2017 "Rediscover Topps" 1989 #720

Card Review: 9.2

I'm docking this card half a point off the grade I gave the "real" 1989 Topps due to the necessary foil stamping.  It looked better without it.

I like that Topps is putting vintage cards in current packs.  It's a cool idea, and I think it's great for kids.  But the stamping isn't for the kids.  It's for those of us (or more accurately, this of you) in the collecting universe who open packs and toss out the real cards while searching for what ever super-duper-mega-rare-and-shiny non-real card Topps is stuffing into packs at carefully stated odds.

I'm going to look into creating a baseball card themed scratch off lottery ticket so those collector's can get their fix with out sabotaging card collecting for those of us who would rather find a stick of gum than some gold matrix parallel.

Number in my collection:

Bronze: 1

1989 St. Vincent 30¢ Stamp

Card Review: 2.5  This is a stamp, not a card, but given that it was issued as part of a set and card collector's collect them, I'm going to say it's close enough to count.  I have stickers that are smaller and less card worthy that everyone considers cards, so this counts too for my totals.

I recently picked up my first copy of this stamp on ebay. I previously had no idea it even existed.  The head shot on the right is identical to the one used on the 1991 Jumbo Seeds card, but for the logo on the hat, which Jumbo Seeds airbrushed out.

This was taken directly from the ebay listing:

"The Post Office for the island of St. Vincent in the Caribeean Sea produced a 81 baseball stamp set in 1989.  This folowed a similar baseball stamp set mde by the neighboring island of Grenada in 1988.  The Stamps all had a basic green design.  Unfortunately the perforated edges did not line up well with the layout when the 9 stamp sheets were punched and the stamps tend to be off center."

Number of this card: 2

1989 Donruss Baseball's Best - Blue Test Proof

Review: Incomplete  This (allegedly) is a "blue test proof" from the 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best set.  It's printed on extremely thin paper.  I assume there was a whole sheet of these and someone took the time to cut them all out and list them on ebay.  But it's cut so well, that I wouldn't be shocked if Donruss actually did the cutting.  Of course the third option, given the low quality of the printer and paper, is that I've been dupped and some dude just printed these out in his basement and is calling them "test proofs."

In researching the 1984 Topps "encased" variants, I've discovered that there are a good number of people who get very worked up over the distinction between a "test" card and a "proof" card.  So I don't know what to make of this this "Test Proof."  I will say this, if your on the fence about buying one for your team or player collection, don't over pay.  I cannot begin to describe how under whelming this thing is in person.  For reference, I paid 99¢ plus shipping, and wouldn't do it again.  I'm just glad I never bit on it for the two plus years it kept being listed on ebay at $9.99.

Number of this "card" in my collection: 1

1989 Alaska Goldpanners All-Stars #17

Card Review: 9.7  I've known of this cards existence for about 20 years now.  I saw a partial picture of it in a magazine somewhere once.  It was part of a collage photo or something like that.  In the pre-internet days, I believed it was a legitimate minor-league card.  It's not, it was issued in 1989 (or '88 depending on what database you believe), and it's not a minor league team.  It's a team of college players in an elite summer league based in Alaska.  That fact didn't lessen my desire to own this card.  It spent over two decades as my number one most wanted Wallach.  Then just like that, I picked up three in one swing.

Upon opening it from the envelope they arrived in, was the first time I had ever seen the back of this card.  The back is everything you could ask for from an obscure limited issue set like this.  The front is extremely glossy, to point of being a bit disappointing, but I'm not complaining.  This card is far from a let down.

The set itself was 12 cards in size.  Other notable players in it included Don Slaught and Dave Winfield.  The numbering starts at #13 and runs to #24, as they did a series of these by decade.  I'm assuming #1-12 were stars from the 1960's.  The Goldpanners are a summer league team in Alaska that still exists today.  They have a very detailed write up on Tim Wallach on their web page.  That's where the photos below are lifted from.

Fun Facts:

*Wallach played for the Goldpanners in 1978.  The team roster included Ed VandeBerg, Tim Leary and Terry Francona.

