The toughest modern cards you're still looking for...

Originally Posted by rgpete

The last known count of Garvey's are 2 silver and 1 bronze. I could be wrong, don't know if any surfaced in the past 2 years

Full Picture

[t206blogcom]

2013 Topps Heritage Bryce Harper - Washington Senators throwback uniform.

[smrtn240]

this one is a toughie..

[ALR-bishop]

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Mauer 2002 topps chrome black ref

And any of his 2002 206 toughies


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[HOF Auto Rookies]

I got an Alex Gordon cut out that's autographed


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[brob28]

How about the Frank Thomas NNOF error? Seems they don't come up often and go for a strong price. Counterfeits are everywhere.

[4reals]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I gave a gold Jackson I had to a friend.

Al, I'd like to think we're friends, whenever you want to send Garvey this way I'm open arms.

[ALR-bishop]

Bill--to which Thomas were your referring ?

[nebboy]

The Alex Gordon foil only card has a TON of fakes out there. Your is a good one.

[brob28]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Bill--to which Thomas were your referring ?

Now that on IS rare Al. All you need is to insert a swatch of Frank's underwear and you could sell it as a Topps Heritage "Piece of the Game" Card...

[heavy_hitter]

Any of the 2010 UD Exquisite patches out of 2010 UD Series 1 baseball are tough to find. The baseballcardpedia checklist for the set still is not complete.

[tmoore_25]

2006 Allen & Ginter Postcards of Barry Bonds and Gary Carter. I've searched for quite some time with no luck.

[DaClyde]

The Standard Catalog claims Dave Winfield has a disc in the 1986 Sportflics Jumbo Disc set, but I've never seen one anywhere. I suspect that card does not exist.

Other Winfields I've never seen hide, nor hair of:

1985 MSA Subway Discs (which is supposedly identical to the 1985 Thom McAn, but with a blank back)

1989 Donruss/Leaf Blue Chips #6 (prototype for the Grand Slammers set. I've seen Cansecos and McGwires with both Donruss and Leaf logos, but never seen a Winfield with either)

1993 Topps/R&N China porcelain #131 (SCD claims the entire 1993 set was issued in porcelain. So far I've only been able to track 77 of 825 individual cards done in porcelain, but no Winfield).

1999 Padres MADD #23 (not even sure what this looks like, assuming it was SGA)
- Holy crap. I just did a completed search and see a complete set of these just sold last month for under $10. Somehow it never popped in my saved eBay search. I hate that!

[4reals]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

1985 MSA Subway Discs (which is supposedly identical to the 1985 Thom McAn, but with a blank back)

I have seen some Ripken Subway discs, and a few Schmidt subway discs, but outside of that nothing. I suspect because of their blank backs they are being listed as something else.

Originally Posted by DaClyde

The Standard Catalog claims Dave Winfield has a disc in the 1986 Sportflics Jumbo Disc set, but I've never seen one anywhere. I suspect that card does not exist.

Other Winfields I've never seen hide, nor hair of:

1985 MSA Subway Discs (which is supposedly identical to the 1985 Thom McAn, but with a blank back)

1989 Donruss/Leaf Blue Chips #6 (prototype for the Grand Slammers set. I've seen Cansecos and McGwires with both Donruss and Leaf logos, but never seen a Winfield with either)

1993 Topps/R&N China porcelain #131 (SCD claims the entire 1993 set was issued in porcelain. So far I've only been able to track 74 of 825 individual cards done in porcelain, but no Winfield).

1999 Padres MADD #23 (not even sure what this looks like, assuming it was SGA)
- Holy crap. I just did a completed search and see a complete set of these just sold last month for under $10. Somehow it never popped in my saved eBay search. I hate that!

They do exist they were on a Slurpee card board advertisement for 7-Eleven I only got 1 sign the disc came due to the glue drying out

Originally Posted by rgpete

They do exist they were on a Slurpee card board advertisement for 7-Eleven I only got 1 sign the disc came due to the glue drying out

My bad thinking of 7-11 not Sportsfics

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by rgpete

I have seen some Ripken Subway discs, and a few Schmidt subway discs, but outside of that nothing. I suspect because of their blank backs they are being listed as something else.

I keep seeing the same handful of Ripkens and Schmidts listed over and over.

Originally Posted by rgpete

My bad thinking of 7-11 not Sportsfics

Yeah, I've seen several listed that way, but I have the over-sized 7-11 piece, and it was from 1985.

