Question About Late 80's Tea Discs
ajw
Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭
Does anyone know much about the 1988 and 1989 Tea discs? Beckett.com's checklist lists the following Will Clark discs:
1988 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1988 Tetley Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1988 Our Own Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1989 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #4
1989 Our Own Tea Discs Will Clark #4
1989 Tetley Tea Discs Will Clark #4
I'm trying to determine if these are truly different discs, or if Beckett just listed the same disc three times for each year. I know the disc sets from the 1970s had many versions, so it is possible these are all different cards. Does anyone know?
To add to the confusion, Beckett lists only this disc for 1990:
1990 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #1
So, it seems that either two brands stopped issuing cards or that Beckett.com lists the single disc a single time.
I've run many searches on eBay trying to find different versions of the 1988 and 1989 discs, but have had no luck. (I tried with many players, not just Will Clark).
Any information about these oddball issues would be greatly appreciated.
AJW.
1988 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1988 Tetley Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1988 Our Own Tea Discs Will Clark #10
1989 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #4
1989 Our Own Tea Discs Will Clark #4
1989 Tetley Tea Discs Will Clark #4
I'm trying to determine if these are truly different discs, or if Beckett just listed the same disc three times for each year. I know the disc sets from the 1970s had many versions, so it is possible these are all different cards. Does anyone know?
To add to the confusion, Beckett lists only this disc for 1990:
1990 MSA Iced Tea Discs Will Clark #1
So, it seems that either two brands stopped issuing cards or that Beckett.com lists the single disc a single time.
I've run many searches on eBay trying to find different versions of the 1988 and 1989 discs, but have had no luck. (I tried with many players, not just Will Clark).
Any information about these oddball issues would be greatly appreciated.
AJW.
0
Comments
I can only speak for Mike Schmidt, since he is my object of collecting expertise.
In terms of 1988 Tea Discs, the following were available for Mike Schmidt:
1988 Super Stars Disc
1988 Tetley Disc
1988 Our Own Tea Disc
I think the Fantastic's Sam and King's-B were both something different than tea discs, but they are Schmidt's "other" 1988 disc cards.
If I had to guess, I would tend to say that the MSA Iced Tea disc might be the same as the "Super Stars" disc - but that is just a guess on my part.
And, oh year, Good Luck trying to find a 1988 Tetley Tea Disc. I have seen exactly two copies of the Mike Schmidt Tetley disc in over seven years of looking. All of the Tetley issues are rare and hard to find, but the 1988 Tetley issue is extra ordinarily difficult to track down.
Do you know anything about the Tetley Tea discs and why they're so rare? Were they a test issue?
Also, can you share scans of your Mike Schmidt scans for a reference point?
Thanks again,
Drew
<< <i>Do you know anything about the Tetley Tea discs and why they're so rare? Were they a test issue?
>>
Not a test issue - but MSA was making these for a bunch of people - and I think that Tetley was just one of the smaller, more regionally-based outfits. That said, I've seen less than a half dozen of the Super Stars Schmidt discs in the same time period. I've seen a few more of the Our Own Tea discs - but I stopped looking for [more] of those after I got my PSA 10-
Tetley
Super Stars
Our Own
Is that right?
I just picked up a 1988 Our Own disc in fairly rough shape...but I only paid a quarter. The same dealer had a 1989 Super Stars disc for $4. Both Will Clarks, of course. I think I've found my latest mission...thanks a bunch for the info. I'll post scans once I get around to it. (I got over 100 Will Clarks in the mail yesterday, so I've got some work to do with them...but it's good work!)
<< <i>This is a great help. Thanks. Just so I understand, it sounds like you'd rank them like this (in order of difficulty, with the most difficult at the top)
Tetley
Super Stars
Our Own
Is that right? >>
Right.
p.s. The Tetley discs are so rare [in my opinion], but no one really knows about them - so the Schmidt I found and posted here [which was subsequently graded 9 MINT], was actually in a "Schmidt oddball" lot. When you run upon one, do not expect the seller to realize the rarity of the disc.
~ms
<< <i>One more question...do you know anything about the Key Food discs? There are Will Clarks in the 1988 and 1989 sets, but I can't find much info. >>
Sorry - my Key Food Disc knowledge is limited to 1987
<< <i>AJW:
I can only speak for Mike Schmidt, since he is my object of collecting expertise.
In terms of 1988 Tea Discs, the following were available for Mike Schmidt:
1988 Super Stars Disc
1988 Tetley Disc
1988 Our Own Tea Disc
I think the Fantastic's Sam and King's-B were both something different than tea discs, but they are Schmidt's "other" 1988 disc cards.
