A Trip Down Error Memory Lane

I was hunting down a 1990 Topps card on my Griffey want list and I came across another card that actually was the first “Monster” card that I remember hearing about when I returned to the hobby in 1992.

At the time Griffey was young and tearing up the league and both his 1989 Upper Deck #1 and 1990 Leaf #245 were hot but it was an error card of some kid from Auburn that really set the fire on Beckett’s pages.

The card… 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name On Front (or NNO) card. The card was selling for hundreds in the early 1990s but after a Hall of Fame career that included multiple MVP Awards, a .301 lifetime batting average and 521 homeruns the card is selling for big bucks, a BGS 9 sold for nearly $4000 recently. Even raw copies are topping $800 and what surprises me is that the 2010 Topps NNO reprint is selling for $15 and up, more than the corrected base 1990 Topps version which can be picked up for under $5 shipped.

Well Deserved HOF Selections

The three players selected for this year’s Hall of Fame class of Maddux, Glavine and Thomas were essentially locks when they each retired. Maddux and Glavine (along with Smoltz who is eligible next year) led the Braves during their decade of dominance in the 1990s. Between 1991 and 1999 the Braves went to the World Series 5 times, winning once in 1995. It seems fitting that former Braves Manager Bobby Cox will be entering along-side two of the most dominating pitchers of the past 20 years.

When it comes rookie cards though all three are victims of the junk wax era. Frank Thomas had a slight edge because his first cards showed up as the premium card cycle had begun, his 1990 Leaf rookie card (#300) sat at the top of many collector’s lists.

I got back in to collecting in 1992 and I had three cards that were my priority, in order they were: 89 UD Griffey, 90 Leaf Griffey and 90 Leaf Thomas. I remember finally getting my hands on the 1990 Leaf Thomas, I put it in a one-inch thick holder and had it on display. It was a triumph for me, he was pure hitter and while he spent a good portion of his career as a DH he was lighting.

The card of legend though is the 1990 Topps Thomas error missing his name on the front, also known as No Name On Front or NNOF. I remember checking Beckett each month and watching the price on this card just climb hitting well over $1,500. Even now the card still runs around that price for a mid-grade card.

 Congratulations to Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas.