100 Days of Barry Larkin

[OhioLawyerF5]

Since we are into 1996, I have several fairly unique cards with stories from that year to share. It seems to be the year when the card manufacturers really shifted to trying many different things to compete with each other for the hobby dollars of a fan base still reeling from the strike and the junk wax era. I already posted the Select Certified Rainbow. I truly believe that set literally changed the game, and my Mirror Gold is one of the top cards in my entire collection (and probably at or near the top of the list for most Larkin collectors). But there were many others that innovated the hobby in their own way.

For today's post I want to share the 1996 Pinnacle Afficianado First Pitch Preview. These are very difficult to find for your player. And while I've seen a handful of Larkins, I know some player collectors who have never seen one for their player, nor seen evidence of a public sale...ever.

First Pitch Preview cards are similar to the base cards in design except for the holographic player nameplate and "First Pitch Preview" stamp along the short edge of the cards are in bronze.

This promo set parallels the first 100 cards in the base set and was available through a promotion. Collectors on Pinnacle's mailing list were sent a letter detailing the upcoming Aficionado set and the opportunity to receive a First Pitch Preview card. Participants had to answer five baseball trivia questions and submit their answers online through the Pinnacle Brands website - three of the questions were listed in the letter but had to obtain the other two from a participating local Hobby store. If one answered all five questions correctly (which could be found on the backs of the relevant Aficionado cards), he/she would receive one randomly selected First Pitch Preview card via mail and become eligible to win a trip to a spring training trip of their choice as a grand prize. The three questions listed in the letter were: (1) Mo Vaughn says this player is "like E.F. Hutton; when he speaks, we all listen." Who is this player? (Answer: Ted Williams); (2) We all know the Cubbies selected lanky left-hander Drew Hall with their first choice in the '84 draft, but who did they pick second that year? (A: Greg Maddux); and (3) This slugging first baseman delayed his pro career to bat cleanup for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. Who is he? (A: Tino Martinez).

Somewhere in hobby history, someone answered all the questions correctly, received this Larkin card, which eventually made its way into my collection.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Since we are into 1996, I have several fairly unique cards with stories from that year to share. It seems to be the year when the card manufacturers really shifted to trying many different things to compete with each other for the hobby dollars of a fan base still reeling from the strike and the junk wax era. I already posted the Select Certified Rainbow. I truly believe that set literally changed the game, and my Mirror Gold is one of the top cards in my entire collection (and probably at or near the top of the list for most Larkin collectors). But there were many others that innovated the hobby in their own way.

For today's post I want to share the 1996 Pinnacle Afficianado First Pitch Preview. These are very difficult to find for your player. And while I've seen a handful of Larkins, I know some player collectors who have never seen one for their player, nor seen evidence of a public sale...ever.

First Pitch Preview cards are similar to the base cards in design except for the holographic player nameplate and "First Pitch Preview" stamp along the short edge of the cards are in bronze.

This promo set parallels the first 100 cards in the base set and was available through a promotion. Collectors on Pinnacle's mailing list were sent a letter detailing the upcoming Aficionado set and the opportunity to receive a First Pitch Preview card. Participants had to answer five baseball trivia questions and submit their answers online through the Pinnacle Brands website - three of the questions were listed in the letter but had to obtain the other two from a participating local Hobby store. If one answered all five questions correctly (which could be found on the backs of the relevant Aficionado cards), he/she would receive one randomly selected First Pitch Preview card via mail and become eligible to win a trip to a spring training trip of their choice as a grand prize. The three questions listed in the letter were: (1) Mo Vaughn says this player is "like E.F. Hutton; when he speaks, we all listen." Who is this player? (Answer: Ted Williams); (2) We all know the Cubbies selected lanky left-hander Drew Hall with their first choice in the '84 draft, but who did they pick second that year? (A: Greg Maddux); and (3) This slugging first baseman delayed his pro career to bat cleanup for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. Who is he? (A: Tino Martinez).

Somewhere in hobby history, someone answered all the questions correctly, received this Larkin card, which eventually made its way into my collection.

We will be in 1996 for a while. It was a great year. Great story. I didn't know about these cards. Thanks for sharing.

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