*Wallach was named the League MVP after hitting 20 HR, and a .328 avg. over 70 games.

*Wallach would lead Cal-State Fullerton to their 1st National Championship and win the Golden Spike Award as the Nation's Top Amateur the following season in 1979.

Number of this card in my collection: 3

2016 update: 5

Photos from Goldpanners Website (until they tell me to take them down):

1989 Red Foley Sticker #127

Card Review: 0.2  There isn't much to say about this card.  At least it's small.  It had potential, but it was never realized.  In the 60's and 70's Topps used to produce cards in their base set that featured players in or loitering around batting cage nets during pre-game batting practice.  That was before my time, but they're some of my favorite vintage cards.  The batting cage shots have more or less disappeared from Topps sets, and Wallach never had one.  In fact, this is the only Wallach "card" out there to feature a batting cage net in the background.  But it's not a wide enough angle shot, and they should have gone with one where Wallach isn't doing his Michael Jordan impression.

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

1989 O-Pee-Chee Stickers #70

Card Review: 1.8  For whatever reason, I like this quite a bit more than the Topps version.  The only real difference is the OPC logo on the back (and obviously the player, but that's just random), but it makes a big difference for me.  I'm still not wild about the photo.

Number of this card in my collection: 1

2014 update: n/a

2015 update: n/a

2016 update: n/a

2017 update: n/a

2018 update: n/a

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a 

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 2

1989 Bowman Tiffany #362

 Card Review: 4.9  A slightly shinier and slightly uglier version of the already very mediocre '89 Bowman base card.  While not as redundant as the '88 Score Glossy set, or pretty much every Fleer Glossy set, this is another good example of a set the world would not have missed had it never existed.

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2013 update: 5
2016 update: 6
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 9

1989 Topps Stickers #70

 Card Review: 0.8  This is one of the worst looking Wallach cards to be found.  These '89 stickers feature a design that can only be described as lame, and they have not aged very well. The backs are actually kind of nice, but for purposes of reviewing a "Wallach" card, Julio Franco's picture and stats on the back aren't going to earn any extra points.  Perhaps if Wallach was included amongst the "Super Stars," but he was omitted in '89 (Wallach was included in '88 and '90).  On top of that, Wallach getting fooled and way out ahead of an off-speed pitch isn't the best photo selection by Topps.  I guess they can't all be winners.

That's a Rich Gedman sticker on the front.  Gedman made two All-Star teams in the 1980's.

Number of this card in my collection: 4
2013 update: n/a
2014 update: n/a
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 5
2019 update: n/a
2020 update: 16

1989 Fleer Glossy #395

Card Review: 8.2  Once again in 1989 Fleer decided to make the front of their glossy set, nearly indistinguishable from the base set.  The gloss is nearly impossible to see unless you tilt the card in the light.  At least in '89 Fleer had the decency to use a different color scheme on the back of the glossy cards, something that would have really helped their other glossy sets.  My scanner does not like the 1989 Fleer set, and insists on distorting it as much as possible.  I however really like the '89 Fleer set, but the Wallach happens to be one of my least favorite cards in the set.

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2014 update: 4
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 6

1989 Topps Tiffany #720

Card Review: 9.6  The '89 Topps Wallach has gradually grown into one of my all-time favorites.  I'm still not wild about the black/pink combo on the back, but I can live with it.  It translates very well to the Tiffany edition.  Topps Tiffany always put the other outfits to shame when running out glossy editions of their cards.

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2013 update: 5
2014 update: 8
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 9

2020 update: 10

1989 Topps Big #215

Card Review: 7.4 Of the Topps Big sets, I like this one the best.  Which isn't necesarily a ringing endorsement.  It's probably more aptly phrased as, I dislike this one the least.  The size is still an obvious drawback, but this one as the closest feel to the '56 set, which these Topps Big sets borrowed (stole) heavily from.

