1995 Fleer All-Fleer Team 9
Available as a pack-redemption set. I know how difficult it is nowadays
with all the "ultimate" redemptions taking all their time,
but I sorta wish the manufacturers would start these basic redemption
programs again. Not only were they fun, but they produced cards that
later turned out to be decently rare.
1998 SPX Power Explosion Spectrum #45
Due to problems in production, UD inserted redemption cards for three
(3) of their 'top tier' Spectrum parallels. Specifically: Thomas, McGwire,
and Sosa.
I contacted UD to determine how many of the Franks were actually redeemed
- but they were unwilling or unable to give out that information. The
one above is #19/50.
1994 Topps ABCD Winning Card and/or Certified Winner Redemption
Beckett claims either version of this card can be purchased for between
.06¢ - .20¢.
Yeah,
right. Good luck.
The last one I saw went for $89.00. In fact, I sold my extra Sweepstakes
for $65.00 to a Jay Buhner fan in Canada.
I could prove to Beckett that this is one of the most undervalued cards
in the entire hobby; but that would mean ruining my eBay reputation
by offering a card I had no intention of selling. It's just not worth
it to prove their selective ignorance.
Update (7/26/06): Another ABCD Redemption goes for more than $50.00.
And
what does Beckett have to say?
2001 eTopps #128
The hobby's first ever "stock market" based trading cards.
While I still think it's a wacky concept that's likely to end up in
the heap of wacky ideas that loses steam after the fad wears off - it
does produce some limited issues. Frank's
'01 issue only has an 834 print run.
What's seen above is called the "In Hand" version. Collector's
can opt to have the cards delivered "in-hand" or kept active
in the so-called Topps "e-Vault" where ownership is then traded
from one virtual account to another; sometimes with cash and other times
by swapping e-cards.
I only wish Topps would clarify how many are delivered and how many are kept as e-cards. It would certainly affect buying trends and likely build more interest in the brand name. The reason I think they don't? Simple. They don't really know. The so-called "e-Vault" is nothing more than a stock room with boxes of cards all mixed in with one another. They couldn't tell you how many they actually have "in-hand" themselves, much less provide an accurate accounting to their customers.
Still,
I keep my account active so that I can always be ready to procure "my"
Frank whenever they produce one. So far, including team cards, there
have been five (5) Franks. I suspect they'll have another one when The
Big Hurt cranks out No. 500.
UPDATE 10.25.07: I wondered why eTopps did not issue an "Event"
card when both Frank and ARod hit their 500th. Seems they decided to
do one 'big' issue to honor all accomplishments in 2007. You
can see Frank's Allen & Ginter 500th HR Card here.
Note: The most "limited" is the 2006 version - with 539 issued.