The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most notorious for errors and anomalies found among collectors. While all mass-produced sports card sets contain some mistakes, the ’87 Topps issue stands out for the variety and quantities of errors zipping around in factory packs that year. Some errors are much rarer finds than others, making certain pieces real prizes for dedicated error card collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most significant screw ups in the 1987 Topps baseball card production run.

One area where errors often occur is in the photograph selection and cropping process. In 1987 Topps, a number of cards had photos of the wrong player somehow get assigned to that player’s regular card number and design layout. Perhaps the most famous example is Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell’s card, which mistakenly contained a photo of former Cardinal outfielder Andy Van Slyke. Only a handful of the Worrell/Van Slyke mix ups are known to exist. Another mixed photo error saw Met pitcher Rick Aguilera’s image substituted for teammate David Cone’s card. Dozens of examples of the Aguilera for Cone mistake have been reported, likely making it one of the set’s most widespread photo flubs.

Photo cropping errors were also rather common in ’87 Topps. Cards like Yankees outfielder Danny Tartabull and Cardinals catcher Tony Pena had portions of their photos cropped off in error. On Tartabull’s issue, only the top half of his face is visible. Meanwhile, about half of Pena’s torso is chopped out of sight. The manufacturing defect created very unusual, incomplete images that collectors love to find. Beyond single players, there were also focus problems where photos seemed badly blurred on specific cards. Royals third baseman George Brett and Twins catcher Tom Nieto experienced these types of focus photo snafus.

Beyond photography, a bunch of typos and stat errors made it into the final ’87 Topps run as well. Perhaps the zaniest was on Yankees pitcher Dave LaPoint’s card, where his last name was mistakenly spelled “LaPointe.” Additionally, Giants pitcher Atlee Hammaker had his earned run average listed as “2.85” when it should have read “2.48.” Reds outfielder Kal Daniels was awarded an extra home run, with 8 shown when he actually hit 7 in 1986. The back of Cardinals star Ozzie Smith’s card typo’ed his birthplace as “Herbon, Kentucky” rather than the correct “Mobile, Alabama.” Dozens of other players had incorrect stats, positions or other typos pollute information on their ’87 cardboard.

Errors could even pop up in card design specs themselves beyond just text or photos. A select few ’87 Cubs and Tigers cards were printed on the wrong card stock, giving them a noticeably lighter hue than standard issues. Meanwhile, the checklist card at the end of the set had it’s blue color changed to a deep purple tone. These stock errors stand out wildly versus standard versions. In an even rarer mistake, Reds reliever John Franco’s card completely lacked the normal white border framing around his image and stats box. Franco’s card was left unadorned all around its edges in solo exception.

Perhaps the wackiest error subset involves 1987 Topps cards that were seemingly printed with no gum inside their packages. While flavors and styles varied year to year, Topps baseball cards traditionally came with that stick of familiar chewing gum. A small batch of ’87s seems to have escaped the gum lining process altogether. These “gumless” versions are considered among the most bizarre anomalies collectors seek. Their aberrant nature makes gumless 1987s highly valuable finds today.

As one would expect, the rarer an error, the more coveted it becomes in the hobby. Top miscuts, reversed images, missing stat boxes and more can draw mega-dollar prices for pristine examples. But even common errors enhance the ’87 Topps set for the dedicated error collector. After all, these quirks are what make the cards interesting reflections of real-life imperfections that sometimes slipped through the factory process back in the day. Three decades later, they continue providing enjoyment and challenge for sports card fans seeking out the mistakes in one of the error-prone years of baseball cardboard.

The 1990 Topps baseball card set featured several notable errors that have become highly sought after by collectors over the years. The 1990 Topps set had the usual assortment of rookie cards, stars of the era, and action shots, but hidden amongst the well-designed cards were a handful that contained mistakes or unusual variations that make them quite rare and valuable today.

Perhaps the most famous error from the 1990 Topps set is the “Bat Boy” Frank Viola card. On regular issue Frank Viola cards, the former Cy Young Award winning pitcher is shown in a Twins uniform. A small number of Frank Viola cards were accidentally printed showing an unidentified “bat boy” in uniform rather than Viola. This unprecedented error of putting the wrong person entirely on a card has made the “bat boy” Frank Viola one of the most coveted 1990 Topps errors. In top graded condition, a mint “bat boy” Viola can sell for over $1,000 due to its extreme rarity and novelty.

