Tag Archives: impel

1991 IMPEL BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

Leave a reply

The 1991 Impel baseball card set is one of the more unique issues from the early 1990s. Issued by the short-lived Impel Sports Marketing company, the 1991 set showcased players from both the American and National Leagues. While not one of the premier brands like Topps or Fleer, the 1991 Impel set has developed a cult following among collectors in recent years. Let’s take a deeper look at the history and valuation of some of the more notable cards from this underrated 1991 offering.

Impel Sports Marketing was founded in 1990 by Seth Swirsky with the goal of becoming the third major baseball card manufacturer alongside industry leaders Topps and Fleer. Their 1991 set was their first full baseball card release after only issuing a limited regional set in 1990. The 1991 Impel set contains 330 total cards and includes players from all 26 MLB teams at the time. Notable rookie cards in the set include Gregg Olson, Jay Bell, and Todd Hollandsworth. Each base card features a vertical design with the player’s picture on the left and stats/career highlights on the right. While production values were lower than the larger companies, the set had a unique visual style.

Unfortunately for Impel, their distribution and marketing efforts fell short. The 1991 cards could primarily only be found in discount retail outlets. This limited their mainstream exposure and consumer awareness compared to the Topps and Fleer brands. Impel Sports Marketing went bankrupt after only issuing baseball cards in 1990-1991. Their small but memorable 1991 set has grown a cult following among today’s collectors. Several factors have contributed to increased interest and valuation for notable 1991 Impel cards in recent years:

Scarceness – With Impel’s quick demise, their production run was smaller compared to Topps and Fleer in 1991. Fewer copies of each card were made initially.

Unique Design – The vertical card layout stands out versus the predominantly horizontal mainstream sets of the early 90s.

Rookie Cards – The rookie cards of players like Olson, Bell and Hollandsworth are the lone rookie cards for those players only available in the Impel set.

Nostalgia – Collectors who had Impel cards as kids hold them in high regard for their memories. New collectors appreciate the uniqueness.

Let’s look at estimates for the values of some of the top 1991 Impel baseball cards on the current market:

Ken Griffey Jr. #52 – Considered the crown jewel of the set. Near mint copies in excellent centering currently sell for $150-200.

Gregg Olson #289 – The Orioles closer’s rookie card. NM/MT copies range $75-100 due to his dominant early career.

Jay Bell #33 – The Pirates 2B’s RC. Values have risen to $50-75 as he had a long, productive MLB tenure.

Darren Daulton #164 – “Dutch” was a fan favorite in Philly. His card conveys that popularity at $40-60.

Darryl Strawberry #174 – Even in Dodger uniform, his star power shines at $30-50 for a well-centered card.

Deion Sanders #327 – His brief MLB tenure makes this football star’s baseball RC quite sought after at $25-40.

Todd Hollandsworth #290 – On the lower end, but still $15-25 due to scarcity as his lone rookie card.

Checklist #330 – Unique horizontal design makes this an often sought after $10-20 card.

While the 1991 Impel set may not reach the same heights as flagship issues from Topps and Fleer, they have carved out their own cult following and respectable values. The limited production numbers and memorable rookie cards featured make it an intriguing release for collectors three decades later. With dedicated collectors ensuring preservation, interest and values for this underrated 1991 release should remain stable for years to come.

1991 IMPEL BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1991 Impel baseball card set was a major release during the height of the “junk wax” era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Impel was a small but ambitious card manufacturer that managed to secure licenses from Major League Baseball and the players union to produce full-fledged sets during this boom period.

Released in 1991, the Impel set featured cards showcasing players from both the American and National Leagues. It included a total of 792cards spanning all 30 MLB teams at the time. Impel marketed the set as being the “complete” collection of licensed baseball players for that season. Each card contained a full color photo of the featured player in action along with their career stats and team info on the back.

What set the 1991 Impel set apart from other releases that year was its massive production numbers. Where competitors like Donruss and Fleer were producing cards in the hundreds of millions, Impel upped the ante by printing over one billion total cards for their 1991 offering. This enormous print run was made possible by new high-speed printing technologies that lowered per card costs.

The business strategy behind Impel’s massive 1991 print run was simple – flood the market with as many cards as possible in hopes of gaining market share through ubiquity alone. Their thinking was that if every pack, box or case of cards contained an Impel card, it would drive awareness and collections of the brand.

This saturation strategy proved highly successful for Impel initially. During the peak of the 1991 and 1992 seasons, Impel cards could be found virtually anywhere baseball cards were sold. Mass merchandisers like Walmart, Kmart and Target heavily promoted and stocked Impel products alongside industry giants like Topps due to guaranteed supply.

The enormous print runs ultimately contributed to the crash of the baseball card market a few short years later. As collectors and speculators became increasingly wary of the plummeting long term values of the glut of available cards, excitement and demand for new releases steadily declined beginning in 1993. Fewer packs were being opened each year as the bubble burst.

