2011 1992 Bowman #557 USA Baseball Alumni "No Foil Error"

Card Review: N/A (I gave the non-error a 4.5)

I came across this on eBay recently.  This an error (that's what we used to call variants back when they were unintentional) printing of the 1992 Bowman card.  The correctly printed version has gold foil around the edges of the card.  This one is just plain card stock, like the rest of the 1992 Bowman set.

I prefer the standard '92 Bowman to these USA Gold Foil subset cards, but I don't mind the foil as a limited run in the set.  So I have mixed feelings about this card.  That said, it's fun to come across new Wallach's from that era some 30 years after they were produced.  I'm not sure how rare these are or if the other USA cards also have non-foil versions floating around.  I also haven't checked to see if the gold foil is something that can just be rubbed off.  If it's the case, then this post will be getting a big re-write and this card will just get tallied with the others as a low grade copy.

Here's a look at the 1992 Bowman for a refresher:

   

Number of this card in my collection: 1

1992 Denver All-Time Records #18

Card Review: 9.9  This is near the top of my list for all-time favorite Wallach card.  According to the online databases, this card doesn't exists.  I didn't know it existed until recently, but here is, in all it's minor league glory.  I'm not sure if it's omission is due to the manufacturer or how it was distributed, or if it's just so obscure to be off their radar, but it's not listed.  For the most part, all those online list copy from each other, so if whoever actually does the cataloging misses a set, they're all going to miss it.

This set was issued at the last ever home game for the Denver Zephyrs in 1992.  The set featured players who held all-time records for the Denver Zephyrs/Bears.  The Zephyrs moved to New Orleans the following season (where they still remain today) as MLB added the expansion Colorado Rockies in Denver.

While this isn't a true minor league card as it was issued 12 years after Wallach made his MLB debut, it's as close as it gets.  It's a great action shot, probably the best fielding shot of Wallach ever captured on cardboard, has very little gloss on the front (none on the back), and what I find to be a very kitsch Remax sponsor logo all over it.  Everything about this card works for me.

Fun Facts:
*The stat on the back that Wallach was Denver's all-time record holder for was 16 game-winning RBI in a season.  In 1987 Wallach led the National League in the now defunct stat, also with 16
*in 1980 the Denver Bears were the AAA affliate of the Montreal Expos.
*Wallach led the 1980 American Association in Total Bases and was 2nd to teammate Randy Bass in Home Runs (37)
*in 134 games with Denver in 1980, Wallach batted .281 with 36 home runs, and 124 RBI
*The 1980 Denver Bears saw 24 future Major Leaguers play for them in 1980, including Tim Raines, Charlie Lea, and Bill Gullickson
*Managed by Bill Gardner, the Bears put together a record of 92-44.
*MiLB ranks the 1980 Denver Bears as the 34th best minor league team of all time, and likely would have ranked higher had they not been upset in the playoffs

Number of this card in my collection: 10

1992 Donruss Durivage #19

Card Review: 8.9  This was a card and set that I didn't even know existed until a couple of years ago.  It was an Expos team set that Donurss made with the Quebec bakery Durivage.  I googled Durivage and didn't find anything, so I don't know if they still exists.  I also don't know how these were distributed.  Ultimately I don't really care.  Once I tracked down a Wallach (which was no easy task), my interest teetered off significantly.  I suspect these came inside loafs of bread, as that seems to be a somewhat common theme with Expos sets in Canada.

The photo on this card is clearly from the same photo shoot used for the 1992 Studio card.  The only difference is on the Studio, Donruss/Leaf cropped out the bat and Wallach isn't smiling.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 2
2014 update: 3

1992 Red Foley Sticker #98

Card Review: 1.4  I'm not a huge fan of these tiny Red Foley stickers.  This is the 3rd sticker to use photos from what I believe to be the same at-bat. Click the links to decide for yourself; 1991 Red Foley, 1991 Homerun Kings.  Of the three this is probably my least favorite.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2014 update: 2
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 6
2019 update: 14

1992 Panini French #204

Card Review 6.6  This is the "French" (which I presume to mean Canadian) version of the '92 Panini sticker.  I like it slightly better than the English version.  The "Aujeu" on the back makes the difference for me.  Not that I care what it says, the lettering just fills the space nicely, and by comparison the English version looks a little bare.

Number of this card in my collection: 1

1992 Upper Deck #228 "Gold Hologram"

Card Review: 8.8 as far as I can tell this is the exact same card as the regular '92 Upper Deck, which upon further review deserves a higher rating than 8.8 (probably the best action shot ever put on a Wallach card).  But people keep listing these as the "Gold Hologram" version, and I'm a sucker, so I went ahead and bought one.

