1978 Topps Trammell/Molitor rookie printing issues?

[Zach Wheat]

The initial printing error came from a fingerprint that was left on the original printing mask. Topps apparently tried to correct the fingerprint which led to a lot of successive smudged cards. Most cards have some sort of smudged failed clean up attempt and a few will actually have the fingerprint. I have several Trammel / Molitor rookies...will try to find a fingerprint example. It is very difficult to find a perfectly clean example

[brad31]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

The initial printing error came from a fingerprint that was left on the original printing mask. Topps apparently tried to correct the fingerprint which led to a lot of successive smudged cards. Most cards have some sort of smudged failed clean up attempt and a few will actually have the fingerprint. I have several Trammel / Molitor rookies...will try to find a fingerprint example. It is very difficult to find a perfectly clean example

Thanks so much for this info.

[Kutcher55]

This is not the only issue from the era that has these sort of issues. The 1975 Mini Keith Hernandez RC has a similar problem.

[steve B]

Being an edge of the sheet card and somewhere towards the middle, it's also in a prime spot to be smudged by the press operator whn a sheet is removed for inspection, or when cards not fully dried get restacked for the next color/colors

[Hollywood42]

Fascinating - thank you very much for the info! Is there any other documentation out there about this issue with various cards over the years? Would be a fun read. Also would love to see if you come up with a good fingerprint example of this!

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

The initial printing error came from a fingerprint that was left on the original printing mask. Topps apparently tried to correct the fingerprint which led to a lot of successive smudged cards. Most cards have some sort of smudged failed clean up attempt and a few will actually have the fingerprint. I have several Trammel / Molitor rookies...will try to find a fingerprint example. It is very difficult to find a perfectly clean example

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

This is not the only issue from the era that has these sort of issues. The 1975 Mini Keith Hernandez RC has a similar problem.

[HittinLikeCarew]

I’m definitely not knowledgeable, but I pulled my copy I had as a kid from the early 80’s and no smudging. That may be the only “good thing” it has going for it though.