Before you give these cards away, you should check for some error cards.
Here is the most current error and variation list for the 1990 Pro Set football set. This list grows by the week, it seems, but this covers the grand majority.
So, getting started, I have added the following key:
**** = Very scarce variation and/or promo that is hardly offered for sale.
*** = Scarce variation and/or promo that rarely pop up for sale, usually an early correction or very short-run variety.
** = Scarce variation and/or promo that are rarer than the ‘common’ variations and pop up for sale only occasionally.
* = Slightly tougher to find than a common card, the Johnny Holland NNOB is a good example of this.
No star = Can be found with little searching, usually offered for sale on ebay by a number of sellers at any given time.
Enjoy!
#1a Barry Sanders (pack-issued, shows Barry holding trophy on back, LIONS spelled out on back)
#1b Barry Sanders Hawaii PROMO – not a pack-issued variation (Shows headshot of Barry, Lions helmet logo on back) ***
#2a Joe Montana POY 3521 ERR (back reads “Kelly-3,521 yards”)
#2b Joe Montana POY 3130 COR (back corrected to “Kelly: 3,130 yards”)
#7a Ottis Anderson LL (Missing name, position, copyright info and card number on back) ****
#7b Ottis Anderson LL (printing correctly)
#9a Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines through name on front)
#9b Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines partially removed from front)
#9c Christian Okoye LL (2 black lines removed entirely from front)
#15a Walter Stanley ERR (#8 on back) *
#15b Walter Stanley COR (#86 on back NOTE: No #87 version exists despite what Beckett says)
#18a Chris Doleman ERR (error back, wrong stats, “Townsent”)
#18b Chris Doleman COR (back corrected to 104.5 sacks for Taylor; “Townsent” corrected to “Townsend”)
#19a Andre Ware RC w/o stripe (black line over face) ***
#19b Andre Ware RC w/o stripe (black line removed from face)
#19c Andre Ware RC w/stripe (draft stripe on front, no black line over face)
#20a Mo Elewonibi (no stripe)
#20b Mo Elewonibi (draft stripe on front)
#21a Percy Snow (no stripe)
#21b Percy Snow (draft stripe on front)
#22a Anthony Thompson RC (no stripe)
#22b Anthony Thompson RC (draft stripe on front)
#23a Buck Buchanan (with white mark over U on front)
#23b Buck Buchanan (with white mark removed)
#25a Franco Harris ERR wrong birthdate
#25b Franco Harris COR corrected birthdate 3/7/50
#27a Jack Lambert ERR wrong birthdate
#27b Jack Lambert COR corrected birthdate 7/8/52
#29a Bob St. Clair (with black symbol under text on back)
#29b Bob St. Clair (with black symbol partially airbrushed away)
#29c Bob St. Clair (with black symbol completely removed)
#30a Aundray Bruce (gap in line under stat totals)
#30b Aundray Bruce (solid black line under stat totals)
#37a John Settle (with red line below black line under AVG and TD stats) **
#37b John Settle (with red line behind black line under AVG and TD stats)
#37c John Settle (without a red line under AVG and TD stats – UNVERIFIED)
#39a Cornelius Bennett (with black stat headings on back) ***
#39b Cornelius Bennett (with black and red stat headings on back) ***
#39b Cornelius Bennett (with red stat headings on back)
#59a Mike Ditka LARGE FONT for “Hall Of Fame” on front. ***
#59b Mike Ditka SMALL FONT for “Hall Of Fame” on front.
