2012 Topps: "Rookie Patches" Insert Set
2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot: "Rookie Gallery Jerseys" Insert Set
1997 Proline: "Emerald Autographs" Insert Set
2012 Topps: "Rookie Patches" Insert Set
Jay's Football Cards
Wild Card
My Wild Card Collection (Updated December 30th, 2021)
1991 Wild Card: “Keith Millard” #72
1992 Wild Card: “Vaughn Dunbar” Class Back Attack #SP1
1992 Wild Card: “Quentin Coryatt” Field Force #2
In 1991 the hobby was introduced to a card called Wild Card. Wild Card wasn't around for very long and they didn't leave a huge impression on the hobby, but they did leave one huge lasting footprint. We'll get to that later. The initial Wild Card release was a solid 160-card offering. While not a huge set, it was a good-sized set for an initial release. Also, while not taking the hobby by storm, it did leave its mark, (See the 1991 Wild Card "Keith Millard" #72 left), there were "Wild Card" cards inserted into packs that collectors would be able to trade-in. These "Wild Cards" we in donations of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 points. And while I never did collect them or send them in, many did. It was an interesting new twist to collecting. The 1991 set just wasn't very good to me, just because I thought the border was enormous. Only the 1990 Topps set had a bigger border.
In 1992, Wild Card returned with a more upbeat and shinier version of their 1991 release, (See the 1992 Wild Card "Nate Odoms" #302 right). Not only that, but the '92 version had 460 cards. There were also 6 inserts included with this release. A couple of my favorites were the "Class Back Attack" which showed a few of the top RBs or prospects in '92, (although they did include David Klingler for some strange reason), (See the 1992 Wild Card "Vaughn Dunbar" Class Back Attack #SP1 left), the "Running Wild" insert set, (See the 1992 Wild Card "Blair Thomas" Running Wild #31 below right), which was a 40-card set of the top running backs from the 1991 season. It is funny that several teams don't have a player in that insert set, (the Falcons being one of them). If you don't have a player, (or in this case a running back), listed in a 40-player set, you had a horrible rushing attack. And the last insert set being the "Field Force" set, (See the 1992 Wild Card "Quentin Coryatt" Field Force #2 below left). I felt that Wild Card did a damn good job creating a solid bunch of insert sets for the collector.
The '93 release brought a change to the Wild Card design. The '93 release brought about a borderless design as Wild Card followed in Pro Sets footsteps, (See the 1993 Wild Card "Cortez Kennedy" #177 below left). The set size in '93 dropped by about 200 cards, but that wasn't so bad. The reason why I'm saying that is because there were a couple of insert sets that were 50+ cards. That is pretty massive for an insert set. The Field Force, Stat Smashers, and Stat Smasher
1992 Wild Card: “Nate Odomes” #302
1992 Wild Card: “Blair Thomas” Running Wild #31
Rookie sets were all over 50 cards. Another thing is that the '93 set came in 2 series and the 2nd series is extremely hard to find. What I really liked about the '93 release was the base sets backside, (See the 1993 Wild Card" Cortez Kennedy" Back #177 below right). Talk about a really sweet backdrop; a skyline of the player's team's hometown.
1993 Wild Card: “Cortez Kennedy” #177
The '93 release of the Wild Card title was accompanied by another '93 release from Wild Card called "Wild Card: Super Chrome", (See the 1993 Wild Card Supre Chrome "Lincoln Kennedy" Supre Chrome Rookies #25 below right). It was this Super Chrome title that left a lasting impression not just on the collector, but also the card companies themselves. You see, on the backs of those Super Chrome cards was some wording that said, "Patent Pending". When Wild Card
In closing, the "Wild Card" brand was just a cool title that vanished before we could really see its full potential. The 90s are littered with half a dozen card companies that didn't make it. I would definitely like to have seen where Wild Card was going to take us, but alas they are nothing more than a footnote.
1993 Wild Card: “Cortez Kennedy” (Back) #177
1993 Wild Card SuperCrhome: “Lincoln Kennedy” SuperChrome Rookies #25
I have complete sets:
Wild Card:
1) 1991 Wild Card Set
2) 1992 Wild Card Set
A) Class Back Attack Insert
B) Field Force Insert
C) Field Force (Silver) Insert
D) Field Force (Gold) Insert
E) Pro Picks Insert
F) Red Hot Rookies Insert
G) Running Wild (Silver) Insert
H) Stat Smashers Insert
3) 1993 Wild Card Set - Incomplete ( 200 / 260 )
A) Bomb Squad Insert
B) Field Force Superchrome Insert
C) Red Hot Rookies Insert
D) Stat Smashers Insert
E) Stat Smashers Rookies Insert
went out of business, Topps ended up with that patent. This is why in 1996 Topps was able to introduce the "Topps: Chrome" title and later they expanded that "Chrome" look to Bowman and Stadium Club too. So, see, even the smallest of card companies can leave a lasting impression.
