Everyone knows the 89 Fleer B.Ripken & R.Johnson censorship variations; could Don Gordon (#405)

Estil

Okay everyone knows the story of the infamous 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken card where some "f-face" cards were released and Fleer made several attempts to censor it. Several years later the Randy Johnson "censorship variations" were discovered where Fleer made several attempts to censor the Marlboro ad behind him.

Well I was looking through my Fleer sets not too long ago and I noticed something quite curious on card #405, Don Gordon:



Notice that solid gray box between his ear and the video screen? Now my copy came from a factory set so obviously mine has the gray box too (I had to buy the Bill Ripken f-face card separately; I just thought it made the set more interesting). Still, could it be that there are some uncensored versions of Don Gordon floating around and no one even noticed even after nearly 25 years? As for what it'd be censoring (if it is indeed an added gray rectangle covering up something) my best guess would be an ad for cigs or booze.

So those you who have some spare 1989 Fleer lots hiding around somewhere; could there in fact be a hidden treasure inside one of yours? Does this hidden treasure even exist at all? And are there any other errors/variations that weren't even discovered until several years after the fact?

mygotta

I would be surprised it was not discovered had there been one. If anything, it was already blocked, or the screen did not get picked up on the camera.

jacksoncoupage

Whether a pre-boxed variation was released or not, it's clearly been edited. Great find! Since there are a few 1989 Fleer variations in which only 1 or 2 copies have surfaced (clear Marlboro and Checklists w/ Positions for example), I would not be surprised if an unedited copy was out there.

esquiresports

I'll have to check my set that is in a binder when I get home. What a great catch. It would be very cool if you discovered a variation. Not many people can (properly) claim that.

jacksoncoupage

For those intending to check their Don Gordon cards, also check out card #513 Mike Woodard.

All the copies I have viewed (since 2004) show a different font for his bio info. This sharper/thinner font is also used on the corrected versions of other 1989 Fleer players with bio errors...Neil Allen, Danny Heep, etc. There may be a rarer, early version of Woodard's card that uses the "normal" font.

zurbs17

Checked my factory set and the card looks exact same as the one you posted here.

Estil

<< <i>Checked my factory set and the card looks exact same as the one you posted here. >>



Of course it does. All factory set cards will have the completely blocked/censored version for Billy, Randy, and possibly Don. It's the cards from the packs that we'd look for.

Estil

<< <i>For those intending to check their Don Gordon cards, also check out card #513 Mike Woodard.

All the copies I have viewed (since 2004) show a different font for his bio info. This sharper/thinner font is also used on the corrected versions of other 1989 Fleer players with bio errors...Neil Allen, Danny Heep, etc. There may be a rarer, early version of Woodard's card that uses the "normal" font. >>



Possibly so but my point is that the 1989 Fleer set already has two cards with censorship variations (I think that should be the proper term as the traditional "Bill Ripken Error" name isn't exactly an error in the sense of incorrect info or a typo) and I'm trying to see if there may be a third one.

Black00SS

If I remember correctly, there was a marlboro sign there at the old stadium. Might be mistaken.

digicat

What stadium is Don Gordon standing in?

Estil

<< <i>What stadium is Don Gordon standing in? >>



That's what I'd like to know. That'd help solve part of the mystery anyway.

mygotta

I am sure I threw away this card without hesitation. Now I will have to stop and look....

zurbs17

Forgive me for not knowing that. You did not mention to only check non factory set versions of the card.

Big27

Anaheim Stadium - looks like the space between electronic screen to the right was just left blank.

From Jerry Reuss' Flickr...pictures from the same period...

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4030/4582097794_2b361e006d_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4581467407_f5ff527d42.jpg

sportscardtheory

Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything to see here. Probably just a mirage.

Estil

<< <i>Forgive me for not knowing that. You did not mention to only check non factory set versions of the card. >>



Actually I did. Or at least I tried to...

" Now my copy came from a factory set so obviously mine has the gray box too (I had to buy the Bill Ripken f-face card separately; I just thought it made the set more interesting)."

I guess I figured it was self-evident that the factory set cards (which are always made after the pack cards right?) would only the full censored versions. Sorry I wasn't more clear about that.

Estil

<< <i>Anaheim Stadium - looks like the space between electronic screen to the right was just left blank.

From Jerry Reuss' Flickr...pictures from the same period...

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4030/4582097794_2b361e006d_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4581467407_f5ff527d42.jpg >>



I think you may have solved the puzzle (especially if we can see the four little lights over it on the card like in the pictures).

I was holding out hope maybe I discovered a long lost card variation (like every amateur astronomer dreams of discovering a new comet/asteroid/Vulcans/etc), but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

sportscardtheory

Never stop gazing!

Hank36

The 1985 Mother's Cookies Padres set had a couple of cards that very obviously censored a billboard at Jack Murphy Stadium.

http://www.tradingcarddb.com/Gallery.cfm/sid/8570/1985-Mother's-Cookies-San-Diego-Padres?PageIndex=3

The billboard was apparently a Marlboro ad

http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/101/cid/47544/1985-Fleer-44-Eric-Show