Will Clark Team USA Card
 

Does anyone know the background on this card? Was it actually issued in 1984 or at a later date? My guess is much later just based on the listing prices on e-bay.

Just a guess but it looks like the "Broder" cards made by Ed and Rob.

Ben is correct, it is an unlicensed card. Nice card that I'd sell for about a dollar

Thanks, guys.

At some point someone will have to catalog these unlicensed cards.

Not a popular viewpoint, but coming from an era when the big companies massively over produced I sort of like them. We're headed for 40 years after they were made, and they're in a strange place. The occasional dealer will have boxes full of a handful of complete sets very cheaply. But they're all so ignored by the hobby that finding a particular one isn't always a simple thing.

Adding to what Steve said, PSA will actually grade a good number of these. Some of the Baseball Card Magazine cut outs can bring hundreds of dollars in a PSA 10 with even a few 9’s breaking $100. I’ve also seen 1987 Broders Bo Jackson cards in PSA holders going for some pretty good money.

PSA has cracked down on what they will grade, limiting only to cards that are licensed (by team and/or player) and checklisted. That would severly limit cards printed by Broder and the like.

During the COVID boom, they were grading Chicago Bulls pocket schedules. Beckett got into the fray as well. I guess it got them a flood of Jordan’s that way. Nothing like the allmighty dollar dictating things.

The Broder cards are way different than the Baseball Card Magazine cards. One was licensed and one was a father son(Ed & Rob Broder) team that made their own "cards". I don't think I have ever seen an actual Broder card graded. I have seen them in slabs that the autograph was authenticated but not the card.

I think they are cool and have a lot of the Wade Boggs ones. I also had a lot of Mark Grace ones but I sold most of them.

The BB Card magazine cards were issued by Krause Publications which were very important then and still (albeit with a different name and less of an impact in the hobby) issued by a very legit publishing house and as such is right on the borderline about being acceptable as BB Card Mag always had solid editorial content.

Regards
Rich

See below. 8 PSA graded Bo Jackson cards from his rookie year in 1987, all 9’s and 10’s. Although, it does state that they no longer grade that particular issue. Also, several other players from the same set have been graded by PSA, including Jose Canseco.

1987 Broder Rookies (No Longer Grade/Authenticate)

15
Cards
0
Autographed Cards
POPULATION TOTALS
POP
APR
REGISTRY
SHOP WITH AFFILIATES
Note

PSA Certified
CARD NO. NAME 8 9 10 TOTAL
TOTAL POPULATION
Grade
+
Q
1
0
0
6
–
0
8
–
–
15
0
0
1 Jose CansecoShop with Affiliates
Grade
+
Q
1
0
0
1
–
0
2
–
–
4
0
0
4 Bo JacksonShop with Affiliates
Grade
+
Q
0
0
0
3
–
0
5
–
–
8
0
0
20 Mike GreenwellShop with Affiliates
Grade
+
Q
0
0
0
0
–
0
1
–
–
1
0
0
36 Eric DavisShop with Affiliates
Grade
+
Q
0
0
0
1
–
0
0
–
–
1
0
0
59 Jose CansecoShop with Affiliates
Grade
+
Q
0
0
0
1
–
0
0
–
–
1
0
0

Do we think that these Baseball Card Magazine cards that are borderline legitimate should be selling in the $1,000 range for PSA 10’s of Jordan, Griffey and Jackson?

Phil, any buying and selling decisions as to what cards sell for is up to the marketplace, not our place to make those decisions.

Rich

I am with Rich on this. I also don't collect graded cards and only own a few so no idea on graded pricing.

There are a number of collectors/sellers who have checklisted these unlicensed cards. I can't recall his seller name, but Tim Piechel (any this may be a misspelling) is one. He'll send out lists by player or set of oddball stuff that he sells.

I don't know if any of these checklists reside online or in print form though.

I have a few dozen sets of these types of cards myself stashed away that I collected when I was getting as many cards as I could find for Frank Thomas and just oddball sets in general. My goal is to eventually scan and post these types of cards online for documentation, but also in preparation of selling off.

(and I may have spelled that wrong)

It is not that easy to find nowadays and I don't have my old copy but Dan Even way back in the day did a print book. Dan did pass a couple of years ago so I'm not sure if anyone kept copies of his tome. And if you google Dan Even Broder you'll get a link to previous Net 54 conversations on this topic.

Thanks for the info, Rich.

I was a HUGE kid collector of the 1985 Topps set. None of us knew who was going to be going to be the next future star? McGwire looked kind of goofy, I passed right by him hoping for a Ron Guidry or Ozzie Smith (in a comparison card). Truthfully, we all wanted the Dwight Gooden, lol I remember kids trading valuable 1960's -1984 cards for the 1985 Topps Gooden.

As for me and the "Team USA" Topps cards? I was trying to get a Cory Snider or Oddabie McDowell who were certain future superstars.

LOL, I had a brick of Cory Snyder Team USA Cards back in the day.

I can't remember if I fell in love with his college stats on the back of the card, or the fact he had a nice run at his first minor league stop just a few miles down the road from where I grew up.

It didn't click in my brain back then that despite his 4th place finish in the 1986 ROY voting, the 123 strikeout to 16 walk ratio in his rookie season, was a big red flag against his future stardom. :D:D

The McGwire card didn't even register to me either, until it was too late. :(