If I had to guess, I would tend to say that the MSA Iced Tea disc might be the same as the "Super Stars" disc - but that is just a guess on my part.
And, oh year, Good Luck trying to find a 1988 Tetley Tea Disc. I have seen exactly two copies of the Mike Schmidt Tetley disc in over seven years of looking. All of the Tetley issues are rare and hard to find, but the 1988 Tetley issue is extra ordinarily difficult to track down. >>
There are also the Weis Winner's discs, which I believe spring from the same family.
<< <i>Were the Tetleys in the powdered drink mix, or were they included with tea bags? I have a bunch of stuff I havent looked at since the early 90s (Purinas, Quaker Oats, Jiffy Pop, all discs and food product cards) and was curious if I would have any mixed in with them... >>
I think it was with the powdered drink mix
The first is 1989 and the second is 1990. Interestingly, Beckett doesn't list Will Clark as being in the 1990 Tetley Tea set. Does anyone know if the set was issued or who's on the checklist?
The more I learn about these discs, the more interesting they become. The Weis Market and Key Food discs only add to the confusion. I've found examples of both from 1987, but not 1988. I'm sure there are some collectors out there that really understand these issues and their history. I'd love one of them to write an article filling the rest of us in...
Drew
<< <i>
<< <i>Were the Tetleys in the powdered drink mix, or were they included with tea bags? I have a bunch of stuff I havent looked at since the early 90s (Purinas, Quaker Oats, Jiffy Pop, all discs and food product cards) and was curious if I would have any mixed in with them... >>
I think it was with the powdered drink mix >>
I'll have to check the WAY back of the closet in all those "junk" monster boxes. During that time frame, I was force feeding my kids Cookie Crisp cereal, Kraft macaroni and cheese, Quaker chewy granola bars, Jiffy pop popcorn, Lipton instant ice tea, Tetley instant ice tea and anything that had a card inside or a mail in offer for a set. My kids are just glad they werent born in the 50's or I would have made them eat Red Heart dog food...
<< <i>The more I learn about these discs, the more interesting they become. The Weis Market and Key Food discs only add to the confusion. I've found examples of both from 1987, but not 1988. I'm sure there are some collectors out there that really understand these issues and their history. I'd love one of them to write an article filling the rest of us in...
Drew >>
Drew:
The squares are likely cut from a sheet or something of the sort. Nonetheless, they are neat. Whether or not they are legitimate proofs is a different issue.
Weis Market and Key Food I believe were only available in 1987. I have never heard/seen any 1988 versions of such.
The resident experts on rare/oddball/esoteric issues are Bobbscards and Bishop - but I'm not clear if either of them has ventured too hard/far into the tea disc sets [especially since none of them are listed as being particularly rarer]. Bob is spending his time looking for Dice Game cards and Bishop is looking for the 1991 Topps contest inserts - but I would love to know if either of them knew anything about these issues.
You might consider checking the Beckett marketplace. Sometimes this weird stuff shows up there
1988 Our Own Tea
1989 Super Stars
I'm guessing that the 1988 was issued in a panel of two cards, probably glued or otherwise adhered on the right side of the Will Clark panel. This must be a *very* difficult disc to find in high grade.
<< <i>I'm guessing that the 1988 was issued in a panel of two cards, probably glued or otherwise adhered on the right side of the Will Clark panel. This must be a *very* difficult disc to find in high grade. >>
I think it is actually panels of three. Two cards, with an advertising panel in the middle. If Clark is the middle card [e.g. inside, not visible from the panel form], you are kind of screwed in the grading. You might be able to separate with less damage by soaking or steaming if you find a whole panel that has not been separated.
For reference, here are some of my 1988 Discs:
<< <i>
The resident experts on rare/oddball/esoteric issues are Bobbscards and Bishop - but I'm not clear if either of them has ventured too hard/far into the tea disc sets [especially since none of them are listed as being particularly rarer]. Bob is spending his time looking for Dice Game cards and Bishop is looking for the 1991 Topps contest inserts - but I would love to know if either of them knew anything about these issues.
>>
Mike, I've been meaning to ask you about this post. What exactly area "1991 Topps contest inserts"? I've never heard of them. I'd love to hear more, especially if you have a scan, link or checklist.
Wasn't King-B dog food?
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
I bought the above and the square-cut Kirby below within the past year:
<edited to re-create images due to them being moved to another folder in PhotoBucket>
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<< <i>Wasn't King-B dog food?