#63a Rickey Dixon RC ERR (no bio notes under photo) *
#63b Rickey Dixon RC COR (with bio notes)
#68a Sam Wyche CO ERR (no bio notes under photo) *
#68b Sam Wyche CO COR (with bio notes)
#75a Ozzie Newsome ERR (Little Rock)
#75b Ozzie Newsome COR (corrected hometown: Muscle Shoals, AL)
#75c Cody Risien SP (NOTE: Found in late series 1 packs) **
#78a Troy Aikman (horizontal red line above stat headings on back) ***
#78b Troy Aikman (red line removed from back, white streak through ‘j’ in ‘injured’ on back) **
#78c Troy Aikman (red line removed from back, white streak removed, complete ‘j’)
#80a Jim Jeffcoat (name printed high – nearly touching photo – on front) *
#80b Jim Jeffcoat (name centered on front)
#89a Simon Fletcher (large, looping print mark on front – possibly from a hair on the plate) **
#89b Simon Fletcher (mark(s) removed, fixed plate)
#90a Ron Holmes (Bold font name on front) **
#90b Ron Holmes (normal font name on front)
#98a Lomas Brown (full red, traingular blotch on front) **
#98b Lomas Brown (partial triangular blotch on front) **
#98c Lomas Brown (blotch completely removed from front)
#110a Johnny Holland ERR (no name,number on back) *
#110b Johnny Holland COR (corrected)
#111a Perry Kemp ERR (Ken Stills photo on back) *
#111b Perry Kemp COR (corrected)
#114a Sterling Sharpe ERR (says he was born in Glenville)
#114b Sterling Sharpe COR (corrected birthplace: Chicago, IL) *
#127a Jack Pardee (with incomplete ‘n’ in the word ‘university’ on back) *
#127b Jack Pardee (corrected text on back)
#130a Duane Bickett (name, position and uni number touching white area of card back) **
#130b Duane Bickett (name, position and uni number printed correctly: away from white area)
#134a Andre Rison NO TRADE STRIPE (With top of card number “clipped off” on back) **
#134aa Andre Rison NO TRADE STRIPE (With complete card number on back)
#134b Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE (With top of card number “clipped off” on back) **
#134bb Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE (With complete number on back)
#134bbb Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE (With complete number on back, white lettering on front, light banner)***
#134c Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE and Mail-In Offer on back (With signature printed next to “Sincerely”) **
#134cc Andre Rison WITH TRADE STRIPE and Message on back (With signature printed 1-2mm away from “Sincerely”)
#135a Rohn Stark (with name shifted to left on front – ‘K’ lines up with tip of foot) **
#135b Rohn Stark (with name centered on front)
#136a Donnell Thompson (black, solid circle for yards totals on back) ***
#136b Donnell Thompson (red, zero for yards totals on back)
#149a Steve Beuerlein (black line through NFLPA logo on back) **
#149b Steve Beuerlein (black line removed from back)
#152a Mervyn Fernandez ERR (Draft status incorrect)
#152b Mervyn Fernandez COR (status corrected to “Drafted 10th round ’83″)
#161a Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/25/46 on back, small HOF print in banner on front)
#161b Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/25/46 on back, large HOF print in banner on front – UNVERIFIED)
#161c Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/26/46 on back, small HOF print in banner on front) **
#161d Art Shell (Birthdate: 11/26/46 on back, large HOF print in banner on front) **
#204a Fred Marion (49ers player with belt) ***
#204b Fred Marion (49ers players belt airbrushed out, ‘ P. ‘ printed over bio on back) ***?
#204b Fred Marion (49ers players belt airbrushed out)
#207a John Stephens (Red slash through 1988 TD’s) *
#207b John Stephens (Slash removed)
#210a Morten Andersen (name in white on back)
#210b Morten Andersen (corrected)
#212a John Fourcade (portion of stat totals and headings missing on back) ***
#212b John Fourcade (stats correctly printed)
#216a Eric Martin ERR (name in white on back)
#216b Eric Martin COR (corrected)
#221a Jim Mora CO ERR (name in white on back)
#221b Jim Mora CO COR (corrected)
#223a Carl Banks (red slash through ‘team’ and ‘N.Y.’ in stats on back) **
#247a Randall Cunningham (Large gap in last line line of text on back) ***
#247b Randall Cunningham (Complete text on back, red “arrows” proofing marks by/over text)
#247c Randall Cunningham (Complete text on back, proofing marks removed)
#255a Earl Ferrell (no retired stripe stripe on front)
#255b Earl Ferrell (retired stripe on front – mentioned by Pro Set as an upcoming change – Unverified…and unlikely)
#263a J.T. Smith (horizontal red line under AVG and TD totals) ***
#263b J.T. Smith (line removed from card back)
#287a Roger Craig (blood stains on left leg) ***
#287b Roger Craig (blood stains airbrushed away)
#300a Jeff Bryant (text “whiteout” on back – likely due to debris on plate) ***
#300b Jeff Bryant (text fully printed on back)
#289a Charles Haley ERR (incorrect fumble recovery stats)
#289b Charles Haley COR (stats corrected to 5 total fumble recoveries) *
#319a Ray Perkins CO ERR no name or position on back) *
#319b Ray Perkins CO COR (corrected)