  It looks like Wallach is wearing braces in the photo.  I don't know what that's about.  Also on the back, the card incorrectly states that Wallach played at Arizona State.  He played at Cal-St. Fullerton, was the 1979 Golden Spike Award winner, and led the Titans a National Championship.

Number of this card in my collection: 3 
2012 update: 6
2014 update: 9
2015 update: 13
2016 update: 15
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 16

2020 update: 18

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 19

2024 update: 21

1989 Panini #122

Card Review: 4.5 This isn't really much of a card, but I'm not complaining.  I used to like these sticker books when I was young, and no matter how many packs of stickers I bought at the grocery store, I never seemed to pull a Wallach.  So twenty years later, it's better late than never.  These 1989 stickers are little larger than normal for Panini, and the focus isn't very sharp on the photo.  I don't know if photo focus was a problem with the whole set, or just this one, as I don't have any others to compare it to.

Number of this card in my collection: 1

2013 update: n/a

2014 update: n/a

2015 update: n/a

2016 update: n/a

2017 update: n/a

2018 update: n/a

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: 2

1989 K-Mart #25

 Card Review: 9.9  This is one of my all-time favorite Wallach cards.  The mere fact that Wallach was included in this set gave a lot of legitimacy to my collecting Wallach's amongst my peers who went for Don Mattingly, Tony Gwynn, Darryl Stawberry, and the like.  I think the design has held up very well, especially for a set like this.  The stats on the back are alos a nice touch, including the minors in a separate line. 

Number of this card in my collection: 4
2012 update: 7
2013 update: 11
2014 update: 30
2015 update: 41 
2016 update: 43
2017 update: 47
2018 update: 53
2019 update: 60

2020 update: 61

2021 update: 66

2022 update: 71

2023 update: 75

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 76

2026 update: 80

1989 Topps Baseball Talk #117

Card Review: 9.0,  the only knock on this card, besides the "record" on the back is it's size.  It's about twice the size of a regular card.  As far as I know Topps only did these for one year, 1989.  I bought the little record player (which is long gone) and one pack of these.  I'm pretty sure they came in packs of 3.  I don't remember for sure.  In any event, the Wallach is the only one that survived.

I listened to this a few times though I can't remember details (I'm tempted to get on ebay and buy a player, but then I'm sure I'd discover the card no longer works).  I know Wallach talked about not really knowing who the Montreal Expos were when they drafted him and that they weren't really on his radar.  I believe it also went into stuff like favorite food (mexican), number of kids, and the like.  If anyone knows where to get these recordings on mp3, please let me know.





Number of this card in my collection: 1

2012 update: n/a

2013 update: n/a

2014 update: n/a

2015 update: n/a

2016 update: n/a

2017 update: n/a

2018 update: n/a

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: 2

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 4














***UPDATE JUNE 2013***
Someone was nice enough to post a video of the card playing onto youtube

1989 Donruss Baseball's Best#34

Card Review: 8.7  This is another set I know nothing about, the number of cards in the set, how it was distributed, ect.  I dind't even know it existed until years after it was issued.  The front design is identical to the '89 Donruss base set, but the back is unique.  While I prefer the stats on this one to the base set, this something mildly disconcerting about a Donruss card without the standard Donruss style of card back.  The green also bugs me.  Perhaps its just a result of shuffling through thousands of '89 Donruss and having the orange ingrained into my brain as the proper color for the back of this card, but I really think the lime green clashes with the greens and yellows on the front (not that orange works much better).

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2013 update: 4
2014 update: 12
2015 update: 15
2016 update: 17
2017 update: 19
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 23
2020 update: 26

2021 update: 29

2022 update: 33

2023 update: 34

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: n/a

2026 update: 39

1989 Sportflics #114

Card Review: 5.5 Sportsflics by and large, weren't very nice cards.  They were a gimmick.  But as far as gimmick cards go, this one is better looking than most, and Sportflics at least made more of an effort than many other gimmicky outfits.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 3
2014 update: 4
2015 update: 6
2016 update: 7
2017 update: 8
2018 update: 11
2019 update: 12

