Bowman Made It’s Big Comeback In 1989

The “COMEBACK EDITION!”.  That’s what it is labeled.  After Topps acquired Bowman during the mid-1950s, the Bowman brand of cards disappeared faster than a government discovered UFO.  From 1956 to 1988, you won’t find any Bowman labeled cards.  In 1989, Topps decided to bring Bowman back.  Que AC/DC’s Back In Black.

Over 30 years is a long time to go without a Bowman set.  When it returned, the set resembled 1953 Bowman Color.  Right down to the slightly larger card size.

This Bowman set looks nothing like the prospect/rookie filled products we see today.  It consists of (484) cards.  Only (46) of them are rookies.  The most notable rookie would be of Ken Griffey, Jr.  Gary Sheffield, Tino Martinez, and John Smoltz have rookies in here too.

Topps released this product around the All-Star break.  This allowed them to include rookies which had been called-up, and picture veterans in their new uniforms if they had been traded.  One of the hottest cards to pull at the time wasn’t even a rookie.  Collectors wanted the card of Nolan Ryan in his new Texas Rangers uniform.  Nolan Ryan left the Astros over a contract dispute, and found his way to Texas.  All of the other sets had him with Houston.

Outside of the base set, you’ll find one insert.  This 11-card set features reprints of famous vintage Bowman cards.  On the back of each insert are rules for a contest in which you could win an original version of the card pictured on the front.  The grand prize was a complete set of 1953 Bowman Color.

Complete boxes/sets of 1989 Bowman are readily available and quite affordable.  The high-end Tiffany versions are a different story.  These are limited to 6,000 sets (not a lot for the time), and can cost almost $1,000.

Remember When CBS Made Football Cards?

CBS loves to keep reminding you of what you already know you’re watching.  If you took a shot every time they said “This is the NFL on CBS.” you’d probably pass out before they held the coin toss.  I remember Saturday Night Live making note of this back in the 90’s.  Kevin Nealon played Jim Nantz, and he kept repeating “This is the NFL on CBS.” over and over again.  “CBS proudly presents The Masters.” is another one you hear a lot.

Television stations are the last places you think about when it comes to card manufacturers.  For a very brief moment in 1989, CBS made football cards.  Now, this was not some nationally distributed product that came in a fancy box.  It was more like a 10-card set shipped in a few envelopes.

For those members of the 1989 CBS Football Announcing Team who either at one time played in the NFL or coached, received a card.  The players include: Terry Bradshaw, Dick Butkus, Irv Cross, Dan Fouts, Pat Summerall, Gary Fencik, Dan Jiggetts, John Madden, Ken Stabler, and Hank Stram.  As you can see, the cards feature an action shot of the person during their time in the NFL.  The photos were then placed on a green football field with a white yard mark.  On the back you’ll find a horizontal layout containing a head shot, biography, and stats all bordered in red.

CBS split this set up into two different releases.  Each issue has five cards.  They were sent out to various CBS representatives probably as a marketing tool.  Although they aren’t serial numbered, only about (500) sets are suppose to exist.  The price for an individual card and/or complete set can be all over the place.  It definitely is one of those oddball sets from the late 80’s.  The set’s official name is 1989 CBS Television Announcers.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Honus Wagner 1924 Mrs. Sherlock’s Home Made Bread Pin

There was some big Honus Wagner news (although not very surprising) this week.  Bill Mastro admitted that he trimmed the infamous T206 Honus Wagner tobacco card he purchased for $25,000 in 1985.  Its no surprise to most collectors.  Everyone that has owned that card has made money on it, except for Ken Kendrick who is the card’s current owner and owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Mr. Kendrick might have a difficult time making a profit after Mastro’s little announcement.  That’s if he ever decides to sell the card which he purchased for $2.8 million back in 2007.

If you don’t have the cash for a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, you could always settle for one of his many other collectibles ,like this pin.  The 1924 Mrs. Sherlock’s Home Made Bread set consists of 10 pins – Grover Alexander, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Walter Johnson, Rabbit Maranville, Paddy Moran, Babe Ruth, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, and Honus Wagner.  These were offered as a premium for people that purchased Mrs. Sherlock’s Home Made Bread.  Pins from this era are highly collectible.  The Wagner can sell for $100.00 to over a $1,000 depending on its condition.

How A Relic Card Is Made

Ever since Panini  started their blog, collectors have been given all kinds of behind the scenes access.  Check out their newest video showing you how they made the Paul “Bear” Bryant relics found in 2010 Century Collection.

Got Any Change?

No, Press Pass hasn’t gone the way of Pinnacle and started inserting coins in their cards.  I’ve had a few questions about these cards and so has Press Pass ever since they started to surface on eBay.  I can’t really knock these cards because the seller clearly states they are custom made and do not come from the factory containing the coin.  I would like to clearly state that PRESS PASS DOES NOT INCLUDE COINS WITH THEIR CARDS.  Someone either cut a hole in the middle and slipped it inside or they glued it on top.  A few people have been disappointed with their purchase mainly because they didn’t read the description all the way, and thats their fault.

Apparently collectors think this custom card maker does a better job than Pinnacle did back in the 90’s.  This Tony Stewart sold for $50.00.  Not too bad for a base card worth about as much as the quarter.

Relic Cards You Wished They Made

Currently there are 45,510 jersey, and 2,724 bat cards up for sale on eBay.  You would think that with those kind of numbers you wouldn’t have trouble finding a relic card of a player, but thats not true.  There are a lot of players, including many Hall of Famers, that still don’t have relic cards made of them.  Many of them don’t have relics made because you can’t find items they used, or the ones that people have found are either in a HOF or their family doesn’t wish to sell them.  Below is a list of people I would like to see relic cards of:  

• Alexander Cartwright
• Abner Doubleday
• Cap Anson
• Connie Mack
• Walter Johnson
• Bronko Nagurski
• Sherry Magee
• Billy Lothridge
• James Del Gaizo
• Jake Scott
• Earl Morrall
• Larry Seiple
• Jim Kiick
• Mercury Morris
• Tim Foley
• Lloyd Mumphord
• Ed Jenkins
• Terry Cole
• Hubert Ginn
• Charles Leigh
• Dick Anderson
• Mike Howell
• Curtis Johnson
• Henry Stuckey
• Charles Babb
• Larry Ball
• Bob Matheson
• Howard Kindig
• Jesse Powell
• Mike Kolen
• Alfred Jenkins
• Doug Swift
• Jim Langer
• Maulty Moore
• Bob Kuechenberg
• Bob Heinz
• Norm Evans
• Manny Fernandez
• Doug Crusan
• Jim Dunaway
• Wayne Moore
• Marv Fleming
• Howard Twilley
• Otto Stowe
• Vern Den Herder
• Bill Stanfill
• Nick Buoniconti
• Marlin Briscoe
• Jim Mandich
• Don Shula – Miami Dolphins used jacket, not a Colts jersey.
• Ben Hogan
• Lord Stanley

As you can see, many of the people on my list come from the Miami Dolphins ’72-’73 Perfect Season team.  A lot of people on the list have autographed cards, but no relics.  Who would you like a relic card made of?