I wish those big catalog books had some sort of source reference database for how they built their checklists.

[PM770]

I'm looking for a 1989-90 Topps Randy Cunneyworth Penguins variation. I've never even seen one.

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by PM770

I'm looking for a 1989-90 Topps Randy Cunneyworth Penguins variation. I've never even seen one.

I don't recall where but I can confirm seeing a scan of it. Many people seem to be under the assumption that it depicts him in a Penguins jersey but the error is in the team name lettering on front, saying "pittsburgh penguins" beneath his name while still depicting him in the airbrushed Jets uniform.

[PM770]

Originally Posted by jacksoncoupage

I don't recall where but I can confirm seeing a scan of it. Many people seem to be under the assumption that it depicts him in a Penguins jersey but the error is in the team name lettering on front, saying "pittsburgh penguins" beneath his name while still depicting him in the airbrushed Jets uniform.

Does it have the Penguins logo where the team logo is? I've always assumed that was what the difference was.

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by PM770

Does it have the Penguins logo where the team logo is? I've always assumed that was what the difference was.

No, the image that I saw has the Jets logo but the black lettering under his name spells "pittsburgh penguins."

[bnorth]

1989 Fleer #81 Wade Boggs without the black spot after Throws Right.

[bnorth]

Here is a picture of the 1989 Fleer Wade Boggs Dot and No Dot after Throws Right versions. I have at least 250 of the Dot version and only 1 of the No Dot version. If any one has a No Dot version and you would part with it please let me know. With the insane # of these cards printed I know there has to be more out there, I just can't find one.

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Here is a picture of the 1989 Fleer Wade Boggs Dot and No Dot after Throws Right versions. I have at least 250 of the Dot version and only 1 of the No Dot version. If any one has a No Dot version and you would part with it please let me know. With the insane # of these cards printed I know there has to be more out there, I just can't find one.

I sold a pair of them 5 or 6 years ago for a couple bucks. I recall there being a couple sales of them around that time. I've never seen another copy for sale since.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jacksoncoupage

I sold a pair of them 5 or 6 years ago for a couple bucks. I recall there being a couple sales of them around that time. I've never seen another copy for sale since.

Thanks for the response. I have been looking for another one off and on since they came out and only have the one pictured.

Are you the person with the Junk Wax Gems error site?

[Wite3]

Would love to find the last three Pep boys/Champion Phillies from 1987 that I need. Finally saw a Schmidt last week and bought it quick but have never seen the three commons.

Joshua

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Thanks for the response. I have been looking for another one off and on since they came out and only have the one pictured.

Are you the person with the Junk Wax Gems error site?

Hi, yes, that is my site. Though, it's been fairly derelict for some time. The only exception being that I try to respond to posted questions and the occasional updated "ongoing checklist."

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jacksoncoupage

Hi, yes, that is my site. Though, it's been fairly derelict for some time. The only exception being that I try to respond to posted questions and the occasional updated "ongoing checklist."

Thank you for keeping it up and going. I still use it from time to time for the error lists.

[WillBBC]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Here is a picture of the 1989 Fleer Wade Boggs Dot and No Dot after Throws Right versions. I have at least 250 of the Dot version and only 1 of the No Dot version. If any one has a No Dot version and you would part with it please let me know. With the insane # of these cards printed I know there has to be more out there, I just can't find one.

That's really bizarre. I collected Boggs like crazy in the mid-late 90s and never read about this. I completely missed the boat. Thanks for sharing.

[Sierra79]

I am actively looking for the following:

1993 Lykes Maddux
1997 Topps Finest #158 gold die cut embossed atomic refractor Maddux
1998 Skybox Metal Universe #133 PMG Maddux

[MyGuyTy]

1997 Finest Embossed Refractor Derek Jeter #310

[gopherfan]

I am struggling to find these Topps Chrome Refractors:

1998 Topps Chrome Refractors

21 Roberto Clemente (Found)
110 Jose Canseco
271 Pedro Martinez IL (Found)


2003 Topps Chrome Gold Refractors

369 Damian Miller (Found-Set Complete)

2004 Topps Chrome Refractors

239 Kyle Sleeth (Found)
240 Matt Moses

Once I get these, I will have a complete run from 1996-present. I still need about 20 from 2000 and 40 from 2001. I won't list those to save space. If you have any, please PM me.

