1989 Fleer Bill Ripken White Box

jp1216 · #1 08-05-2025, 11:48 AM

The real rare cards listed by Gilkeson are those 'Semi Airbrushed' versions (j). I call them 'Circle Scribbles'. Black, circular pattern found in a few levels of coverage. Harder to find than White Scribbles.
He also refers to colored dots. I am not 100% sure but I assume he's talking about the Red 'Bulls Eye' dot found on 1% of FFs. The White dots - he could be talking about the random White circles/dots found on most versions of the card. Fish eyes? The 'Blue' Dot could be the random purplish/pinkish dots I've found on a few Black Box cards.
Just print defects - not versions/variations.

The Gilkeson article was published in the July 1990 issue of Tuff Stuff (Nolan Ryan cover)

jacksoncoupage · #2 08-05-2025, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp1216

The real rare cards listed by Gilkeson are those 'Semi Airbrushed' versions (j). I call them 'Circle Scribbles'. Black, circular pattern found in a few levels of coverage. Harder to find than White Scribbles.
He also refers to colored dots. I am not 100% sure but I assume he's talking about the Red 'Bulls Eye' dot found on 1% of FFs. The White dots - he could be talking about the random White circles/dots found on most versions of the card. Fish eyes? The 'Blue' Dot could be the random purplish/pinkish dots I've found on a few Black Box cards.
Just print defects - not versions/variations.

The Gilkeson article was published in the July 1990 issue of Tuff Stuff (Nolan Ryan cover)

There are many, many, Gilkeson variations that I can only guess as to what he is describing. Some of which I have been chasing down since acquiring his book in 2004. A handful of my queries made their way to him 10 years or so ago only to find that he doesn't recall the card(s), which is totally fair. I had the same questions on those 'dot' mentions.

philliesfan · #3 08-05-2025, 05:48 PM

I m not sure if this is the variation you are looking for but I sold this on ebay some time ago. Maybe within the last three years.
Bob

1989 Fleer Ripken white scribble.jpg

1989 Fleer Ripken white scribble Close Up.jpg

philliesfan · #4 08-05-2025, 05:50 PM

Here is another on top of a cello pack.
1989 cello ripken whiteout.jpg

bnorth · #5 08-05-2025, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philliesfan

I m not sure if this is the variation you are looking for but I sold this on ebay some time ago. Maybe within the last three years.
Bob

Attachment 668428

Attachment 668429

Those are all the white scribble versions. Not really rare but not common either.

jacksoncoupage · #6 08-05-2025, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philliesfan

I m not sure if this is the variation you are looking for but I sold this on ebay some time ago. Maybe within the last three years.
Bob

Attachment 668428

Attachment 668429

Very cool card but not what I thought I was looking for. But the consensus seems to be that what I had asked about is likely one of the many "creative creations" surrounding this card.

jacksoncoupage · #7 08-05-2025, 07:54 PM

Funny enough, TCDB lists a "whiteout" variation and the pic could fit what I thought Gilkeson was describing.

https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/si...16-Bill-Ripken

jacksoncoupage · #8 08-11-2025, 05:48 PM

Donovan's Ryan E&V book from 2009 mentions a "version X" more than once and he states that he'd share more info at a later time. His email exchange with a Fleer/Skybox rep in 2003 seems to also mention it (redacted) as well.

Can anyone clarify what this version is? Is Donovan still around?

jp1216 · #9 08-13-2025, 06:58 AM

Donovan is still around. Lightly collecting as well.

I'm not 100% sure about that X version. I think he was referring to a dark Circle Scribble with a saw-cut thru the bat knob. Only half of the Scribble is visible and it looked like a Round Black Box. It wasn't until a couple years later that we uncovered that card without the cut/slit.

His eBay ID is ryansrust

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