1986 O-Pee-Chee Tattoo

"Card" review: 0.2  These are more or less identical to the Topps Tattoos.  The photo to the left is the reverse negative of the actual scan, but how the tattoo would look if actually applied.  At least in theory, as I recall these cracker jack type tattoos always just turned into a colored blob on your skin.

The only way I can tell the difference is from the copyright information on the bottom of the sheet, which if you tear the tattoos apart into individual cards along the perforation, doesn't even show up on the Wallach.  I've read some claims that the ink or colorization is different on the O-Pee-Chee's than it is on the Topps, but I can't see a difference.

When all I had was the Topps variation, I wrote that I didn't know and couldn't tell how these were sold.  With this O-Pee-Chee I have my answer.  They came in long strips of three "cards."

Number of this card in my collection: 2

1988 O-Pee-Chee Super Star #9

Card Review: 6.4 I think I slightly prefer the Topps version of this card.  The only difference is the logo  over Wallach's right shoulder.  Obviously the backs are different too, but these all have different backs. The "Super Star" subset was much smaller than the sticker set, so the "Super Star" backs all show up on multiple stickers.  I've seen at least six different variations with the Topps Super Star Wallach.  I don't know if it was completely random, or if it's always the same 6 (or whatever) stickers that have the Wallach Super Star back.  My hope is that it's completely random, because that would mean there is a possibility of a Wallach sticker with a Wallach Super Star back.  Then I'd be left with the welcomed debate as whether to count it as a '88 Sticker, '88 Super Star, or both.

Fun Facts

*This is a rare example of my only copy of this card having been sent by a reader.  Thanks to Max of "The Starting Nine."  Of course, at some point I expect to have more than one, so I'll go ahead and amend this to say, ....rare example of my first copy of this card having been sent by a reader.

Number of this card in my collection: 1

2014 update: 4

2015 update: n/a

2016 update: n/a

2017 update: 5

2018 update: 6

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: 7

2022 update: 8

1983 O-Pee-Chee Stickers #257

Card Review: 7.5  There are more variations than normal between the OPC and Topps versions of the '83 sticker.  Chiefly, the color on the back.  OPC went with red ink and the Topps used blue.  I prefer the red.

Number of this card in my collection: 2
2014 update: 4

1986 O-Pee-Chee Stickers #82

Card Review: Incomplete (4.6)  I can't say for certain, but it appears this sticker was cut in half to be sold as an individual card.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I know I don't like it, but I'm not sure to what degree.  The '86 Topps Sticker comes with two stickers attached as one "card."  Who would take the time to so meticulously cut all the stickers?  I really hope it was done by OPC in some sort of direct to dealer type excess product dump at the end of the year.  I hate to think of some poor guy carefully cutting all these stickers only to sell them for a couple of pennies 25 years after the fact.

Number of this card in my collection: 2

2014 update: n/a

2015 update: n/a

2016 update: n/a

2017 update: n/a

2018 update: n/a 

2019 update: 4

1988 O-Pee-Chee Stickers #85

Card Review: 3.6  I slightly prefer the O-Pee-Chee to the Topps.  The only real difference is the logo on the back, I just like that circle OPC logo better than the Topps.  Otherwise they're the same.  I've got 2 of these and they both have George Brett on the back.  I don't know if that's random or by design.  I do know that the "Super Star" card of Wallach has different stickers on the back, so I'm guessing it's random.

Number of this card in my collection: 2

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: 3

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: 4

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

1991 O-Pee-Chee #220

 








Card Review: 9.0  I would have loved to see the 40th logo in the upper left done as an O-Pee-Chee logo, maybe with a different number.  I don't know what year OPC started putting out sets.  As it is, it just looks like a Topps Tiffany, it actually looks more like a typical tiffany than the '91 Tiffany does.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2013 update: 2
2015 update: 3

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: 4

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

1987 O-Pee-Chee

Card Review: 9.7  I grade this just a little bit lower than the '87 Topps card.  I love the '87 design.  The OPC is nearly identical, the logo on the front looks a little weird though, and I don't like the blue and yellow on white as much as I do on the gray.  Also, the #55 in the upper left is in a different font and just looks weird.