Thanks,

Rob A.

[mybestbretts]

I am looking for a 1993 Upper Deck Iooss WI22 George Brett autographed
There were supposed to be 5,000 issued by Upper Deck but I can seem
to find one.

[darkhorse9]

The toughest cards I'm looking for I don't even think exist.

Their from the 1978 Wiffle Ball set..NOT the set of individual die-cut cards that were inserted in boxes. These are the ones that were printed on the boxes themselves.

I've been collecting these since the day they came out. The boxes say there are 88 players in the set, but to date I can only identify 82 of them. The worst part is that most of the cards came five to a box, meaning it isn't a case of just one box missing since there are six unaccounted for. There were some that were issued two on a bat/ball sleeve but the likelihood of three of those being unidentified seems unlikely as well.

I beginning to think they were never produced, unless I see evidence otherwise.

[EGreenwood]

Paired down my list a bit from January 2013:

I have been looking for the following for years. Any help?

Claudell Washington
1977 Rangers Team Issue - 21
1985 Braves TBS America's Team - 4

Dane Iorg
1984 Royals Postcards - 15

Don Robinson
1990 Giants Smokey - 17
1992 Medford Phillies

Garth Iorg
1979 Syracuse Chiefs Team Issue - 9
1980 Syracuse Chiefs Team Issue - 11

Jesse Orosco
1985 Mets Colla Postcards - 21
1987 Mets Colla Postcards - 19
1990 Indians Team Issue - 32

Johnny Grubb
1973 Linnett Portraits - 155

Ken Phelps
1986 Mariners Pacific Northwest Bell - 10

Luis Salazar
1989 Padres Coke - 15

Mike Greenwood
1987 Pocatello Giants The Bon - 9

Mike Morgan
2000 Pacific Platinum Blue - 427

Otis Nixon
1998 Ultra Platinum Medallion - 356
1999 Braves Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jumbos - 11

U.L. Washington
1975 Omaha Royals Team Issue - 17
1976 Omaha Royals Top Trophies - 25
1982 Royals - 21
1984 Royals Postcards - 34

[ALR-bishop]

Need the following

12411
12478
12545

They look like the top card here

[philliesphan]

Originally Posted by Wite3

Would love to find the last three Pep boys/Champion Phillies from 1987 that I need. Finally saw a Schmidt last week and bought it quick but have never seen the three commons.

Joshua

Joshua -- which one did you snag? I am still missing the "Big A" card -- and can't seem to find it

[Wite3]

Picked up the Schmidt Pep Boys card...still looking for samples of the others.

Joshua

[dodgerfanjohn]

I have a few cards that I've been looking for for a very long time:

1994 Fleer Ultra had two insert sets specific to retail boxes that were one per series. These are hard pulls at one per box.

I need the RBI Kings Matt Williams...I've actually never seen one up on ebay.

I also need the Andres Gallaraga On Base leaders. One came up on ebay for the first time in a few years. I put a snipe over $10 on it which I thought was an insane price, but I wanted the card and I figured its worth $10 to cross it off my list for so long. The one initial bid had a max bid higher than that. Go figure

The other really tough ones...and I'm not sure that they were even made...The company Signature Rookies had some really nice insert sets of HOF's and sports heroes of various sports...in particular their Gold Standard set, and the Tetrad Titans insert sets. For those that don't know, SR went down in flames sometime in 1996-1997 because the CEO Tim Flatt was into some shady business practices. However, I do believe most, if not all, of their autos were authentic. Lots have found their way into TPG slabs as authentic. I do know that one of the shady business practices is that the owner or someone close to him absconded with autos that were supposed to be redemptions from packs.

So I assembled the Tetrad Titan from 1994 without too much difficulty, and for not much money. Includes autos of Bruce Jenner, Larry Holmes, Bobby Hull, Bobby Allison, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and some other olympians. Also an infamous OJ Simpson auto which I do, and will not, ever own. The 1995 one is only a 5 card set. 3 were easy and inexpensive for what they are...Dennis Rodman, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Katarina Witt. The last two...well I don't remember ever seeing them on ebay...

Bob Griese
Roberto Duran

I'd love to own these(if they actually exist). The 1994 ones are nicer and feature easier to read autos.