Another significant 1990 Topps error involves catcher Gary Carter’s card. On Carter’s standard issue card, he is depicted in a Mets uniform as he entered his final MLB season. A minor mistake was made where a small number of Carter cards were printed with his name spelled “Cary” rather than “Gary”. This subtle one letter typo has still made the “Cary” Carter cards quite valuable, often fetching several hundred dollars in top shelves.

Beyond name and image mistakes, some 1990 Topps errors involved unusual variations in photograph cropping or color inconsistencies. One such example is Ozzie Smith’s card, where a small subset were printed with the photo cropped unusually high above Smith’s head. Another variation is the Dennis Lamp cards, where approximately a dozen were found to have an incorrect blue/teal colored frame around the photo rather than the standard gold color. Variations like these that changed the basic design or appearanceStill other notable 1990 Topps errors involve unusual variations in photograph cropping or color inconsistencies. Of these types of errors, some that stand out include Ozzie Smith’s card, where a small subset were printed with the photo cropped unusually high above Smith’s head. Another example is Dennis Lamp’s card, where approximately a dozen have been reported with an incorrect blue/teal colored frame around the photo rather than the standard gold color. Variations such as these that changed the basic design or appearance of the card make them quite rare and collectible to enthusiasts.

There were at least four different 1990 Topps short prints that are now highly valued because of their scarcity. Arguably the most famous short print of the set is Nolan Ryan’s card, with estimates putting the print run around only 1 in 600 packs. Other major short prints included Lenny Dykstra, Mark McGwire, and Will Clark. Even in well-worn condition, examples of the 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan short print can still easily fetch $100 or more.

Beyond errors and variations, many collectors seek out 1990 Topps cards showing specific photo subjects or action shots they find intriguing. A perfect example of this is the Ryne Sandberg card, which depicts the perennial Gold Glove second baseman making an incredible backhanded catch. Photos like this demonstrating pure athleticism remain some of the most visually striking and memorable images from the entire set three decades later.

While producing such a massive sports card set, it’s inevitable that small mistakes will occur. The handful of prominent errors and unusual variations from the 1990 Topps baseball card release have made those specific cards incredibly rare and valuable to today’s collectors. Features like the “bat boy” Viola, “Cary” Carter, color variation Lamp, and tight photo cropped Smith are just some examples of the hidden gems that can be worth well over $1,000 in pristine condition. When it comes to collecting valuable vintage errors, the 1990 Topps set certainly delivers some highly sought after pieces of cardboard for enthusiasts.

The 1959 Topps baseball card set is regarded by collectors and enthusiasts as one of the most error-filled issues ever produced by the iconic trading card company. From miscut cards to missing team logos and swapped player photos, the ‘59 Topps release showcased a stunning array of manufacturing mishaps. While most error cards from the set aren’t particularly rare or valuable on their own due to the magnitude of mistakes made that year, they remain a captivating part of sports card history illustrating how even the most established companies were still honing their production processes in the late 1950s.

One of the biggest problems plaguing the ‘59 Topps set stemmed from misaligned printing plates that caused many cards to be drastically miscut during the mass production process. Rather than trimming cards cleanly along guidelines printed on the gum sheet material, errors saw portions of an image bleed onto an adjacent card. Some miscuts were more minor showing just a sliver of a player photo, while others showed as much as 75% of two separate cards all on one. The miscuts occurred seemingly at random throughout the 652 card checklist. Some of the more notable miscuts include a Sandy Koufax partially showing up on a Nellie Fox and a Vic Wertz bleeding onto a Dick Groat.

Another widespread printing issue involved the team logos found on most cards which were meant to identify what franchise each player belonged to. It’s believed fluctuations in ink levels caused many logos to either print very faintly and sometimes not at all. Among cards missing team logos were future Hall of Famers like Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, and Eddie Mathews. Not only did this detract from the basic information and aesthetics offered on each card, it also made accurately identifying certain players more difficult for collectors even familiar with the players.

Beyond cutting and logo faults, a smaller scattering of cards contained incorrect photos of the wrong player entirely. One of the most famous photo swaps saw Rocky Colavito’s image mistakenly placed on Harvey Kuenn’s card and vice versa. Other mistaken identities included Bill Virdon and Vada Pinson, Bobby Shantz and Bobby Del Greco, Early Wynn and Lew Burdette. While such large mixups affected only about a dozen cards tops, their impact is magnified because they paired the image of one star player with the statistics and info of another entirely.

