1998 Donruss Crusade #314
Unreleased 'Green'

1998 Donruss Crusade #314 I always suspected that this issue had been produced. This card is the very first time that I can recall an example from the Crusade Line (non-Call To Arms) ever making it to the secondary market. It's my belief that all three levels - Green, Purple, and Red were in fact fully produced and prepped for insertion into an undetermined future Pinnacle product, but that the infamous bankruptcy threw all of that into the wind.

What's commonly misunderstood are the "first series" found in 1998 Donruss, Leaf, Leaf Rookies & Stars, and Donruss Update.

Selected players were only found as either a Crusade or a Call To Arms - but not both. The plan, which was not implemented, was to then issue their corresponding parallel in a future Pinnacle release. In other words - Frank Thomas was selected for 'Call To Arms' (a purple version can be seen here) but not selected for 'Crusade'. This card, however, validates and proves that the intention was to indeed issue him as a Crusade at some future point.

Like many cards from the Pinnacle Bankruptcy period, this was not completely "finished", as it's missing its serial number. But let me be clear - these are fully realized cards - not prototypes, promos, or something fished out of the dumpster. Whether or not this made it out because of some nimble-fingered employees OR if it was legally procured from Donruss-Playoff Corp after the buyout is not clear.

Finally, I want to thank Brad Wackerlin (www.markgrace.com) for noting that all Crusade or CTA cards numbered past #300 were unissued.