The greatest baseball (or sports) card fads in collecting history

Estil · January 25, 2007 9:39PM

Here's a few to getcha started:

Errors (late 1980s): Remember when everyone went gaga over any card with a mistake? Even to this day, an otherwise ten cent common of John Littlefield is worth over $100 if his 1982 Fleer card shows the reverse negative, for example. And as our resident Bill Ripken FF collector can tell ya, this fad peaked in the late 1980s. Of course, if the error card was never corrected, it pretty much does nothing for the value. And in fact, sometimes the CORRECTED version can be worth more than the error; just ask the corrected 1985 Donruss Tom Seaver, which was only in the factory sets.

Insertmania (early to mid 1990s): It used to be that the biggest thrill in pack busting was finding the top stars of that day or the top rookies of that day (remember when a 1988 Donruss Gregg Jefferies was worth $8?), but that all changed with the 1992 season and with the beginning of insertmania. In that year, the main inserts to collect were the 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensations (especially Frank Thomas) and 1992 Topps Gold, then the next year it was all about the 1993 Finest refractors. I believe insertmania peaked around 1994 or 1995 or so, but then declined once people realized that after the year they come out, they just don't hold their value when they get lost in the shuffle of all the other previous years inserts, which we now have about fifteen years worth.

One-of-ones (late 1990s): Remember when one-of-ones first came out (1997 Flair Showcase) and were considered something really special? At least they would be if the companies had kept it within reason (such as the Ultra Masterpieces). But now there's literally hundreds of "one of ones" every year and it seems like now they've become a joke for the most part. The cards with game used jerseys and such would also fit this fad, since it too started around the same time and went the same route for the same results.

Any other collecting fads that you fondly (or not-so-fondly remember)? A 1986 Donruss Canseco for over $100 and a 1990 Score Bo-Jackson B/W card going for $10 (or more) back in the early 1990s? The 1984 Donruss set when it was worth over $200?

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 9:57PM

I remember Fleer Rookie Sensations being a big thing in both baseball and basketball because they only came in cello packs and there wasnt enough to go around....supposedly.

Estil · January 25, 2007 10:06PM

<< I remember Fleer Rookie Sensations being a big thing in both baseball and basketball because they only came in cello packs and there wasnt enough to go around....supposedly. >>

Oh I forgot to mention I just bought ALL of the 1992 Fleer inserts (except Smoke 'N Heat) for about $50. Not bad when just the Rookie Sensations set alone booked for as much as two C-notes at one time. And the Rookie Sensations is a very beautiful set with the royal blue borders; no wonder it was so popular.

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 10:27PM

Just thought of another...1990 ProSet Football Hologram

Estil · January 25, 2007 10:30PM

<< Just thought of another...1990 ProSet Football Hologram >>

Oh? Tell me more. I don't do football so I don't know anything about that.

megatron · January 25, 2007 10:30PM

Good list. One I will add is how Upper Deck got away from the portrait/action shots of baseball players and portrayed them in another light. The one that comes to mind right now is Nolan Ryan throwing a football. Was that the 1989 Upper Deck set?

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 10:37PM

<< 

<< Just thought of another...1990 ProSet Football Hologram >>

Oh? Tell me more. I don't do football so I don't know anything about that. >>

Couldnt find a pic but I think it was a hologram of the Lombardi Trophy. There was also one in hockey of the Stanley Cup. People were ripping wax like mad to find them...they were selling somewhere in the 100-150 range if I remember correctly.

All the errors in football, especially the Dickerson AS was a big one to find.

Also reminds me of the 1989 Pro Set errors and especially the William Perry which was short printed. I think that one was up around 50 bucks at it's peak.

Estil · January 25, 2007 10:38PM

Yes, that was in the high number set. I should know, since I own the 1989 UD set (and 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993; the 1993 is one of my favorites).

scooter729 · January 25, 2007 10:38PM

<< Good list. One I will add is how Upper Deck got away from the portrait/action shots of baseball players and portrayed them in another light. The one that comes to mind right now is Nolan Ryan throwing a football. Was that the 1989 Upper Deck set? >>

Yep, that was '89 Upper Deck. My bigger favorite was the '84 Fleer with crazy shots, like Glenn Hubbard with a huge snake wrapped around him, Jay Johnstone with the Budweiser umbrella hat, Lee Roy Jackson singing the national anthem, and many others. THOSE were great pictures....

Bosox1976 · January 25, 2007 10:42PM

ProSet Santa Claus Card, Detroit Pistons Championship Card, MJ taking BP in a white sox uni card (before his "retirement"), Nolan Ryan throwing a football...