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 15

2023 update: 16

2024 update: 17

2025 update: 19

2026 update: 20

1989 O-Pee-Chee

Card Review: 9.6  I'm grading this one just a hair under the '89 Topps Wallach.  I just don't like the OPC logo on the front.  It's too thin and makes the whole card look weird.  But the back is awesome.  I love the OPC logo in the top right corner, and the coloring on the OPC white stock just looks cool.
Number of this card in my collection: 3
2013 update: 4
2014 update: 7 
2015 update: 8 
2016 update: 9 
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 10

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: 11

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: 13

1989 Score #220

Card Review: 9.6  For whatever reason I've always liked this score set.  Very nice colors and design.  I can still vividly recall the the "plastic bag" type material the packs came in.  Jose Canseco, card #1 following his 40/40 season in '88, was the first card in the first pack I opened that year, and for some reason that memory has stuck with me.   I really have no major complaints about this set or this card.  A very nice sophomore effort from Score.

Number of this card in my collection: 44
2012 update: 53
2013 update: 102
2014 update: 120
2015 update: 148 
2016 update: 161
2017 update: 171
2018 update: 180
2019 update: 201
2020 update: 209

2021 update: 212

2022 update: 222

2023 update: 291

2024 update: 311

2025 update: 316

2026 update: 317

1989 Topps #720

Card Review: 9.7  This design, as well the photo, has really grown on me over the last twenty plus years.  The Topps designs of this period have all aged very well, unlike those of their rivals.  In 1989 this design was probably my least favorite of the major card sets, which grew in number to six that year.  Like every other kid (and adult) in the country, I was infatuated with Upper Deck.  I also really liked the Donruss and Fleer designs.  To this day I still like the '89 Score set, though no where near as much as Topps, and at my young age I thought the over-sized Bowman cards were when they came out.  This Topps design was just too simple for me.  Now I view it as an iconic classic and easily my favorite from the year.

Fun Facts: *This card was given a "glamour" number.  Topps reserved card numbers ending in zero for the biggest stars.
Number of this card in my collection: 178
2012 update: 187
2013 update: 329 & 1/2  (blank front)
2014 update: 387
2015 update: 517
2016 update: 612
2017 update: 645
2018 update: 736
2019 update: 801
2020 update: 851

2021 update: 864

2022 update: 960

2023 update: 1,000

2024 update: 1,032

2025 update: 1,041

2026 update: 1,045

1989 Upper Deck #102

Card Review: 9.7  Initially I was disappointed with this card.  My father was so impressed with these "new" cards that he went out and bought my brother and I an entire box, something he never did.  We tore through it and didn't pull a single Wallach. The photography in this set was pretty cool, with some really unique shots.  Based on what I was seeing,  I had really high hopes for the Wallach.  So my initial reaction upon pulling this card was a bit of disappointment.  However, it's grown on me over-time, and has actually become one of my favorite Wallach cards.  But as an 9 year old, it was a bit of a let down.

Like every other kid in the country, I was infatuated with Upper Deck in 1989.  That infatuation did not last, and by the mid-90's I had all but stopped collecting cards.  This had a lot to do with starting high school, but it also had a lot to do with what Upper Deck did to the traditional baseball card with it's introduction of the "premium" card.  I still hate the glossy card, like the one's Topps does today.  I'm sure they would have gone that direction eventually, but I can't help but think Upper Deck sped up the process.  I hate Upper Deck.  But there's no denying the historical significance of this set, and that as a whole is very nice looking one.

This card was also the first Wallach card I ever obtained 9 copies of.  This was important at the time, because back then I kept them all in 9 page sleeves in 3-ring binders.  So this was the first card I was ever able to completely fill a page with.

Number of this card in my collection: 39
2012 update: 43
2013 update: 74
2014 update: 136
2015 update: 162
2016 update: 176
2017 update: 180
2018 update: 190
2019 update: 212
2020 update: 270

2021 update: 278

2022 update: 291

2023 update: 304

2024 update: 318

2025 update: 320

2026 update: 321