1959 also held its share of more seemingly random individual errors. Arnie Portocarrero’s card was printed with the team listed as “None” since he was traded midseason and hadn’t joined his new club yet. Cal Abrams saw his position unintentionally listed as “RF” when it should have read “RP.” There were even a small group of cards with missing player signatures that were intended spaces as a unique feature for that year.

Of course, not all the printing snafus resulted in what would be considered true errors. A number of variations emerged too from shifting inks and plates through the long production run. Many researchers have debated where to draw the line between an error versus an uncommon parallel. Examples of notable variations include cards showing team logos printed in different locations or colors than the “standard” version.

Regardless of the specific printing flaw or how extensively it changed the intended design, the unmatched degree of defects that infiltrated the 1959 Topps set gave rise and life to a whole subset of the hobby obsessed with finding and cataloging all the mistakes. Though individual error cards may not be worth a fortune, collectively they serve as a reminder of both the humanness of the manufacturing process and how even multimillion dollar companies were still progressing technically in baseball cards’ early days.

The 1955 Topps baseball card set is considered by many collectors and enthusiasts to be one of the most iconic and important sets in the history of the hobby. In addition to marking Topps’ first complete set since 1950 and their emergence as the dominant baseball card producer, the 1955 issue introduced the modern design aesthetic that would define Topps cards for decades. While appreciated for its historic significance and classic visuals, the ’55 Topps set also holds allure for the hunting and discovery of errors – rarities created due to mistakes in the production process. Several elusive error variations have enthralled and motivated collectors for over half a century.

One of the most significant errors from 1955 involves Brooklyn Dodgers star Don Drysdale, who was incorrectly issued card #334 instead of his proper #103. Topps started their photo and stat selection process months before the season began, so early information listed Drysdale with an incorrectly high uniform number. It’s believed only a handful of the #334 error Drysdale cards still exist today in circulated condition, with PSA-graded mint examples garnering prices well into the tens of thousands. Another Dodger, Duke Snider, also received the wrong card number treatment – a scarce #268 error instead of his #62.

An iconic error finds Boston Red Sox ace reliever Dick Radatz appearing twice on different cards. The first is his correct #445 listing, while a second shows as an error #159. It’s believed somewhere around 100 of these dual Radatz cards were accidentally printed, adding another quirky scarce variant to an already groundbreaking set. Hall of Famer Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies narrowly avoided having dual listings, as his initial (and scarce) error portrait shows as #159 before being fixed to the appropriate #403.

Perhaps the most notorious error from 1955 comes in the form of Cleveland Indians pitcher Bobby Avila erroneously receiving stats and an illustration intended for former player Bobby Mattick. Only a small number of these prestigious “Bobby Avila/Bobby Mattick” mix ups are known to exist. Locating one in high grade is the Holy Grail for many vintage card collectors. Another Indians mix up substitutes Rocky Colavito for his teammate Bob Lemon on card #74, while a third has Minnie Minoso illustrated but listing stats for fellow Chicago White Sox hitter Jim Rivera on card #465.

In addition to player substitutions, the 1955 set housed other production mistakes like incorrect team logos appearing on cards. Prominent examples show the Milwaukee Braves logo on pitcher Vern Bickford’s Brooklyn Dodgers card #189 or New York Giants emblems appearing on other team’s cards. A rare reverse-image printing of pitcher Bill Virdon’s St. Louis Cardinals card #213 remains one of the most visually stunning errors. Topps’ first attempt at English footballer Stanley Matthews’ rookie card #397 was marred early on by incorrect stats.

While immense and sometimes valuable, not all 1955 errors occurred on the common players. Rare miscuts and oddities featuring stars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax and more can demand five-figure valuations or more. Assembling a comprehensive ’55 error collection represents a lifetime endeavor with incredible rarities still awaiting discovery almost 70 years later. The mix ups and faults from this innovative issue have thrilled and intrigued collectors for generations, representing the earliest preserved examples of the hobby’s endless capacity for surprise.

The 1955 Topps baseball card set left an indelible mark on the sport card industry and collector community. While the standard base cards hold great significance, it’s the scarce errors and variations that continue fueling extensive research and the thrill of the hunt decades after the set’s original production. Mistakes were clearly made during Topps’ ambitious first undertaking in years, but those faults imbued the ’55s with qualities of surprise, scarcity and enthusiastically pursued challenges that few other issues can match. The saga of this classic set’s production mishaps adds rich layers of intrigue and discovery that amplify its status as one of the true cornerstones of the vintage era.