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 10:46PM

good ones Bosox

tennesseebanker · January 25, 2007 11:00PM

How about the 79 Bump Willis card.

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 11:04PM

<< How about the 79 Bump Willis card. >>

Ahh yes......and the 1985 Donruss Tom Seaver corrected, 1988 Topps Errors espeically the Al Leiter along with all the other errors. Damn, those 80s and 90s errors were something else in the day! Could go on forever with that list...and 1990 Donruss errors were a HUGE craze...the Ryans especially.

Boopotts · January 25, 2007 11:05PM

As far as card fads, the ones I remember are the 'Hot RC or future HOF on the front of the cello/rak' fad, and the promo card fad.

onlyanumber · January 25, 2007 11:13PM

Pro Set Gizmo Williams error.

Pro Line coming out with the autographed cards (one of the first to offer the parallel 'autographed' cards) in '92?

Score coming out with the find the Orr auto chase etc etc...

Estil · January 25, 2007 11:16PM

<< As far as card fads, the ones I remember are the 'Hot RC or future HOF on the front of the cello/rak' fad, and the promo card fad. >>

Umm, actually, the "blue chip cards on top/bottom of packs" isn't exactly a fad; that's still very much going strong.

Estil · January 25, 2007 11:17PM

<< Pro Set Gizmo Williams error.

Pro Line coming out with the autographed cards (one of the first to offer the parallel 'autographed' cards) in '92?

Score coming out with the find the Orr auto chase etc etc... >>

Oh yes, I forgot to mention pulling autograph cards was a HUGE thing back in the first half of the 1990s.

yankeeno7 · January 25, 2007 11:24PM

I think 1991 Score Mantle and DiMaggio inserts and autos...then 1992 Score with the Mantles, Musials, and Yaz's

larryallen73 · January 25, 2007 11:42PM

1981 started a lot of special sets, in addition to adding the companies besides Topps. Thus, I remember quite a surge in sales of stickers (Topps and Fleer), credit cards, scratch-offs, white/gray backs, etc.... They were all HIGHLY sought after that year. Now most are worthless of course.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · January 25, 2007 11:57PM

Alot of good fads already mentioned. Bo B/W, Pro Set Santa, Jefferies. Theres a myspace group called Jefferies for the Hall of Fame or some pity party name like that.

Oh yeah, the Promo card fad. I had a Strawberry "Pre-Rookie".

I remember the UD errors that people made by removing the hologram. I think I actually pulled a real one from a pack.

stown · January 26, 2007 12:39AM

Studio.

/sarcasm

digicat · January 26, 2007 1:28AM

Back during the error craze, I remember the 89 Upper Deck Dale Murphy reverse negative being super hot. It was selling for over $100.

Back in 1990, when Upper Deck ran the "Find the Reggie" promotion, there was a local news spot where a reporter interviewed a kid who pulled a Reggie Jackson auto from a pack, and the dealer the kid bought the pack from.

onlyanumber · January 26, 2007 1:34AM

Anyone remember the Manon Rheaume craze with Classic? Middle Aged men just had to have a card of a woman goalie...

yankeeno7 · January 26, 2007 1:48AM

<< Anyone remember the Manon Rheaume craze with Classic? Middle Aged men just had to have a card of a woman goalie... >>

I grew up not far from her (on the State side of the border) and she did a couple of autographed shows in the area during her popularity. In person, she was even better looking than on the cards! But she had kind of a deep voice that didnt match her looks. She was an extremely friendly person and always smiled at the shows. If you are the kind of guy who likes his woman a jock, she was perfect!

onlyanumber · January 26, 2007 1:58AM

Here's another one for ya

SI for kids.

Tiger went for big money once...

tkd7 · January 26, 2007 2:11AM

Eric Lindros in the Score Baseball Set.

San Diego Chicken Cards.

Rocket Ismail CFL cards after he snubbed the NFL.

Topps Big Baseball - A set of cards with stock the size of '52 to '56 Topps cards

Topps unnumbered team checklist cards from '74

Topps "traded" cards inserted later in '74 and '76 packs

Bo Jackson with no shirt, shoulder pads, and a bat over his shoulders card in Score Baseball

Upper Deck holograms

basestealer · January 26, 2007 2:51AM

What about eTopps?

67standup · January 26, 2007 3:08AM

Bump Wills...good one. Also, the coveted '74 Topps Alou with/without position card.

gosteelers · January 26, 2007 3:10AM

Did anyone mention those tacky player phone cards? Around '93-'94 or so...

Courvoisier · January 26, 2007 3:20AM

Playaz, don't forget about printing plates. First they were high dollar, now you get them cheap.

Pimp On....

