1986 Topps Roger Clemens Blue Streak Error

[Smokey]

Bringing this back to life a little...with a twist. Has anyone else ever come across a Billy Sample "blue circle" variation? I was flipping through some 86' Topps and this is the first time I've seen or found this one. I've found the Clemens before but Billy Sample?!?

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by Smokey

Bringing this back to life a little...with a twist. Has anyone else ever come across a Billy Sample "blue circle" variation? I was flipping through some 86' Topps and this is the first time I've seen or found this one. I've found the Clemens before but Billy Sample?!?

This is just a fish eye. Fairly common in junk era Topps products. However, we now know that beneath the top black border ink is a light blue underbase. This is unlikely to be related to the Clemens printing.

[Smokey]

Man, I feel like this is a little more than a "fish eye" junk era example, but I am a wishful "junk" collector so there is bias....I think this is different though.

[ALR-bishop]

Everyone is just jealous Smokey. If we had it we would think it was great too

[JustinD]

I would agree that it is a fisheye in the black print run, however beauty and value lies in the beholder. If you love it, then love it!

[JustinD]

As a follow-up and as seemingly proof that an entire sheet is out there, I have located and added another fully missing black pass example. This time it is the Matuszek (back fully printed as like the other). Sorry for the crap quick photo, the elbow issue is just glare.

Here is the new addition -

[CJtheCollector]

I've had a great time reading this thread. Thanks! I recently bought an unopened box of 1986 Topps and I'm about halfway through opening the packs. I've pulled the Roger Clemens, Tom Seaver and Terry Puhl. Is anyone still looking for any of these?

[hockeyhockey]

i'm always interested in terry puhl blue streak

[4reals]

CJ, does your 86 topps box that you pulled these from happen to have a serial number stamp or production number stamp somewhere on the box? I personally don't recall if they did. If so, it could help us zero in on boxes in the wild where these could be found.

[West]

The boxes have no identifying numbers to indicate date, only a product code.
It's the case that it came out of that has the date stamped on it within the 6 digit number. However, unlike Fleer, the cases are less correlated to their exact printing press run. Topps cards were printed off site and shipped in to Duryea to be cut and packed. After they were packed into boxes and cases they were stacked in the warehouse. Only when the orders came in for shipment were the cases stamped - by the packing/shipping department. So there were quite a few steps in between printing press and case stamping, leading to less correlation of dates with certain press runs.

In my experience the variations in press runs are better correlated to the actual type of packaging (wax/cello/rack) than to the date stamped on the case.

[Bigdaddy]

Stumbled across this Griffey, Sr card going through a 3200 ct box of ‘86s. Also saw a Winfield as shown earlier, but it was lost in the shuffle.

Looks like Ken Sr is half baked.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by Smokey

Bringing this back to life a little...with a twist. Has anyone else ever come across a Billy Sample "blue circle" variation? I was flipping through some 86' Topps and this is the first time I've seen or found this one. I've found the Clemens before but Billy Sample?!?

Fisheye print flaw, see posts #11 and #15 in this thread that mention a similar 86 Topps Jamie Easterly. ETA, late by a minute as usual, jacksoncoupage beat me to it.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Smokey

Bringing this back to life a little...with a twist. Has anyone else ever come across a Billy Sample "blue circle" variation? I was flipping through some 86' Topps and this is the first time I've seen or found this one. I've found the Clemens before but Billy Sample?!?

That is a very cool looking print defect. I would like a Clemens like that.