One of the main criticisms leveled against large issuers like Impel was that many of their productions felt lacking in quality when compared to the meticulous standards of the past. With such large runs required to facilitate distribution deals, rushing cards to market sometimes meant image and production shortfalls slipped through that would have been unacceptable just a few years prior.

As with most “junk wax” era brands, Impel’s 1991 set dramatically decreased in collector value and desirability once the market collapsed. Still, for a time it served as a successful player in the overheated late 80s/early 90s card market by flooding the supply chain with ubiquitous cardboard. Its business model succeeded in gaining temporary market share dominance but also demonstrated how excess could destroy long term collecting passion and accelerate a bubble’s burst.

In the years since, the 1991 Impel set has become mostly forgotten outside of the most die-hard “junk wax” completionists. But it remains an intriguing footnote in the history of the wild trading card boom period as an example of short term massive success through overproduction eventually leading to longer term relative failure. Its story demonstrated the risks of pursuing pure saturation over sustainable collecting value.

1991 IMPEL AAA BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1991 Impel AAA Baseball Card set was the fourth annual minor league card set produced by Impel Marketing. Unlike the previous three Impel sets from 1988-1990 that focused solely on Triple-A minor league players and affiliates, the 1991 edition expanded coverage to include Double-A teams as well. This was a significant change that made the ’91 cards one of the most comprehensive releases of minor league content up to that point.

Issued at the start of the 1991 minor league season, the base set totals 330 cards and features players from the American Association, Eastern League, Southern League, Texas League and Pacific Coast League. Additional subsets included League Leaders cards highlighting the top statistical performers from 1990, and Prospects cards spotlighting up-and-coming young talents. Each card contained player photos, stats, and brief biographical sketches on the back.

Design-wise, the 1991 Impel cards adopted a clean and uniform aesthetic across all teams. The predominantly white front featured the player’s picture centered above team logos and names. Pitcher/batter designation and uniform numbers were included in the bottom corners. On the back, a stripe running along the top separated stats from the bio. Team colors were incorporated into banners along the bottom edge. It was a straightforward and easy to read template.

Distribution was handled through Impel’s network of specialty card shops and some minor league ballpark souvenir stands. Wax packs containing 5-6 commons and the occasional prospect or leader card retailed for around $1. Hobby boxes held 150 random assorted cards and sold in the $20-25 range. With solid production values and broad coverage, the 1991 Impel set was primed to gain new fans of minor league baseball card collecting.

Some notable rookies featured in the 1991 Prospects subset included future MLB All-Stars Jeff Bagwell (Boston Red Sox AAA), Mo Vaughn (Pawtucket Red Sox AAA) and Jason Giambi (Huntsville Stars AA). Other top prospects spotlighted were Dante Bichette (Nashville Sounds AAA), Andy Benes (Omaha Royals AAA) and Jay Bell (Nashville). For collector interest, these early returns of future star players added cachet and remain chase cards to this day.

Regional representation got a boost with the inclusion of Double-A squads like the Huntsville Stars, Birmingham Barons and Memphis Chicks. Franchise mainstays like the Iowa Cubs and Tidewater Tides saw many of their future MLB contributors debut on Impel minor league cards before graduating to the show. International flavor came from teams in the form of the Calgary Cannons of the PCL and Las Vegas Stars membership in the Pacific Coast League.

Statistical and team performance leaders were showcased through 20 specially designated League Leaders cards. Categories included Batting Average, Home Runs, RBI and ERA title holders. Notable individual honorees were AAA ERA champ Mike Morgan (Nashville) along with BA champ David McCarty (Omaha Royals AAA). Repeat Leaders cards from the previous season maintained value for set completionists and fans of those players.

Compared to the major league Topps, Donruss and Fleer sets of that same year which totaled around 700 cards, the 330-card 1991 Impel AAA/AA coverage was quite substantial for a niche product. Its broad scope across multiple levels and leagues gave aficionados of the minors the most complete cardboard rosters available at the time. While production numbers were modest, lasting collector interest has been sparked by the stars unveiled and development chronicled through this seminal minor league issue.

The 1991 Impel AAA Baseball Card set occupies an important place in the growth of the modern baseball card collecting hobby. By expanding coverage to Double-A in addition to Triple-A, it established the high-water mark for comprehensive minor league documentation in a trading card product. Features like Prospects and League Leaders subsets recognized the brightest talents and top statistical achievers, further adding relevance. Over 20 years later, enthusiasm remains for unearthing these fledgling baseball careers frozen in cardboard and plastic. For fans of America’s pastime and its future stars, 1991 Impel holds enduring nostalgic appeal.