MajorDanby · January 26, 2007 3:30AM

parallel cards were big....and still are. I thought they would die after it's run in the early to mid 90's with the Topps gold, but it's still alive and well today.

yankeeno7 · January 26, 2007 7:59AM

Ahhhh yes...the 1992 Topps Gold Brien Taylor! Autographed and all!

RipublicaninMass · January 26, 2007 8:09AM

Just "so happened" to highly touted Rookie sensations Ben Mcdonald and Gary Sheffield had errors

RedHeart54 · January 26, 2007 8:22AM

<< Anyone remember the Manon Rheaume craze with Classic? Middle Aged men just had to have a card of a woman goalie... >>

Middle aged men and horny 16 year olds like me.

I collected about every item I could find of her. Still have the collection.

RedHeart54 · January 26, 2007 8:24AM

Oh yeah, remember POGS?

RipublicaninMass · January 26, 2007 8:27AM

<< Oh yeah, remember POGS? >>

Remember Alf Bart?

TheVon · January 26, 2007 8:37AM

<< 

<< Oh yeah, remember POGS? >>

Remember Alf Bart? >>

I don't remember Alf Bart, but I do remember Bart Simpson cards . . . especially "Bart Knows Bo" spoofs of Bo Jackson cards.

RipublicaninMass · January 26, 2007 8:41AM

I got a couple unlicensed "Bart Know Iraq" cards from 1991 Bart giving the finger hehehe

stown · January 26, 2007 8:47AM

You forgot to add the comma, makes more sense. "You remember Alf, Bart? He's back. In pog form."

gregmo32 · January 26, 2007 8:54AM

How about 1977 Topps Star Wars #207 , also known as C3PO with a giant erection...
If you sports guys haven't seen it , it is hilarious!

stown · January 26, 2007 9:00AM

<< How about 1977 Topps Star Wars #207 , also known as C3PO with a giant erection...
If you sports guys haven't seen it , it is hilarious! >>

There's one on ebay now. No chance I'm linking that auction

MajorDanby · January 26, 2007 9:01AM

POGS! Classic. I remember the idiot middle schoolers collecting those. They always tried to steal the half dozen i had. Punks are probably homeless now.

Onlypsahockey · January 26, 2007 9:07AM

didn't beany babies do sports pieces too. I seem to remember beany babies with bats but can't recall the players.

Tins and coins from Pinnacle too!

Bob C.

SDSportsFan · January 26, 2007 11:25AM

1991 Upper Deck French Hockey!

Steve

themetalsign · January 26, 2007 1:11PM

1990 Donruss Juan Gonzalez rated rookie Reverse Negative. I'm gonna retire on that card some day (lol). I still have it on a rack pack.

Dave D.

Stone193 · January 26, 2007 1:27PM

Phone cards.

I remember going to a show in 1993 - and a lady had an entire table of them!

Classic Club gave me some I believe.

mike

cohocorp · January 26, 2007 1:28PM

1984 donruss cards missing the number on the back. the 1983 donruss color variations.

Boopotts · January 26, 2007 1:36PM

<< 1991 Upper Deck French Hockey!

Steve >>

This one may win the prize. There may be something else out there (another set, not a single) which has lost more value than this one, but I can't think of it offhand.

hotmush · January 27, 2007 12:12AM

How about cards released corellary to a game or something?
I'm thinking Starting Line up Cards and Classic Game cards.
Those Yellow Travel Update cards were going for big bucks (and were hard to find) when I was collecting in 87 88. Heck, even those original Green Classic game cards. I have the box game somewhere. But you hardly ever see those up for auction or graded. No body bothers.

jfkheat · January 27, 2007 1:50AM

Shaq rookies from 92-93. Those things were crazy for a little while. I remember the Stadium Club Beam Team card was selling for $300. You can probably get one now for $10 or less.
James

Stone193 · January 27, 2007 2:37AM

Some things that were chased had a certain "mania" to it - I wouldn't necessarily classify as a fad but drew immense attention - the "fad" element part comes under the general category of Insert Mania IMO.

At the National in 92 - I saw kids ripping packs of 92F cellos and leaving them on the floor when they didn't pull a rookie sensation!

Some of my top "fads" - tho ephemeral - that sparked "rip mania"

1992UD Homerun Heroes - this set was once going for 50$!!

Very popular - also - were the Score Franchise inserts and the specially marked "Heroes Highlights" boxes in 1992 with UD.

Since UD had specially marked insert boxes AND one could only get the Homerun Heroes in the "Jumbo" packs - UD could run the presses out of control in 1992! There's still of ton of unopened product!!!

mike

The greatest baseball (or sports) card fads in collecting history

Comments