley (Unknown)

WG-UNC

Topps and Milton Bradley joined forces to produce something called the Win A Card Game using baseball cards as part of the game. Football and Non Sports cards were also used and it is said that the key to identifying the Milton Bradley version of the baseball cards is in the copyright line on the back of the cards. I've never been able to figure out what the difference is, but there are reports that one of the baseball cards is the Nolan Ryan rookie. Either 22 or 44 baseball cards were issued in the game, but nobody can say conclusively which figure is correct."

Old Baseball

Brent

sjeanblanc · June 1, 2004 1:07PM

Thanks for the info on the MB Ryan, Keith and Brent.

I really want this 68 Topps Ryan blank front, but I need to come up with a book value reference, otherwise I might have to take a 2nd mortgage on the house to pry the card away from him, which I might have to do anyways if its as rare as I think it might be.

How would one even confirm the existance of something like this?

Scott Jeanblanc
jeanblanc@iconnect.net
Ebay UserId : sjeanblanc
------------------------------------------------------------
Collecting Nolan Ryan cards (68-94)

CON40 · June 1, 2004 1:21PM

Scott;

Whew... that's a tough call. Being a blank front, the value would not be all that high I'd assume because the eye appeal is just not there (literally!). You'd be paying strictly for rarity. If you paid more than double book, I'd be nervous.

On the other hand, is there any source out there you can confirm? My best source for odd Ryan stuff is the old Nolan News. It mentions blank back proofs that exist back to 1971. Nothing earlier and nothing with a blank front. It also mentions that there are proofs that are not authentic but does not specify a year or particular card. But, it seems you have an error, not a proof so most logic goes out the window.

The only other blank front card I recall on eBay was a 41 Play Ball DiMaggio. The guy had a whacky opening bid and I don't think he got any takers. My gut tells me that there is not much demand for a card lacking a picture regardless how rare. Personally, I wouldn't go over $1K, but I think I may be more conservative than you.

Please let us know how you make out negotiating. Sorry I couldn't find more facts from my resources.

peterredshoes · June 1, 2004 2:14PM

Mmmmm...misprints. I love these.

Does PSA authenticate blank front/blank back type cards? I've had a Molitor/Trammell blank back rookie for a while (not the one that came from the ToppsVault a few months ago) and always wondered whether there was a way to verify that it was legit. On the one hand, I'm not super worried that counterfeiters would bother with this issue despite its popularity (it's no Ryan rookie, certainly); on the other hand, it would certainly be cool to have a trusted source backing it.

I imagine there are some difficulties in verifying the authenticity of factory errors. Anyone have any insight on that?

Thanks,

Peter G.

Nolan Ryan rookie card question

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