Nick >>
King-B was a beef-jerky product that tasted like, well, okay, dog food...
...baseball...
...and football:
Hoof that is one of my favorite Griffey King Bee's but for some reason the 91 has been tough on me?
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<< <i>Mike, I've been meaning to ask you about this post. What exactly area "1991 Topps contest inserts"? I've never heard of them. I'd love to hear more, especially if you have a scan, link or checklist. >>
I think there is someone on these boards [Bishop] who is collecting the different variations of the contest insert that was included in every pack of 1991 Topps. There were something like 264 different contest cards, differentiated solely by the number on the card.
<< <i>I think there is someone on these boards [Bishop] who is collecting the different variations of the contest insert that was included in every pack of 1991 Topps. There were something like 264 different contest cards, differentiated solely by the number on the card. >>
Seriously? So he's buying cases of 1991 Topps cards for the *inserts*? That's either the most brilliant or most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Either way, I'd love to hear more.
Bishop?
Drew
<< <i>
<< <i>I think there is someone on these boards [Bishop] who is collecting the different variations of the contest insert that was included in every pack of 1991 Topps. There were something like 264 different contest cards, differentiated solely by the number on the card. >>
Seriously? So he's buying cases of 1991 Topps cards for the *inserts*? That's either the most brilliant or most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Either way, I'd love to hear more.
Bishop?
Drew >>
Drew: I don't think Al [Bishop] is necessarily reading this thread - you can try PM'ing him, though. But I don't think he is buying cases of 1991 Topps product. He's simply putting together a set of cards [like anyone else], and has a handful still on his wantlist of the 264 or so of the 1991 Topps Contest cards that were produced.
Bishop has a very advanced collection of some of the rare and esoteric issues put forth by Topps over the years.
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
After receiving it, I noticed that my Super Stars disc from the same year is clearly hand cut. I'm guessing it's from an uncut square, similar to the examples above. I have no idea where or when I picked that one up, but I'm not real happy with the discovery. Well, maybe it was trimmed from a disc to clean up the common edge problems. Either way, it sucks. Here's that one, as well:
Just pulled up this old thread and got a kick out of it. I love the resources and shared information on this board.
Additionally, I'm hoping to have another scan to add to the thread soon...
So close, and yet so far. These 1987 Key Food discs, but Will Clark was only in the 1988 and 1989 sets.
Here are some examples of the 1989 Will Clark discs:
And some from 1990. (The SuperStars disc is clearly hand cut.)
And finally, my lone disc from 1988.
I'm very interested in picking up the other Will Clark variations. Let me know if you have some. I'm also interested in the discs generally, including distribution, perceived rarity and anything else you might now.
Here are my 1988s.
Tough little bugger, this one...
For whatever reason, my girlfriend was drawn to this card, and she clearly wants to "pooferate" it, as she says.
I've also updated a few of the posts above to show my full collection of discs, panels and squares. I'm still missing a few, but I'm getting close!
-Michael
Always buying Bobby Cox inserts. PM me.
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The 1987 issue was widespread including offers for complete sets and uncut sheets
Including
Baseball Superstars
Weis Winners
Key Food
Our Own Tea
also all in uncut square form
1988 issue Our Own Tea/Baseball Superstars were the major issues
Other stores in Midwest? did a small run (Weis Market- Winners/Key Food)
And Tetley Tea did a small run.
Some can be found in square Our Own Tea/ baseball superstar for sure
1989 issue Baseball Superstars was the main grocery issue
Tetley was a pretty heavy run as well
Our Own Tea/ Key Food / Weis Winners all very limited issues
Baseball Superstar and Tetley in square run for sure
I am still looking for the
1988 Key Food
1989 Our Own Tea
1989 Weis Winners
Dale Murphy's if anyone has one it would make my year.
I have some extras if anyone is looking for a specific disc
Hope This Helps, Michael
I actually have another panel incoming, so I'll be updating my scans in a week or two. I still find these discs to be some of the most challenging cards to track down, and I get really excited when I even see one I don't have. Interestingly, I've alerted other player collectors when I see their discs, and they sometimes say "yeah, but they only book for $.50, and I don't want to pay $3 shipping." For stuff like this, you can throw the book out the window if you have a couple of people that know how tough they are...
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Steve
<< <i>Don't think I ever added one of mine to this thread:
>>
Tunahead, how did you manage to get that without any paper loss on the Ripken disc? It's in fantastic shape for the issue...