I'm not convinced that the gold hologram was intentional on the part of Upper Deck as some sort of rare short print chase card.  There's no denying it's a different color than the 109 '92 UD's I have (see below).  I haven't actually checked to see if any of them are gold now that I think about it, which probably would have been a good idea before dropping a dollar on this one.  In any event, it's gold, most are silver.  Maybe their supplier just sent some gold foil by mistake.  If any one knows for sure, feel free let me know in the comments.  For now it's getting listed as a unique card (I don't count "errors" as unique).

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2014 update: 2
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 3
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 7

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 8

Silver: Left

Gold: Right

1992 Score Super Star #70

Card Review: 9.1 This is a huge improvement over the 1991 Score Super Star design.  Both feature shots of Wallach in blue long sleeves under the road uniform.  A bit of an odd combo that isn't seen in very many cards.

Take a look at 1992 Triple Play, it's virtually the same design.  I'm pretty sure that the old Mac I had growing up had a paint program with this same background fill as an option.  Given the amount of crap that the companies were putting out, it's surprising you didn't see more identical designs popping up.  "We need a new set, but I don't want to pay for more than an hour of the graphic designer's time on the art concept.  In fact I don't want to pay at all, just have an intern whip something up on one of the office computers."

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2015 update: 3 
2016 update: 4
2017 update: 6
2018 update: 7

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: 8

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 9

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: 10

1992 Topps Micro #385

Card Review: 0.5  Not much card to review here.  These are even smaller than the Cracker Jack cards.  I looked up the Manny Ramirez from this set on eBay (it's my best guess at the most expensive card in the set) to see what it was selling for.  They're readily available for $2.  I'd be curious to see what sort of price these would demand had they been done for an older set.  Say 1980 Topps, in similar numbers.  What would the Rickey Henderson demand?  The only real point of comparison that's even close may be the 1975 Topps mini's, which demand a slight premium.  These are so small though, I can't imagine they would sell for very much.

 Number of this card in my collection: 1
2014 update: 6
2015 update: 8
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 6 (somehow lost a couple)

2020 update: 7

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 8

1992 Topps Gold #385

Card Review: 6.9 This card has slightly less "gold" than the '92 Topps Gold Winner, but still way more than the base card.  The novelty of these stupid things has not held up well.  But I admit, I ripped through a lot of packs in '92 chasing this card (unsuccessfully).

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 4
2014 update: n/a
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 6
2019 update: 7

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: 8

1992 Classic #40

Card Review: 8.5  I'm not sure I'm titling this card correctly, I've also seen this set called "Classic Blue," "Classic Dark Blue" and various variations with the word "Game" mixed in.  I'm guessing the latter has something to do with the questions on the back which appear to be assigned a value.  I have no idea (or desire to learn) as to the details.  Regardless, it's a nice looking card.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 2
2014 update: n/a
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 3
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 4

1992 Studio #60

Card Review: 7.1 As far as Studio cards go, this one is pretty good.  I mean, it's still a stupid set and a bad idea, '92 just isn't as awful as some of the other sets Studio put out.

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2012 update: 5
2013 update: 14
2014 update: 19
2015 update: 27
2016 update: 41
2017 update: 53
2018 update: 60
2019 update: 78
2020 update: 82

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 84

2023 update: 90

2024 update: 106

2025 update: 116

1992 Panini #204

"Card" Review: 6.5  I actually really like the photo on this sticker.  The back is about what'd you expect from a sticker.  I'm little annoyed that Wallach's back is a strikeout, but I'm just assuming it's random.

Number of this "card" in my collection: 5
2015 update: 6
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 7
2019 update: 16

2020 update: 17

2021 update: 18

1992 O-Pee-Chee #385

Card Review: 8.8  O-Pee-Chee went with very nominal variants from the Topps card in '92.  I prefer the way "Topps" looks in the upper left, but beyond that they're about the same.  Guess it was hard to go with a lighter card stock when Topps switched to white.

Number of this card in my collection: 4
2012 update: 6
2013 update: 10
2014 update: 13
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: 15
2017 update: 16
2018 update: 19
2019 update: 22

2020 update: 23

2021 update: 24

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 25

1992 Fleer Ultra #226

Card Review: 8.8  I remember really liking these cards when they came out.  Ultra basketball cards used the same design, and I bought a ton of them.  Now, eh.  It's not a horrible design, but the back combination of "fancy" computer graphics and fake marble just really wasn't a good idea.  For this particular card, at least it's got a shot of the red b.p. jersey going in it's favor.

