1988 Topps Error Card Mystery Solved Via TTM Autograph?

Plus: Sports Cards Nonsense Facebook page disappeared?

Author

Mike Junk Wax Hero
October 21, 2024

Longtime viewer Mikey was nostalgic for 1980s error cards, like a lot of us are. One of the most memorable from my childhood was the 1988 Topps Al Leiter Future Stars card:

On the right is actually Steve George, and on the left is the corrected Leiter card. I very clearly remember as a kid hearing about this error card and always wondering what the error was. I could never figure it out, and there was no Google — or even the internet! — to answer these questions. And while I religiously devoured Beckett Baseball Card Monthly, I don’t think I ever saw the explanation.

Mikey obtained the error card and thought it would be fun to get George’s autograph on it. He couldn’t find George’s address on any of the TTM websites, but someone had posted it somewhere so Mikey figured he’d give it a shot. He included a note asking George about the error card.

To his surprise, he was successful:

If you’re having a difficult time reading George’s letter back, it says:

“I went to Big League camp a year before Al. On my glove is my initials SG. Upside down on my glove it looks like 56 which was Al’s number the next Big League camp. They made around 500 before they realized the error.”

I had not heard this explanation before, and a couple of quick Google searches didn’t turn up an obvious place where this had been explained before. It felt new to me! But Mikey pointed me to this video from a few years ago, when Leiter explained this same thing.

So, not new. But still fun! TTM autographs can be a blast.

George never made the Big Leagues, but pitched in the Yankees system for six seasons, including starting two games for AAA Columbus.

Side note: if you’re interested in TTM (Through The Mail autographs), check out my guide here.

10% off the best card supplies!

Use my code JWHNEWS for 10% off your first order at thepennysleever.com

What Happened to the Sports Card Nonsense Facebook Group?

In case you’re wondering or hadn’t even noticed, the SCN Facebook group, the worst place for card collectors, was removed from Facebook. Here’s why, as explained in the replacement group:

This fact remains in the new group, though:

Another Vermont Collection Card Seen In the Wild!

YouTuber John P Collects Cards emailed me that he was the buyer of the 1980 Topps Nolan Ryan!

🗣️ YouTube Comment Of The Week

I regret to inform you that I have personally devalued all of your rare, amazing ultra modern pack-pulled autos by… <checks notes> mailing a 1968 card to two players and having them sign it:

I may need to break that comment down in its own video.

I also wanted to show you this:

You see, in YouTube Studio, the app I use to see results and comments on my video, they have always had terrible auto-generated response options for comments. But with this update, the AI has leveled up significantly! All a creator needs to do is click that button under the comment, and that will be the response.

It still feels way too impersonal. I have always personally responded to every comment (minus the small percentage that either don’t require one or are weird or rude), and I don’t see that changing. I was just impressed with the ability of that one to provide a good response.

🎬 Upcoming Videos

  • Maybe one on insuring your collection?

  • Attic Find Friday will return soon!

  • I’m going to get down to #90 in my top 100 list in the next two weeks

📩 Upcoming Newsletters

  • Spending within a budget in the hobby

  • Are eBay sellers feeling economic pain?

  • Is a PSA 9 a bad grade for a modern card?

  • I’d like to feature some super-collections

  • Various other short-form items and thought-provoking polls

🎬 Channel Highlights From the Past Week

This was my easiest week in months, where I did zero prep and very little editing.

I had a big PSA/DNA autograph return:

And another, of just my Nolan Ryan rookie dual-auto:

🎁 My Pickup Of The Week

And I had a massive pickup, which was my 10,000 subscriber gift to myself:

👻 Brief Horror Movie Review of the Week

As promised I went to see Terrifier 3 in theaters on Sunday. Before I left, my 14-year-old said to me, “Enjoy the opening scene.” Apparently this scene, which, TO BE CLEAR, my child has not seen, has become legendary in teenage circles.

This movie is not going to be a candidate for an Oscar for Best Picture, but it is wildly entertaining. The death scenes are gruesome and awful, and also… hilarious? Art the Clown is funny, and he never utters a word in any of the three movies.

4 out of 5 stars

WARNING: if you are considering seeing any of the Terrifier movies, be aware that they are extraordinarily bloody, gruesome, disgusting, and stomach-churning. There are reports of people vomiting and walking out of the theater.

I also watched Trap, which I assumed was a horror movie because it’s an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but it’s more of a thriller. And while it’s pretty tense throughout, there are far too many deus ex machinas placed all over the movie. It’s a lazy writer’s escape.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Episodes 3 and 4 of Teacup were almost as riveting as the first two, but now it’s seeming like it’s going to be sci-fi, and I’m not a big sci-fi guy. I’ll keep watching because the story and characters are good, but we’ll see.

There aren’t many good sports card newsletters, but Mantel has a good one called Above the Mantel (If you know of others, I’d love to hear about them)

I linked my guide to getting TTM autographs above, but Mike Sommer also wrote an article about this for SI

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