The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set is one of the most iconic and well-known issues in the modern era of the hobby. It was the company’s third release and helped propel Upper Deck to becoming the sport’s premier card manufacturer. Like with any large scale production, the 1991 Upper Deck set had its share of errors that have been sought after by collectors for decades. Some of the more notable printing mistakes and variations from that year include:
Jose Uribe Chip Error – One of the more famous errors from the set is the card of infielder Jose Uribe, who played for the Chicago Cubs at the time. On his regular issue card, there is a small white chip missing from the white portion of the baseball near the bottom right side of the photo. This subtle anomaly has proven to be very popular with collectors hunting errors. Estimates indicate only a small percentage of Uribe cards contain this chip variation, making it quite scarce and valuable among error collectors.
Roberto Alomar Spelling Error – Second baseman Roberto Alomar had one of the standout rookie seasons in 1990 while playing for the San Diego Padres. On a small number of his 1991 Upper Deck rookie card, there is a mistake in the spelling of his first name. Instead of “Roberto,” the front of the card reads “Roberto.” This is viewed as one of the premier statistical errors from the entire set due to the high-profile nature of the player involved. Only a tiny portion of Alomar’s cards contain this spelling mistake.
Ken Griffey Jr. Brown Line – Perhaps the most significant statistical error from the 1991 Upper Deck set involves future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. On some copies of his iconic rookie card, there is a thin brown line that runs vertically along the right side of the photo, separating a portion of Griffey Jr.’s image. It is believed this was likely caused by an ink smudge that occurred during the printing process. The brown line variation is extremely scarce and holds tremendous value due to the player’s popularity and stature.
Rickey Henderson Name Spacing – Hall of Fame outfielder Rickey Henderson had already put together legendary speed and base-running prowess by 1991 as a member of the Oakland A’s. On a small percentage of his Upper Deck issue cards, the spacing is off between the first and last names on the front. The last “d” of “Rickey” overlaps the start of “Henderson”, constituting a popular statistical error in the set that is particularly hard to visually catch.
Errors on Score Cards – Along with individual baseball player cards, the 1991 Upper Deck release also included “Score” brand cards within the set numbering. Two notable mistakes have been spotted amongst those in particular. On one version of the Score “All-Star MVPs” card, the position player shown is misidentified. Another uncorrected error appears on the “Manager of the Year” Score card where the text is typo’d.
Off-Center Cards – Miscuts and off-center issues were inevitable for such a large production like 1991 Upper Deck. While not true statistical errors, significantly off-center cards of big names like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., and Nolan Ryan are very collectors. Some examples veer so extremely off that portions of the front photo are chopped off.
Back Printing Problems – In addition to fronts, anomalies have also shown up on the backs of 1991 Upper Deck cards. Griffey Jr., Bonds, and Roger Clemens are some players who have variations where segments of their career stats and summaries on the back are either partially missing or cutoff. Other cards had problems with ink smearing or rub-offs impacting text.
As one of the most popular releases ever, the 1991 Upper Deck set saw enormous hype and demand upon arrival. That type of pressure no doubt led to some quality control issues along the way. While imperfect, the errors have only enhanced collector interest over the long-term. For those hunting key statistical mistakes and variations from the year, items like the Uribe chip, Alomar name spelling, or Griffey Jr. brown line are truly one-of-a-kind within the world of sports cards. They represent unique physical properties that tell the story and add chapters to the rich history of the immortal 1991 Upper Deck baseballs cards set.
