1996 Collectors Choice Team Checklist
Gold Signature #412
If you had any idea how many boxes of '96 CC Series 2 I've busted over the years... no... you'd never believe me. You'd think I was making it up for dramatic effect. I wouldn't be.. but... <shrug> <lol> {:-D

Let me put it this way: For a time I had a literal wall - I mean A COMPLETE WALL made up of boxes from 1997 Score Hobby Reserve Series 2 and '96 Collectors Choice Series 2. It was... 20 feet long and maybe 5-1/2 foot high. The damn thing looked like I was building a fort or a bunker with boxes instead of bricks. Man, I wish I had taken a picture, but my wife had had enough and I ended up donating all those tens of thousands of cards to a local kids athletic group. <g>

1994 ProMint Diamond Collection #PROMO
Those who know me know I'm not a big fan of these 'gold' cards. At best they're a fringe collectible - and this example isn't going to win any 'Best Of..." competitions. The only reason I even collect them is to cross them off my checklist.

But THIS was one of the most frustrating cards/collectibles I have ever encountered! It took... what... 10 YEARS before I finally found an example. I'm sure many of you were wondering why I was willing to pay $99 to a seller with such a sketchy eBay History. Trust me - this is much, much tougher than it looks.

Collector's Note: It would be another 2 years before ProMint actually utilized this technique (embedding a diamond chip) into its product lines; and that 1996 issue, while tough itself, isn't as difficult as this promo.

UPDATE (11.20.07): I was recently asked if the 1996 "diamond card" I mention above is the one that came out of this box.

The answer is: No. The diamond-chip card I'm referring to was issued by ProMint in large faux leather cases and large plastic 'tins'. They were called "Baseball Diamond Stars" and are identical to the regularly issued ProMint gold cards with the exception of having a diamond chip embedded on the card fronts.