The 1990 Donruss baseball set is regarded as one of the most error-filled issues in the history of modern sports card production. With multiple misprints, photographs, serial numbers, and statistics errors across cards for many of baseball’s top stars of the late 80s and early 90s, the 1990 Donruss release proved to be a gold mine for error card collectors.
Perhaps the most famous error from the 1990 Donruss set involves Dodgers star Kirk Gibson’s card. On Gibson’s standard base card, the photo is actually of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning instead of Gibson. How this mix up occurred still remains a mystery to this day. Rumors swirled that an intern was responsible for incorrectly assigning Browning’s photo file to Gibson’s card template in the production process. Regardless of how it happened, Gibson/Browning switcheroos are among the most sought after pieces from the vast library of 1990 Donruss errors.
In addition to swapped photos, many cards had incorrect jersey numbers printed on them. Perhaps the highest profile number mishap was Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco’s card listing his number as “44” rather than the correct “33.” The 1990 season was Canseco’s first with the A’s after being traded from the Red Sox in the offseason, so his number change from “9” certainly could have caused some confusion. But a full number swap from “33” to “44” was definitely a glaring mistake. Other star players like Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and Rod Carew also had their uniform numbers transposed on cards.
Misprinted statistics were another infamous problem area for 1990 Donruss. Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane’s card had an incorrect home run total listed as “6” even though he was not a power hitter and never hit more than 2 home runs in a single season. Ozzie Smith’s card contained baffling stats like “24 HR” which was inconceivable for the slick-fielding shortstop. The statistics snafus were likely due to database issues where performance lines were accidentally swapped between players.
Along with player-specific blunders, there were also wider scale numbering anomalies in the 1990 Donruss set. For example, cards numbered to parallel rare “Moments” and “Traded” short printed parallels had incorrect numbering sequences. This caused widespread confusion for collectors trying to complete their sets. The base issue cards were also riddled with typos in the wording of the descriptive backs. Words would be wholly misspelled or swapped, often in humorous fashion.
Perhaps the biggest shock of all from the 1990 Donruss errors was the botched photo issue involving Oakland A’s manager Tony La Russa. His basic manager card photo showed then-San Francisco Giants skipper Roger Craig instead. As a respected MLB veteran and future Hall of Famer, having La Russa’s likeness wholly replaced by another manager was truly jaw-dropping. It stood out as one of the most high-profile photo flubs ever seen in a mass-produced sportscard set.
While production miscues caused consternation for collectors at the time of the cards’ original release, the 1990 Donruss errors have gained legendary status retroactively. Error hobby enthusiasts flock to the year, seeking specimens showing swapped photos, incorrect stats, misspelled words, transposed numbers and more. The sloppy quality has come to be embraced by those who enjoy the quirks and unconventional aspects of oddball issues. For serious error collectors, finding a premium star player in pristine condition with a glaring production botch makes for a true prize.
Graded examples of 1990 Donruss errors in top condition have sold for substantial sums. A PSA Gem Mint 10 Kirk Gibson/Tom Browning photo swap brought over $12,000 at auction. High-grade copies of wrong-number stars like Canseco and Carew routinely sell in the four-figure range as well. Even more common transposition mistakes can fetch hundreds due to the epic size of the mistakes within the1990 Donruss set. For those focused on the eccentric aspects of the card collecting hobby, 1990 Donruss has become hallowed ground.
In the end, the multitude of mistakes in the 1990 Donruss issue, from photo swaps to stat typos to numbering irregularities, seem almost too implausibly extensive to be truly accidental. Some theorize the errors were a result of rushed production timelines and cost-cutting measures. Others believe disgruntled warehouse employees may have subtly sabotaged the process. Regardless of the exact reasons why, the bizarre errors immortalized the 1990 Donruss set in baseball card lore. Over thirty years later, it remains one of the most error-prone issues ever – an anomaly that continuously fuels collector passions.
