Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over a century and are one of the most popular collectibles in the world. With the mass production of cards throughout the years, errors were inevitably made during the printing process that have added interest for collectors. Some errors are extremely rare and can vastly increase the value of a card. This article will explore some of the most common and significant errors seen on baseball cards through the years.
One of the most basic types of errors are typos, where a player’s name, team, position, or other text is misspelled on the card. A famous example is the 1974 Topps Rod Carew card, where his first name is printed as “Rodr.” Misspellings don’t tend to be as valuable as other errors unless they are extremely obscure, but can still be interesting finds for collectors.
Another common printing error is the omission error, where something is left entirely off the card that should be there. This could be stats, the team logo, or other visual elements. One such error is the 1989 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan card missing his pitching stats on the back. Omission errors are usually more valuable than typos since they represent missing information.
Switched photos, where a player’s image has been placed on the wrong card, create some of the most bizarre and sought-after errors. In 2009, Topps accidentally put a photo of Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett on a card that was supposed to feature Phillies pitcher Brett Myers. Swapped photo errors can be quite rare depending on the players involved.
Incorrect stats or career totals are another type of data error collectors look for. The 1974 Topps Hank Aaron card lists his career home run total as 708, when he was still actively playing at the time with more than 700 in his career already. Stat errors again show incorrect information was printed.
Perhaps the most obvious printing errors involve missing color or ink on a card. These can range from slight variations to dramatically blank areas. In 2009, Topps printed a Nick Swisher card missing all the color from his uniform, creating a very eye-catching error. Missing ink or color variations are some of the most visually striking mistakes.
Incorrect card designs and templates have also been accidentally used, creating mismatches between the image and text/stats on the back. In 2013, Topps used the design from a Mike Trout baseball card on a card that was printed featuring Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano. Design mismatches can end up being one-of-a-kind mistakes.
Rare cut and placement errors occur when the card stock is cut or stamped incorrectly during manufacturing. The layers of cardboard making up the front and back may be misaligned, or a card could be cut too large/small for the standard size. Cutting errors disrupt the uniform dimensions collectors expect.
Numbering errors involve instances where the printed serial number does not match the actual printed card. In 1987 Topps, some Bo Jackson rookie cards were found with the number “1” printed on them rather than the high serial numbers they should have had. Numbering mistakes disrupt the expected sequential order.
Among the rarest errors are missing content cards that lack any image, stats or other information on the front or back. Only blanks of white or other colors exist. These “blank back” errors are exceptionally scarce since they represent a complete breakdown somewhere in the printing process.
While errors detract from the perfect, intended design of a card, they have become a fascinating subset for advanced collectors to seek out. The scarcer and more bizarre the mistake, the more eagerly it will be pursued. Errors provide accidental one-of-a-kind variants and insights into the fallibility of mass production. As long as cards continue to be cranked out by the billions, unintended mistakes will continue to sneak their way into the hands of eagle-eyed collectors.
