1973 Mike Schmidt Blank proof?

[Rickyy]

Here's another bizzare variation I have from 1976 Topps....Bobby Darwin..the proof version has him wearing a Twins helmet airbrushed with Milwaukee Logo on top of his cap vs the regular issue with just the airbrushed cap on...

Keith Olbermann did an article about it on SCD back in 2008...he theorized that maybe they didn't like the initial look on the card after his trade to the Brewers....He seemed to think the proof version looks more realistic and pleasing to the eye...and I tend to agree..

Proof version


Regular version


Ricky Y

[Gmrson]

Another awesome proof!! I can't remember if Keith Olbermann did the articles for Baseball Card Magazine. I sold many of my Fleer sheets to his friend Craig Williamson. I would love to have a chat to see if any ended up in his collection. Since cameras were't what they are now, I only have some really poor pics. There was ony 1 complete set of all 3 years which I had kept for a long time but eventually sold to Rob Lifson.

Originally Posted by Rickyy

Here's another bizzare variation I have from 1976 Topps....Bobby Darwin..the proof version has him wearing a Twins helmet airbrushed with Milwaukee Logo on top of his cap vs the regular issue with just the airbrushed cap on...

Keith Olbermann did an article about it on SCD back in 2008...he theorized that maybe they didn't like the initial look on the card after his trade to the Brewers....He seemed to think the proof version looks more realistic and pleasing to the eye...and I tend to agree..

Proof version


Regular version


Ricky Y

[ALR-bishop]

Another good one Ricky.

The one below was pointed out in another thread. The photo is the same, but the proof card (top right- blank back) had no auto...like other AS cards in the set. But then the card came out initially with an auto ( top left). It was then corrected to remove the auto (bottom right). The last one ( bottom left) has no auto...but also no name. It was one of the Blackless printing errors, that did make it into packs.

[Rickyy]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Another good one Ricky.

The one below was pointed out in another thread. The photo is the same, but the proof card (top right- blank back) had no auto...like other AS cards in the set. But then the card came out initially with an auto ( top left). It was then corrected to remove the auto (bottom right). The last one ( bottom left) has no auto...but also no name. It was one of the Blackless printing errors, that did make it into packs.

This variation drove me crazy when I was collecting this set. I didn't know there were 4 variations...which I later found out.. I only got the top left and bottom right versions..

Ricky Y

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Another good one Ricky.

The one below was pointed out in another thread. The photo is the same, but the proof card (top right- blank back) had no auto...like other AS cards in the set. But then the card came out initially with an auto ( top left). It was then corrected to remove the auto (bottom right). The last one ( bottom left) has no auto...but also no name. It was one of the Blackless printing errors, that did make it into packs.

I remember the blackless! We were lucky enough in Detroit to get the "C" sheet ones of these. The year before I met a fellow collector who happened to be a mechanic at a service station on my walk home...always saw me opening a few packs with my extra lunch money. He bought some of the cello boxes that had these at Detroit's Eastern Market when the cards hit early in '82. Had a lot of them and kept a box or 2 unopened. Lost touch with him after the station closed and he moved out of Detroit. Wonder if I could find him online? Would be great to find out if he still has a cache of those.

We had some 1984 blackless at the store I worked at as well. Although someone who bought some called them "grey print" after we sold them in SCD. I guess they had a light shadow like the ink had run out of the printer. They were all one sheet, which I don't recall. We had a full page ad in SCD when we found them in a collection we bought.