There are no less than EIGHT different flavors of mini cards. I've scanned a few from past years so you can get a feel for what they look like. In cases where I do not have a particular version I have created a mock up as close as possible to the originals.
The different versions are:
REG'LAR OLD MINI CARDS
These are the versions that are simply the size of the old timey Allen & Ginter tobacco cards. And there's nothing wrong with that! But wait, there's more...ALLEN & GINTER BACKS
These have the Old Planter logo on the back instead of the stats. I like Old Planter so I say: Yay! Old Planter! But wait, there's more...BLACK BORDER MINIS
According to a scan from Beckett's box break, Topps went and fancied up the black border this year! They look like an actual frame now instead of the awkward and boring black box around the picture used the past few years. But wait, there's more...NO NUMBER BACKS
AKA: The colossal pain in the ass parallel. These cards look exactly like the regular minis except like the original A&G cards, there is no card number. The problem: They look exactly like the regular minis except there is no card number. It's really easy to miss these little buggers unless you squint at every single card. To make matters worse, they are all limited to fifty copies each... BUT TOPPS DIDN'T SERIAL NUMBER THEM! I hate this version. But wait, there's more...BAZOOKA GUM BACKS
Old Planter is chewing Bazooka gum and blowing a big bubble on the back of these cards. Thank goodness he was able to kick that smoking habit. These cards are actually serial numbered to 25. The one I have from 2007 is hand numbered. But wait, there's more...CLOTH CARDS
These are like the silk cards found in Base Topps and a few other Topps sets. The sell sheet states they are made of cloth expressly designed for Ginter. Since Ginter was a planter, maybe they are made out of hemp? Nah, they'd have to have 420 subjects instead of 350 then. That wouldn't work and you should get high on baseball anyway you naughty stoners. These are numbered to 10 copies each. But wait, there's more...GINTER GOT WOOD
Mini cards. Made out of wood. Hand crafted by Quebecois elves from old growth forest harvested in a magic grove watered by a rolling stream from Lac St-Jean. That's why there's only one of each. Or they were hacked out of one of Arthur Shorin's old coffee tables. Either way works. You'll never see one of these as long as you live anyway. But wait, there's more...PRESS PLATES
The plates that printed up all those cards got sent out to pasture and encased in a frame for collectors to snap up. There's four colors per card, so four plates each. And that's all folks!
3 comments:
I completely agree! but I'm LMFAO right now from your comments and pics! Thanks I really needed that today. It feels good to laugh the way this hobby weems to be headed sometimes! Grant old school pack buster
"You'll never see one of these as long as you live anyway ..."
I guess that's not directed at me. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut, or a Ryan Church wood mini.
man, you are a ginter maniac! so much for the holiday weekend eh? This has been a very informative post for a newbie collector as I am getting ready to plunge into three boxes of Ginter madness. Thanks!
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