Number of this card in my collection: 3
2013 update: 9
2014 update: 10
2015 update: 14 
2016 update: 15
2017 update: 18
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 20
2020 update: 22

2021 update: 25

2022 update: 27

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: n/a

2026 update: 28

1988 O-Pee-Chee #94

Card Review: 9.0 I'm not as wild about this OPC as I am it's Topps counterpart.  The orange backs look better on the Topps, and the O-Pee-Chee logo on the front is way to bland.  For subtle as the changes were between Topps and OPC each year, those could changes could have wildly varying effects on the overall aesthetic of the card, for better and in the case of this 1988 set, worse.

Number of this card in my collection: 4
2012 update: 5
2013 update: 9
2014 update: 12
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 13
2018 update: 15
2019 update: 17

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: 19

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: 21

2025 update: 23

1985 O-Pee-Chee Posters #6

"Card" Review: 5.1 These "posters" are way too big to be called cards, and not really big enough to be considered a poster.  It's on white paper with a bit of a newsprint feel, a little bit more flimsy than typical printer paper but not as flimsy as actual newsprint.  They came folded up, you can see the folds in the scan, and have nothing on the back.  When folded up (one horizontal fold, one vertical) they are slightly smaller than a standard sized baseball card.  I'm not sure how they were sold.

Number of this "card" in my collection: 2
2015 update: 3

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: 4

*Update*

These came packaged inside 1985 O-Pee-Chee wax packs, with each pack containing a stick of gum and either an Expos or Blue Jays poster.

1990 O-Pee-Chee #370

Card Review: 9.2  This card is nearly indistinguishable from the 1990 Topps card.  1990 was the 1st year that it said "Topps" on the front of these cards instead of O-Pee-Chee.  I much prefer the OPC logo on OPC cards, than a Topps logo on OPC cards.  The most noticable difference is the french on the back, and the card stock is slightly lighter in color.  The cut is still a little fuzzy due to the dull blades in the OPC factory, but it's better than it had been in previous years.

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

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: 15

1993 O-Pee-Chee #225

Card Review: 4.5  I believe this set lends itself very well to the argument that '92 Topps and not '91, was the last "real" Topps set.  I don't agree with that argument, but I still think a valid case can be made for it.  Topps was unchanged from '57-'91.  In '92 they switched to white cardboard stock.  So I draw the line after '91.  But O-Pee-Chee was always the same design as Topps, even in '92.  It wasn't until '93 when Topps added gloss to the backs of cards, that O-Pee-Chee was issued with it's own unique (albeit ugly) design.

I've always found this card to be a little bit weird.  Besides the fact it's the first time OPC was a unique design (excluding OPC Premier), the juxtaposition of the Expos uniforms and Dodgers logos is a bit strange.  The "new" Expos uniforms also add to the strange feel of the card for me.

Fun Facts:
*Wallach is often cited as one of the last players to wear the flapless batting helmets, grandfathered in when the MLB banned them.  He's seen wearing one on the back of this card.  While Wallach was one of the last players to be allowed to wear them, I don't believe he ever actually wore them during games (look at the photo on the front).  My belief is that he wore them during batting practice, but went with the standard, one ear flap helmet, in games.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2012 update: 3
2013 update: 4
2014 update: 5
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 8

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: 9

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 10

2026 update: 11

1986 O-Pee-Chee #217

Card Review: 8.8 I often felt that O-Pee-Chee just looked like an inferior knock-off of the Topps card.  Like something someone was counterfeiting out of a garage.  The '86 really give off that vibe.  I've softened a lot on that stance as a whole, and actually prefer the O-Pee-Chee over Topps in a few instances, but '86 isn't one of those years. 

Fun Facts:  The O-Pee-Chee factory had notoriously dull blades.  That fact is very evident in these black bordered '86 cards.