FWIW, there was a near impossible set of cards to get...the Kromax product had an insert set of 5 autos of all star NBA players..Dominique Wilkins and Tim Hardaway had productions of around 1000. Those pop up on ebay every now and then. However the Scottie Pippen I believe is numbered out of about 30, and the Charles Barkely and Patrick Ewing are numbered out of 5. Those came up a year or two ago on ebay and I think went in the $350-400 range.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

I have a few cards that I've been looking for for a very long time:

1994 Fleer Ultra had two insert sets specific to retail boxes that were one per series. These are hard pulls at one per box.

I need the RBI Kings Matt Williams...I've actually never seen one up on ebay.

I also need the Andres Gallaraga On Base leaders. One came up on ebay for the first time in a few years. I put a snipe over $10 on it which I thought was an insane price, but I wanted the card and I figured its worth $10 to cross it off my list for so long. The one initial bid had a max bid higher than that. Go figure

The other really tough ones...and I'm not sure that they were even made...The company Signature Rookies had some really nice insert sets of HOF's and sports heroes of various sports...in particular their Gold Standard set, and the Tetrad Titans insert sets. For those that don't know, SR went down in flames sometime in 1996-1997 because the CEO Tim Flatt was into some shady business practices. However, I do believe most, if not all, of their autos were authentic. Lots have found their way into TPG slabs as authentic. I do know that one of the shady business practices is that the owner or someone close to him absconded with autos that were supposed to be redemptions from packs.

So I assembled the Tetrad Titan from 1994 without too much difficulty, and for not much money. Includes autos of Bruce Jenner, Larry Holmes, Bobby Hull, Bobby Allison, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and some other olympians. Also an infamous OJ Simpson auto which I do, and will not, ever own. The 1995 one is only a 5 card set. 3 were easy and inexpensive for what they are...Dennis Rodman, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Katarina Witt. The last two...well I don't remember ever seeing them on ebay...

Bob Griese
Roberto Duran

I'd love to own these(if they actually exist). The 1994 ones are nicer and feature easier to read autos.

FWIW, there was a near impossible set of cards to get...the Kromax product had an insert set of 5 autos of all star NBA players..Dominique Wilkins and Tim Hardaway had productions of around 1000. Those pop up on ebay every now and then. However the Scottie Pippen I believe is numbered out of about 30, and the Charles Barkely and Patrick Ewing are numbered out of 5. Those came up a year or two ago on ebay and I think went in the $350-400 range.

I knew there had to be someone else collecting Signature rookies.

The 8x10s were plentiful and cheap for a while, but I don't see them anymore. Most weren't numbered but I think they weren't common.

The retail only set was pretty tough too. It looked like a boxed set, but wasn't and had its own inserts. There was a TV shopping version of the same set that had what I think were exclusive signature cards.

There's a lot of their stuff that's not cataloged, and a lot of their sets from the very end that just didn't seem to get totally released. One of the last hockey sets I think was only about 60% signed.
I also think some of their less common stuff was held internally as a golden parachute of sorts. There's a whole class of stuff that I don't ever recall seeing when it was current that showed up a couple years after they closed.

Steve B

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by steve B

I knew there had to be someone else collecting Signature rookies.

The 8x10s were plentiful and cheap for a while, but I don't see them anymore. Most weren't numbered but I think they weren't common.

The retail only set was pretty tough too. It looked like a boxed set, but wasn't and had its own inserts. There was a TV shopping version of the same set that had what I think were exclusive signature cards.

There's a lot of their stuff that's not cataloged, and a lot of their sets from the very end that just didn't seem to get totally released. One of the last hockey sets I think was only about 60% signed.
I also think some of their less common stuff was held internally as a golden parachute of sorts. There's a whole class of stuff that I don't ever recall seeing when it was current that showed up a couple years after they closed.

Steve B

What's curious is that some of the stuff that I beleive someone scurried off with has never popped up for sale AFAIK. Or at least not recently. I suspect a lot of redemption items never made it...like you said, nearly half of one set didn't get released.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Here is a picture of the 1989 Fleer Wade Boggs Dot and No Dot after Throws Right versions. I have at least 250 of the Dot version and only 1 of the No Dot version. If any one has a No Dot version and you would part with it please let me know. With the insane # of these cards printed I know there has to be more out there, I just can't find one.

Today is a great card day for me. After several years of looking I finally got the 89 Fleer #81 Wade Boggs with out the Dot after Throws Right. I know it is a $1 card but to me it was my white whale.

