2017 Bowman 70th Anniversary Buybacks "1990"

Card Review: 9.2
This card looks better without the 70th logo.  You can read about my profuse praise for the original, or un-altered copy (as this is technically an original too), here.  As far as the "buyback" logos go, this is probably the best that I've seen.  It's actually very well done, especially compared to the "Rediscover Topps" nonsense that I've seen so much of this year.

I don't know much about these cards.  I didn't know they were a thing until I saw a couple on eBay, and I had to do a google search just to figure out what it was called and what packs they were falling out of.  There really wasn't much out there on them, with differing opinions as to whether they exists with different color stamps, and if they how many different colors, and which colors are the most/least common.  I'm not losing any sleep over it, as I don't consider these "unique" cards and view my collection as complete without them.  I have plenty of 1990 Bowman.  Some dude stamping copies in a factory 27 years later doesn't make them "new."

Number of Copies in my collection: 1

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

1988 Nestle #23

Card Review: 8.1  I'm not sure what sort of Nestle Product this came with, but it's not a bad looking card.  The red Expos batting practice jersey makes for a nice primary colors effect.

I didn't notice originally, but as pointed out in the comments, this card lists Wallach as a "Pinch Hitter."  I'm not sure if that was just a goofy mistake, or if the set was some sort of All-Star team and "Pinch Hitter" was just Nestle's way of including extra players.  In either event, it's inexcusable, as Wallach was the best player in all of MLB in 1987 and should have been a no-brainer for Nestle at 3B.  And given his MVP-caliber (should of won) season in '87, Nestle should have known what position he played.

In any event, I still really like this card.

Number of this card in my collection: 2
2015 update: 3
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: 4
2018 update: 6

1985 All-Star Game Program Insert

Card Review: 3.2 Same photo as the previous two year's inserts.

Fun Facts: *Wallach went 1 for 2 with a run scored, a ground rule double, and intentional walk in the 1985 All-Star Game.

Number of this card in my collection: 6

1984 All-Star Game Program Insert

Card Review: 3.2 This is the same photo as the '83 Insert, but with a different back.

Fun Facts: *Wallach went 0 for 1 in the 1984 All-Star Game

Number of this card in my collection: 6
2014 update: 7 
 

1983 All-Star Game Program Insert

Card Review: 3.3 From what I understand this card was cut out of an insert in the Program at the 1983 All-Star game.  It's stock is slightly thicker than that of a magazine cover, but much thinner than a baseball card.  Any information on how it came in the program would be greatly appreciated.  They re-used the same photo for a similar insert in 1984 and 1985.  It's not a bad card, just very small.

Number of this card in my collection: 5

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

1991 Post #2

Card Review:  8.8  This card is one that eluded me for a very long time.  I actually acquired an uncut sheet of this card before the actual card.  Once in hand, it's very a nice card, at least as far as cards from cereal boxes go.  I like all the red, and there's a decent attempt at putting stats on the back.  I've often seen this listed as "Post Canadian," which makes sense due to the French.  I'm guessing the player selection was different in Canada than it was in the United States.  I know my brother and I ate obscene amounts of Post raisin bran chasing these things, and we never pulled a Wallach (I don't recall even thinking he was in the set).  It stands out in my memory because we preferred Kellog's Raisin Bran (well, actually my brother and I preferred Frosted Flakes and Captain Crunch, but that didn't happen on school mornings, or any mornings at all for that matter in my house).  But when Post had baseball cards, we suffered through it.

Number of this card in my collection: 1
2012 update: 3
2014 update: 5
2015 update: 8
2016 update: 11
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 14
2019 update: n/a
2020 update: 15

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 16

2023 update: 17

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

2026 update: 207

1990 Donruss Learning Series #28

Card Review: 6.2  These cards were given out to school kids as a 55 card set.  Everyone of them features a boring close up of the players face.  For more on the set itself click here.  Allegedly they're very rare, and I guess compared to regular 1990 Donruss they are.
Number of this card in my collection: 1 
2012 update: 9
2013 update: n/a
2014 update: n/a
2015 update: n/a
2016 update: n/a
2017 update: n/a
2018 update: 10

2019 update: n/a

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: n/a

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: 11

1988 Fleer Baseball MVP #42

Card Review: 9.3  Had this picture been used on the Fleer Award Winners card in 1988, it would have made for a great looking card.  As it is, this one is pretty good in it's own right.  I'm not wild about the all of the yellow, but it's not terrible either.  In 1988 I wasn't concerned at all.  I was just estatic that Wallach was included in one of these junk sets put out by Fleer.  The red batting practice jersey is always a welcomed sight, and made for some great looking Expos cards.  MLB.com is selling a Tim Raines Red B.P. jersey, I'll be first in line to overpay for a Wallach one if they ever start selling his.