Number of this card in my collection: 5
2012 update: 8
2013 update: 9
2014 update: 10
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2016 update: 11
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 12
2019 update: 16

2020 update: 18

2021 update: 20

2022 update: 21

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 22

1985 O-Pee-Chee #3

Card Review: 9.8 I rank this just a notch below the '85 Topps base card.  In a lot of ways I like it better.  But ultimately I prefer the color scheme on the back of the Topps a little bit more, and though I like the yellow "o-pee-chee" logo, it's just a little too much.

A big advantage for this card over it's Topps counterpart, however, is the number.  I believe #3 is the lowest number any Wallach card was given in a widely issued base set.  Perhaps, large set is a better qualifer than widely issued, by you get the gist.  In fairness to Topps, they issued a lot of cards to Wallach that ended in "0" or "5," which were reserved for the stars.  Nonetheless, I like seeing the #3, and the idea that this is on the first page of binders full of '85 OPC, or at least, for the handful of people that put the '85 OPC set in a binder.

Fun Facts: Wallach won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in 1985
Number of this card in my collection: 2
2012 update: 4
2013 update: 7
2014 update: 14
2015 update: 20
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 21
2018 update: 23
2019 update: 26

2020 update: 27

2021 update: 28

2022 update: 29

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 32

2026 update: 33

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

1982 O-Pee-Chee #191

Card Review: 9.8  What can I say, as far as Wallach cards go, it's an iconic classic. The Canadian rookie card for the the all-time hit leader of Canada's first major league team.

I'm a huge fan of the over-sized O-Pee-Chee logo on the front of this card, and really wish OPC had used it more often.  I prefer the obvious variations from the Topps counterpart to the subtle ones.  At some point I'll get around to doing photoshop mock ups of all the Wallach OPC variants with the large logo.  In addition to liking the larger OPC logo, I feel like it gives Wallach's bat more of a 3D effect.

Fun Facts: *The fuzz on the edges of this card is not considered a flaw for grading purposes (or so I've read). The OPC presses had notoriously dull razors, which created the fuzz.  An important fact to keep in mind if your ever shelling out for a 1979-80 OPC Gretzky.

Number of this card in my collection: 11
2013 update: 12
2014 update: 18
2016 update: 21
2017 update: 22
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 24

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: 26

2022 update: 27

1983 O-Pee-Chee #229

Card Review: 9.8  I like this O-Pee-Chee variation every bit as much as it's Topps counterpart.  I think I may actually prefer the back of the OPC.  However the front logo just looks odd, it's too thin.  For pure aesthetics, that's the only area this card falls short.  My biggest complaint can't be seen on these scans.  It's the card stock.  It's some of the flimsiest I've ever handled.  I'm not sure what was going on over at the OPC Plant in 1983, but this set is printed on an inferior paper stock.

Number of this card in my collection: 5
2012 Update: 6
2013 update: 8
2014 update: 32
2015 update: 34
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 39
2019 update: 41

2020 update: 43

2021 update: 44

2022 update: 45

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 58

1984 O-Pee-Chee #232

Card Review: 9.5 This is the 2nd of four 1984 Topps variations to be featured here.  The O-Pee-Chee is my 2nd favorite.  The lighter colored card stock makes the back better looking than the Nestle and standard Topps issues.  I've always found the O-Pee-Chee variations to be a bit quirky.  I'm it's just a result of my associating Topps as the norm, but there's something kitchy about OPC.

Fun Facts: *If you look closely at the edges of this card, you'll notice they appear frayed.  This is common for O-Pee-Chee cards (hockey too), as they had notoriously dull blades at their factory, with this frayed appearance being the result.
Number of this card in my collection: 9
2012 update: 14
2013 update: 16
2014 update: 29
2015 update: 34
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 35
2018 update: 47
2019 update: 42 (audit showed less)
2020 update: 43

2021 update: 45

2022 update: 47

2023 update: 49

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 51