I am also on the BO forum and bumped an old thread saying I was looking for one and with in 5 min. I got a response from a fellow member saying they just looked and had one. When I asked what they wanted for it the reply was "just the address to send it to".

I hope the rest of you looking for a tough card get yours also. I love it when I get that card that makes me feel like a little kid again.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

I have a few cards that I've been looking for for a very long time:

1994 Fleer Ultra had two insert sets specific to retail boxes that were one per series. These are hard pulls at one per box.

I need the RBI Kings Matt Williams...I've actually never seen one up on ebay.

You mean this? There are three of them on Sportlots.

[ChrisNTx]

I'm hunting 2 modern cards for my Chris Sabo Collection

1995 Upper Deck Electric Diamond GOLD #433
and
1995 Upper Deck Special Edition GOLD #152

obviously both are low end and probably stashed in a 5000 ct monster box somewhere. Believe these came 1 or 2 per box from what I have been able to determine, but they're just not easy to come across. Not many people have the stack of cards 20 years old to look thru.

So similar to others, they're cheaper cards but are some of my white whales to complete my Chris Sabo super collection or regularly issued cards!

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

You mean this? There are three of them on Sportlots.

I actually got that for a good price on ebay eventually. Thank you for the link to that site though.

One thing that concerns me is no picture for any of the cards. For that issue its a concern, not because of condition(its unrealistic that you'll find anything above NrMt because of border chipping out of the pack), but because sellers so often confuse years. In 1994, it was a difficult pull(I believe 1 rbi king per retail box). In 1995, the RBI King insert set was very common...something like 1:6 packs. Sellers mistitle things all the time and without a pic its impossible to veryify.

[egri]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

One thing that concerns me is no picture for any of the cards. For that issue its a concern, not because of condition (...) Sellers mistitle things all the time and without a pic its impossible to veryify.

A couple months ago, I thought I'd scored a bargain when I picked up a 1953 Topps JW Porter card on sportslots for $1 plus shipping. The seller had listed it's condition as 'Very Good'. I once heard someone say that a card in Poor condition is one that looks like a truck ran over it; I think the condition of my card would be improved if a truck ran over it. There are pictures on my site here if you want to see what I mean. When I sent it to Mr. Porter for him to sign, he felt so bad about its condition that he tossed in his own signed card.

[mrmopar]

2003 Donruss Team Heroes Beckett Sample GOLD Steve Garvey.

If I remember correctly, these sample cards were issued one per Beckett monthly, glued with that rubbery, semi sticky stuff that was meant to allow for no damage and peel right off, to a subscription card. I remember getting a run of several magazines that had these cards in them at the time and they we're also hitting ebay pretty heavy.

This is one that could easily exist but be tucked away in full magazines, tossed by uninterested collectors or perhaps it was never actually made. I have the silver one and the gold shows up on checklists, but i have not seen one offered. i know the gold versions were supposedly made in a fraction of the quantity of silver versions (15% according to an online source), but you'd think someone, somewhere would have one for sale or at least share a photo or mention of it, but no dice. Of course, how many silvers were made to begin with?

[gopherfan]

Edit to show the cards I have tracked down. Still looking for the others.

Originally Posted by gopherfan

I am struggling to find these Topps Chrome Refractors:

1998 Topps Chrome Refractors

110 Jose Canseco Help. I really want to put this set to bed.

200 Topps Chrome Refractors

237E H.Aaron MM 755th HR
475A K.Griffey Jr. MM 350th HR
475D K.Griffey Jr. MM 1992 AS MVP
476B B.Bonds MM 40HR/40SB
476E B.Bonds MM 1992 MVP
NNO M.McGwire 85 Reprint /70


2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors

187 Frank Thomas
190 Craig Biggio
297 Conti/Wakeland/Cole
302 Mark McGwire GM
325 Will Clark DH
412 Edgar Renteria
419 Luis Lopez
465 Erubiel Durazo
561 Glenallen Hill


2004 Topps Chrome Refractors

[B
240 Matt Moses Why is this card so difficult? 4 years, and still searching.

Once I get these, I will have a complete run from 1996-present. I still need 6 from 2000 and 9 from 2001. If you have any, please PM me.

Thanks,

Rob A.

[frankhardy]

I am STILL looking for a 2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors #146 Fernando Tatis for my Cardinals team set run. I have every single Topps Chrome Refractor except that one. Been looking for over 4 years now (I think).