Number of this card in my collection: 2
2013 update: 5
2014 update: 8
2015 update: 13
2016 update: 16
2017 update: 17
2018 update: 18
2019 update: 19

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: 28

2022 update: 29

2023 update: 30

2024 update: 31

2025 update: 32

2026 update: 34

1990 Fleer League Leaders #41

Card Review: 9.8  Fleer put out a lot of these small sets in the 80's and early 90's, sold in packaging resembling a deck of cards.  For the most part I liked them, with a few glaring exceptions.  I happen to like really this one, and am always a fan of any card featuring the Expos red batting practice jersey.

It's also a photo from the batting net used during batting practice.  Cards featuring players around the batting net/cage used to be common practice by Topps in the 60's and 70's (and I think '81 Fleer is has a good amount too), but had gone by the wayside by the time Wallach started showing up on cards.

Number of this card in my collection: 2
2012 update: 3
2013 update: 4
2015 update: 6 
2016 update: 8
2017 update: 9
2018 update: n/a
2019 update: 12

2020 update: n/a

2021 update: n/a

2022 update: 13

2023 update: n/a

2024 update: n/a

2025 update: n/a

2026 update: 14

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

1990 Bowman Tiffany #114

Card Review: 8.8  This card just doesn't lend itself well to the Tiffany treatment.  In fact, the colors look better on the standard '90 Bowman, a set that has a very nice retro feel to it. Still, as a whole, I like this card, and am always a fan of the red batting practice jersey. 

It's also, as far as I can tell, relatively scarce.  Which makes sense given the relative (compared to other sets of the time) scarcity of '90 Bowman.  I don't have any production numbers to back up these claims, I'm just going off my own numbers.  Which given the general cross section of locations and cards sent to me over the years, as well as my own efforts to purchase, I believe my numbers and patterns they present have some legitimacy to them at this point.

Number of this card in my collection: 2
2012 update: 4
2013 update: 5

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: 7

1990 Bowman #114

Card Review: 9.7  In theory, I shouldn't be wild about the idea of a Jamaican themed front design for a base set, or this style of stats used on the back, but it somehow 1990 Bowman makes it all work.  I consider this the last truly great Wallach card.  In 1992 the baseball card as it had traditionally been known and defined, ceased to exists.  There were few holdouts in 1991, but none that I like as much as this Bowman.  I think this set as a whole, is wildly under appreciated.  Topps was taking risks with the early Bowman reboots, and they didn't get any credit for it until the mid-90's when the '92 set was suddenly deemed "scarce" (I don't believe it to be any less common than any other '92 set).

I actually would bet on this '90 set having lower production runs than '92.  I remember having an extremely difficult time finding this card in 1990, and actually had to resort to buying an Expos team set.  Nobody on my block was buying much Bowman, and I bought out most of the only box of it I saw in a store all summer trying to pull this one.

Number of this card in my collection: 7 (they came easier after the 1st one)
2012 update: 13
2013 update: 45
2014 update: 51
2015 update: 76 
2016 update: 84
2017 update: 91
2018 update: 101
2019 update: 121

2020 update: 130

2021 update: 135

2022 update: 158

2023 update: 171

2024 update: 177

2025 update: 180

2026 update: 182

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

1992 Post #5

 Card Review: 3.5  I'm not sure this qualifies as a card.  What I'm calling the front certainly looks like one, but the back is some sort of pop-out thing.  It may even have a pull-tab to make it move.  I can't really tell without opening it, which at this point I'm not willing to do.  Though my scan may not show it, it' is signifigantly smaller than a standard size card.  It's size is slightly bigger than the Topps Mini-Leaders cards, but smaller than the standard issue.

I don't remember ever seeing these in boxes of cereal, and the presence of French suggests this was likely a Canadian only issued product.  My brother and I ate a ton of cereal as kids, and had these ever been stuffed into boxes of raisin brand, we would've known about it.

Number of this "card" in my collection: 1
2013 update: 3
2015 update: 4
2016 update: 5

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

1982 Fleer #210

Card Review: 9.4 I like the backs of '82 Fleer better than the fronts (which have a weird waxy feel to them).  The first one of these I got was at my local card shop "The Batter's Box" in Phoenix.  I had literally just asked the guy for it, and he got annoyed, because I was like 7 and had asked once a week for six months straight.  Then some kid came in with a couple of cards to sell so the dealer told me to get lost.  One of the cards the kid had was this one.  The dealer rudely dismissed all the kid's cards as crap but told the kid he'd take the '82 Fleer Wallach, "I'll give ya a quarter, it's not like anyone collects Wallachs."  The kid took the offer and the guy turned to me, still in earshot of the kid, and said "one dollar."  He wasn't trying to be funny.  In the history of human civilization, I'm not sure there has ever been a bigger collection of dirt bags, than 1980's baseball card shop owners.


Number of this card in my collection: 26
2012 update: 37
2013 update: 57
2014 update: 60
2015 update: 70 
2016 update: 79
2017 update: 242
2018 update: 248
2019 update: 382
2020 update: 456

2021 update: 457

2022 update: 462

2023 update: 465

2024 update: 500

2025 update: 505

2026 update: 506