The 1992 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and sought after issues in the hobby due to the numerous production errors found throughout. While errors and variations add interest for collectors, the level of mistakes in the ’92 Donruss set is quite remarkable. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the more well-known errors from this release.
One of the highest profile errors is found on the card of pitcher David Cone (#216). On the original printing, his last name is misspelled as “Coen”. This simple typo transformed Cone’s base card from a common issue into one of the most coveted error cards from the early ’90s. In near-mint condition, uncorrected “Coen” versions can sell for thousands of dollars.
Another famous flub involves active player tracker lines on the backs of cards. These were intended to list stats from the previous season. Multiple players like Bret Saberhagen (#233) list stats from 2 seasons prior instead of 1991. Frank Thomas’ (#290) card cites his rank among AL rookies as #1, but neglects to mention he won the league’s MVP award that year.
Moving beyond typos, there were also numerous photo and design mixups. A batch of Ken Griffey Jr. cards (#211) were printed with teammate Randy Johnson’s facial photo obliviously pasted over Griffey’s body. The same thing occurred with Terry Pendleton’s (#368) card, which has pitcher Tom Glavine’s face photo on it. Additional photo swap errors exist featuring the faces of players like Dave Justice and Jeff Blauser.
Speaking of photos, some were downright bizarre choices. On José Rijo’s (#531) card, the snapshot depicts him with the Reds even though he played for the Reds only in 1992 after spending 1985-1991 with the Athletics and Mets. The image is clearly from a different season. Ozzie Smith’s (#557) card portrays him with the Padres even though he was traded from San Diego to the Cardinals prior to the ’92 season.
Moving beyond photos, the design and stats on the back of Roger Clemens’ (#184) card lists him playing for the Red Sox – but he was traded to the Blue Jays midway through the 1991 season. Another mishap features Braves reliever Jeff Reardon (#426) with his stats and information relating to his tenure with the Twins, despite being dealt from Minnesota to Atlanta in 1991.
Perhaps the most head-scratching error comes on Rex Hudler’s (#450) card, where his listed position is “DH/P.” Hudler was never a pitcher in the majors – he was strictly an outfielder and pinch hitter. What’s more, the blurb on his back mentions his selection to the American League All-Star team, except he only played in the National League.
Beyond player-specific mistakes, entire roster and team checklist errors abound in the set as well. When the complete Kansas City roster is tabulated, it adds up to 27 players when they only had 25 on their active roster in 1992. The Chicago White Sox checklist inexplicably lists an additional player, bringing their total to 27 despite having only 25.
The 1992 Donruss release will always be renown not just for the standout rookie cards it features, but also for the tremendous amount of production mistakes and anomalies it contained. Some errors like the Cone misspelling only enhanced interest, but the sheer volume and level of flaws show a notable lack of proofreading on Donruss’s part for that year. While imperfect, it’s this colorful history of errors that adds to the legendary mystique of the ’92 Donruss issue for collectors today.
