Sunday 18 July 2010

Mystery card.



This is a 1989 Topps Gary Sheffield rookie card and its a mystery to me.
As you can see from the picture, the card has been signed and hand numbered out of 1989 but the mystery is where did it come from? I don't mean where did I get it from because I remember when I got the card but at the time didn't notice that it was signed. I probably just saw it was a 1989 Topps and since I already had the full set didn't give it a second look. The card was pulled out of a pack I picked up at Walmart back in 98 or 99. It came in a pack of about 100 or so cards from mixed brands and years, I think it was about $2 and it the time I was going for quantity rather than quality. Back last year when I got back into collecting I came across this card sat in my common box and was about to throw it away because I thought someone had written over it. But then I thought why would it be hand numbered? and the auto looks pretty good to me too, a bit faded but still looks good.
The question I want answering is what product could this have come from? As I have said I picked this up in the late 90's around the time when autos were not commonly inserted into packs. I have done all the usual Internet searches for information but have come up with nothing. I did post the same question months back at SCF and got some good responses but nothing concrete. The general consensus was that it was either a fake ( probably, but until I know for sure I will consider it genuine), a buyback and inserted into a Topps product ( No evidence to support this as there would be information in Beckett) or possibly it came from a shopping channel ( This is probably the most realistic of the answers I was given, but still there would/should be information on this).
What do you guys think? Have any of you come across a similar card? If this is genuine then there are another 1988 of these cards out there. Any information on this card would be greatly appreciated and if anyone comes up with a definite answer they shall be rewarded.

9 comments:

  1. I have a card similar to your, but it's a Jerry Rice. I say similar, because it's also autographed and numbered... but that's it. No COA, sticker or stamp. I remember receiving it at a local card shop that had Jerry sign cards. They hand numbered it just like yours on the front.

    So... maybe this is a similar situation where Gary signed a bunch for a shop or for a show and they hand numbered them. Just a guess... since I've never seen these before.

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  2. Sounds like that could be it. Although as there are nearly 2000 of these cards floating about its unusal that no one has seen another. What with the Sheffield super collectors and the amount of grading that are done nowadays you would have thought one would have surfaced somewhere.

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  3. I think it may be some promotion Topps had. I remember the Ken Griffey Jr. RC that was numbered and autographed. They inserted it in the UD set last year.

    That's definitely an interesting card. But congrats on finding it!

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  4. Not sure if this was an insert due to the time frame (mid to late 90's) and if it was then it would have more information behind it such as a listing in beckett or an appearence on a checklist. But your right it is an interesting card, thanks!

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  5. I think that you may be right! This sounds like the best answer that I have had so far. I'll post this again in a few weeks to see if I got anything else on it.
    Thanks

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  6. The Chop Keeper said...
    I bought a John Smoltz autographed/hand numbered to 1989 off of QVC around 1992. My guess is it could be from that? It came from a sports memorabilia outfit, and the name escapes me-they were one of the larger ones in the early ninety's, if I'm not mistaken. Was it something like Cherry Hill?
    19 July 2010

    Score.
    Cherry Hill NJ
    This is a score card.

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  7. Looks like the mystery has been solved. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Look out for a post about this soon.

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  8. Almost positive this is one of those Shot At Home/QVC/Home Shopping Network specials that were offered by Ken Goldin and his Classic company.

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  9. @cardboard icons - seems to be the same company. Just did a search for Ken Goldin and it directed me to Ken Goldin and it directs me to The score board inc of Cherry Hill NJ. So classic must be an offshoot part of the company. Thanks for the extra info. Where were you guys when I posted it on SCF? I could have used your help then! Guess I should have started blogging back then.

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