Number of this card in my collection: 27
2012 update: 36
2013 update: 79
2014 update: 90
2015 update: 96 
2016 update: 112
2017 update: 117
2018 update: 137
2019 update: 147
2020 update: 151

2021 update: 153

2022 update: 167

2023 update: 175

2024 update: 194

2025 update: 205

1992 Topps Stadium Club #340

Card Review: 9.1 My disdain for the modern glossy card is well documented.  But I will say this for the early Stadium Club efforts;  They were, and remain, the best looking sets of the "modern" card style, and paid appropriate homage to the cards that came before with the rookie's on the back.  Wallach looks as unhappy with the photographer making him strike this pose as I was to see it on the card.





 
Number of this card in my collection: 5
2013 update: 8
2014 update: 18
2015 update: 30 
2016 update: 36
2017 update: 41
2018 update: 55
2019 update: 72
2020 update: 95

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 100

2023 update: 107

2024 update: 115

2025 update: 118

1992 Upper Deck #228

Card Review: 9.5  The moving baseball graphic in the upper left of this card is about as whimsical as Upper Deck ever got with their design.  I'm a fan of it.  I also remember very much liking the wrappers for packs from this set.  If I'm going to nit pick, I would have preferred the Expos "e" logo to the type written name on the front.  This is one of the rare profile cards of Wallach in a predominately vertical set.

Number of this card in my collection: 55
2012 update: 108
2013 update: 136
2014 update: 160
2015 update: 212 
2016 update: 254
2017 update: 261
2018 update: 274
2019 update: 305
2020 update: 321

2021 update: 324

2022 update: 348

2023 update: 373

2024 update: 392

2025 update: 400

1992 Leaf Black Gold #298

Card Review: 8.6  I think I like the black front better than the 1992 Leaf base card, but I can't stand the gold bordered back.  This is another one of those cards that probably would have made my head explode had I actually obtained one as an 11 year old in 1992.  Twenty years later it's just another ugly card from the junk wax era.  But I'm still happy to take every one I can find
Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 3
2014 update: 7
2015 update: 10
2016 update: 12
2017 update: 13
2018 update: 14

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 15

2023 update: 16

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 17

1992 Triple Play #224

Card Review: 8.8 I remember really liking these cards when they came out.  I still kind of do.  It's a horrible photo, saved only by the fact that the name and number are so well displayed, which creates a kind of cool effect.  The cropping makes me a little dizzy, however.  While it was certainly different, I think it would be an easier card to look at if they hadn't gone with the slanted photo box.  Thankfully, the photo itself is squared with the card.

Fun Facts: Wallach led NL 3rd basemen in "range factor/9inn" in 1992 (whatever that is)
* Wallach was 4th in the NL in hit by pitches with 8 in 1992
*I'm pretty sure that's Gary Carter catching in this picture.  Carter also appears in Wallach's '92 Donruss (who makes Triple Play).  This picture is probably from the same at-bat.

Number of this card in my collection: 29
2011 update: 31
2012 update: 32
2013 update: 41
2014 update: 51
2015 update: 73 
2016 update: 81
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 94
2019 update: 108
2020 update: 116

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 120

2023 update: 121

2024 update: 144

2025 update: 149

2026 update: 152

1992 Leaf #298

Card Review: 5.2  This design hasn't aged well.  Much like the '90 Upper Deck design, it just looks and feels like an inferior knock-off of the previous year's set.  The grey Expos uniforms worn in the photos do nothing to help the drab look of this card.  Leaf really would have been better off going with a different colored border rather than recycling the previous years.  Perhaps they had a lot of leftover gray ink, though given the massive production numbers, I kind of doubt it.
 
Number of this card in my collection: 11
2012 update: 12
2013 update: 29
2014 update: 42
2015 update: 60
2016 update: 67
2017 update: 77
2018 update: 96
2019 update: 118
2020 update: 126

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 131

2023 update: 136

2024 update: 138

2025 update: 143

1992 Topps Gold Winner #385

Card Review: 6.8  This is just an all-around inferior variant of the regular '92 Topps.  The gold stamping looks horrible, the "winner" just adds more of the stamping, and the "toppsgold" water mark on the back is ridiculous.  The "G" is particularly galling.

In '92 Topps had a scratch-off game card in each pack.  You could win these cards if you scratched off enough runs without scratching an out, or 3 outs, or something like that.  I went about 0 for all of them in my efforts to "win."

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2012 update: 5
2013 update: 21
2014 update: n/a
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 24
2019 update: n/a
2020 update: 27

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 28

2023 update: 30

2024 update: 36

2025 update: 37