1990 IMPEL BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

Leave a reply

The 1990 Impel baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 80s and early 90s era. Impel was a Japanese trading card company that made high quality sets featuring MLB players each year that were distributed internationally. While not as well known as the flagship Topps or Fleer issues in the United States, 1990 Impel cards have developed a strong cult following among collectors in recent decades due to the rarity of the cards and strong condition of the surviving specimens.

The 1990 Impel set contains 132 total cards featuring players and managers from both the American and National Leagues. One of the things that makes these cards so desirable is the colorful graphical designs on each card that often featured action shots or portraits of the players surrounded by ornate flowers, diamonds, and shapes in team colors. The card stock was also of higher quality than typical American issues of the time, with a thicker cardboard feel that has held up remarkably well over the past 30+ years.

Some of the biggest stars featured in the set include Kirby Puckett, Nolan Ryan, Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Ozzie Smith, Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, and Dennis Eckersley. Even lesser known role players and backup catchers can have appeal due to the set’s scarcity. The front of each card contains the player’s picture and stats from the previous 1989 MLB season, along with the Impel logo at the top. Biographical information like birthdate and experience level is also typically included.

The back of 1990 Impel cards featured the player’s career stats up to that point along with an excerpt written in both English and Japanese describing their career highlights or style of play. Rookie cards for players like Paul O’Neill, Jeff Montgomery, Jeff Gray, and Bip Roberts are especially coveted finds in the set. The cards were packaged in wax packs of 5 cards each with no guaranteed hit cards, making complete sets very difficult to assemble by casual collectors at the time of original release.

In the late 90s and 2000s, savvy collectors began to notice how visually striking and well-made the 1990 Impel issues were compared to domestic counterparts. This helped fuel demand, especially online once the internet became more widespread and new collectors from around the world could discover the obscure foreign releases. In the original packaging or in complete binder sets, 1990 Impel routinely sells for thousands of dollars thanks to the combination of star players, scarcity, and superb long-term condition of the surviving examples.

Even more collectible than a full set are the rookie cards and stars graded high by authentication services like PSA and BGS. Well-centered rookie cards for Bonds, Ripken, Ryan, and others can reach five figures on auction sites like eBay if stamped with high grades of Gem Mint (9-10 PSA). Cracking value stars in theseconditions is truly dream come true for avid collectors. Notable recent auction sales include a PSA 10 1990 Impel Kirby Puckett rookie card that achieved $7,350 in January 2021 after multiple bidders drove up the final amount.

Although production details are scarce in English sources, it’s believed Impel printed runs of their annual baseball sets in the neighborhood of 50,000 units or less distributed globally each year. For comparison, flagship Topps issues in the United States had print runs 100-1000 times larger. This rarity enhances the allure, and combined with the condition and aesthetics of the 1990 Impel cards, has cemented their place as one of the true modern vintage grails sought after by collectors even today over three decades later.

For those passionate about late 80s/early 90s baseball cards, the 1990 Impel issue deserves a place in any collection. Even relatively affordable examples of common players still command prices far above typical American releases from the same time due to the cult following these Japanese cards now hold. Whether as an affordable filler card or a true star graduate in pristine condition, 1990 Impel cards continue to captivate enthusiasts with their mix of baseball nostalgia, visual charm, and challenging rarity in the hobby.

1991 IMPEL MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1991 Impel Minor League Baseball card set was one of the largest and most comprehensive releases of minor league cards ever produced. Issued at the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 1991 Impel set showcased players, managers, and teams from all levels of the minor leagues. With a massive 756 total cards in the base set, collectors were given an unprecedented look at the future stars and top prospects developing in the farm systems of Major League Baseball organizations.

Impel had been producing minor league sets since the late 1980s, but the 1991 release was by far their most ambitious effort. In addition to featuring every minor league team, the set also included update/rookie cards for many players who had been recently called up to the majors. Future Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux all had cards in the set from their earlier minor league days. With so many future MLB contributors included, the 1991 Impel set quickly became a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and serious baseball memorabilia collectors.

The massive size of the set allowed Impel to showcase players from all levels of the minors, from the rookie leagues all the way up to Triple-A. Each team’s section included individual player cards as well as team/coach cards showing that season’s roster and managerial staff. Players were photographed in their actual team uniforms, providing a unique historical record of minor league uniforms and logos from that era. In addition to players, the set also included cards for some notable minor league managers like future MLB skippers Jim Leyland and Buck Showalter.

In terms of design and production values, the 1991 Impel cards utilized a similar overall template across all teams and levels. Each player card featured a full body action shot with the team name across the top. Basic stats like height, weight, batting and throwing hands were listed on the back along with a brief career recap. The card stock was of average quality for the early 1990s, with a glossy front and standard gray cardboard backs. While not on par with the flagship Topps and Donruss MLB sets, the Impel cards were well made considering the immense scale of the project.

Distribution of the 1991 Impel set was primarily through hobby shops, card shows and direct mail order from the company. With such an enormous checklist spanning multiple minor leagues, sets were not included in normal retail wax packs. This more limited distribution approach made complete sets somewhat difficult for the average collector to acquire. However, Impel did release factory sets containing playsets of cards grouped by league or division which helped collectors fill out their collections.

In the years since its release, the 1991 Impel Minor League Baseball set has grown in prominence as one of the most extensive historical records of minor league rosters from a single season. With so many future MLB contributors included at the early stages of their careers, the set provides a unique glimpse at the developmental pipelines that produced major league talent. While production values were not on par with flagship brands of the era, Impel is still recognized for undertaking an ambitious project celebrating baseball at all levels. For researchers, historians and serious memorabilia collectors, a complete 1991 Impel set remains a valuable addition to any baseball card collection.

The 1991 Impel Minor League Baseball card set was a massively ambitious project that has stood the test of time. With over 750 total cards showcasing every minor league team and level, it provided an unprecedented look at baseball’s future stars currently developing in farm systems. Loaded with young players who would go on to lengthy MLB careers, the set has become an important historical resource. While distribution was more limited than modern sets, Impel is still recognized for undertaking such a comprehensive celebration of minor league baseball during the sport’s late 80s/early 90s boom period. For its unparalleled scope and insight into a specific season, the 1991 release remains one of the most noteworthy minor league sets ever produced.

1991 IMPEL BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MONEY

Leave a reply

The 1991 Impel baseball card set is one of the more obscure sets from the early 1990s. Impel was a Japanese trading card company that produced cards for both American and Japanese sports leagues. Their 1991 baseball card set focused entirely on Major League Baseball players and managers. While not as widely collected as sets from Topps, Fleer, or Donruss, the 1991 Impel set can contain some valuable and desirable cards for collectors.

One of the top cards from the 1991 Impel set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already establishing himself as a superstar outfielder in his early years with the Seattle Mariners. His rookie card from Impel is quite scarce and in high demand from Griffey collectors. A PSA 10 Gem Mint Griffey rookie in pristine condition could fetch over $5,000. Even well-centered near mint copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition sell for $300-500. Griffey rookie cards were not included in the main Topps or Fleer sets that year, making his Impel card the true rookie.

Other star players from the early 1990s with valuable Impel rookie cards include Chuck Knoblauch, Jeff Bagwell, and Frank Thomas. Knoblauch was coming off an AL Rookie of the Year award with the Twins in 1991 and his Impel rookie has maintained strong collector interest. A PSA 10 Knoblauch rookie could bring in over $1,000, with PSA 8s reaching $200-300. Bagwell’s star power rose quickly with the Astros and his scarce Impel rookie from the team’s 1991 return to respectability is highly sought after. Pristine PSA 10 Bagwell rookies sell for $800-1,000, with mint PSA 9s going for around $350. Frank Thomas debuted with the White Sox in 1990 but his Impel rookie from 1991 is the true first card appearance. A perfect gem quality PSA 10 Thomas rookie would sell for at least $750-1,000.

While rookie cards tend to drive the high values from the 1991 Impel set, some star veteran cards can also hold substantial collector value. A near mint condition Kirby Puckett who was in his prime with the Twins in 1991 usually sells for $100-150. The impressive mustached brothers of Oakland, slugger Jose Canseco and pitcher Dennis Eckersley, normally fetch $75-100 each in PSA 8-9 condition. Nolan Ryan, even at age 44 during his final season with the Rangers in 1991, maintains strong demand and his Impel can sell for $50-75 graded PSA 8. More accomplished veterans like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Roger Clemens range from $40-60 a piece in top graded gem mint condition.

Aside from star players, the 1991 Impel set also contains a few desirable manager and team checklist cards that collectors seek out. The Atlanta Braves were coming off a surprise NL West division title in 1991 led by manager Bobby Cox in his first full season. His Impel manager card rarely surfaces on the secondary market and could command $150-250 in mint condition to the right Braves collector. The set also features team cards for all 26 MLB franchises at the time. The Blue Jays, Twins, and Braves team cards tend to be the most expensive at $75-100 each graded PSA/BGS 9-10 due to the popularity and success of those franchises in the early 1990s.

While the 1991 Impel set lacks the distribution and mainstream recognition of the major American trading card producers, it can still contain some valuable and hard-to-find gems for baseball collectors almost 30 years later. With stars like Griffey, Knoblauch, Bagwell, and Thomas appearing in their true rookie card forms mixed amongst accomplished veterans, the set holds plenty of desirability. With scarce population reports from grading services and fewer unopened Impel packs surviving to this day, mint condition graded examples command strong secondary market prices. For dedicated baseball card collectors seeking out obscure early 90s rookies and stars, the 1991 Impel set deserves a closer look.