#334a Pro Bowl – Jerry Gray (portion of lines 3 and 4 of text are not fully printed) **
#334b Pro Bowl – Jerry Gray (all lines of text fully printed)
#338a Eric Dickerson PB (Short Print – withdrawn early then later released in massive amounts) *
#338b Lud Denny PROMO (Not a pack-issued variation, created as gift for Pro Set President) ***
#338c Eric Dickerson PB (front shows mock-up test of 1990-91 Hoops Jerry Reynolds – not pack-issued) ***
#343a Chris Hinton PB (no stripe, text on back begins: ” Has been named”)
#343b Chris Hinton PB (with traded stripe, text on back begins: “Has been named”) ***
#343c Chris Hinton PB (with traded stripe, text on back begins: “Six-time Pro Bowl”)
#343d Chris Hinton PB (with traded stripe, “Six-time…” text and lighter banner with white text) **
#344a Rodney Holman PB (black diagonal line through text on back) *
#344b Rodney Holman PB (black line removed from text on back)
#346a Tunch Ilkin PB (black line on front by knee) *
#346b Tunch Ilkin PB (black line removed)
#356a Anthony Miller PB (CHARGERS in black ink on back)
#356b Anthony Miller PB (CHARGERS in blue ink on back) **
#364a Leslie O’Neal PB (CHARGERS in black ink on back)
#364b Leslie O’Neal PB (CHARGERS in blue ink on back)
#371a Bruce Smith PB (blue proofing lines through photo and text on back) **
#371b Bruce Smith PB (proofing lines removed from back)
#373a Derrick Thomas PB (black line through u in “round” on back) *
#373b Derrick Thomas PB (black line removed)
#376a Lee Williams PB (CHARGERS in black ink on back)
#376b Lee Williams PB (CHARGERS in blue ink on back)
#386a Randall Cunningham (large print on front)
#386b Randall Cunningham (small print on front)
#436a Ray Bentley (clipped stat heading: receiving)
#436b Ray Bentley (fully printed stat headings)
#439a Pete Metzelaars (blue line through S in METZELAARS on back)
#439b Pete Metzelaars (blue line removed)
#444a Thurman Thomas (black line next to birthdate on back)
#444b Thurman Thomas (black line removed)
#449a Dan Hampton ERR (DE back)
#449b Dan Hampton COR (DT back)
#449a William Perry (gap in line above stat headings)
#449b William Perry (solid line above stat headings)
#454a Brad Muster (bottoms of stat headings in black)
#454b Brad Muster (stat headings all in red)
#457a James Thornton (thin, jagged stat line under “receiving” on back)
#457b James Thornton (fixed stat line on back)
#463a Boomer Esiason (with broken stat line above “year” on back) *
#463b Boomer Esiason (fixed stat line on back)
#479a Robert Awalt (“wore number…” text line at bottom is thicker) *
#479b Robert Awalt (“wore number…” text line in correctly printed)
#492a David Treadwell (4C in stats)*
#492b David Treadwell (40 in stats)
#496a Kevin Glover RC (C-G back) *
#496b Kevin Glover RC (G back)
#505a Brian Noble (2 in 1989 NO stats is half-printed or clipped off) **
#505b Brian Noble (all stats are properly printed in full)
#536a Derrick Thomas (name in thick, BOLD font) *
#536b Derrick Thomas (name in correct font)
#547a Max Montoya (TM clipped on front)
#547b Max Montoya (full TM on front) *
#567a Rick Fenny (full black line through RICK on front, black line through photo too) *
#567b Rick Fenny (partial black line through RICK on front, black line through photo too) *
#567c Rick Fenny (gap in stat line and part of M in Minnesota missing on back, line removed from front) **
#567d Rick Fenny (complete stats/stat line on back, lines removed from front)
#601a James Hasty (pink name strip on front) **
#601b James Hasty (white name strip on front)
#607a Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in Black) *
#607b Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in Black and Red)
#607c Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in Red with bottoms in Black) *
#607d Wes Hopkins (Stat Categories Fumbles and Interceptions in RED)
#610a Jim McMahon (Black TM by Pro Set logo, barely visible)
#610b Jim McMahon (Black TM w/ white TM added for visibility)
#626a Rod Woodson (Red fumble interceptions header)
#626b Rod Woodson (Black fumble interceptions header)
#627a Rod Bernstine (position listed as TE)
#627b Rod Bernstine (position corrected to RB)
#630a Anthony Miller (position listed as WR-KR on front, WR back)
#630b Anthony Miller (position listed as WR-KR on front and back)
#630c Anthony Miller (position listed as WR on front and back – Unverified )
#632a Leslie O’Neal (position listed as LB-DE on front, LB on back)
#632b Leslie O’Neal (position listed as LB on front and back)
#632c Leslie O’Neal (Missing line of text on back: “Moved from defensive end to…” – Unverified )
#633a David Richards (position listed as G-T on back)
#633b David Richards (position listed as G on back)
#644a Dave Waymer (jagged, thin line below stat totals)
#644b Dave Waymer (solid, printed line below stat totals)
#645a Steve Young (“season gume” on back – incomplete ‘a’) *
#645b Steve Young (“season game” on back – completed ‘a’, broken ‘l’ in ‘also’)
#645b Steve Young (“season game” on back – completed ‘a’, fixed ‘l’ in ‘also’)
#657a Curt Jarvis (no “Official NFL card” on front)
#657b Curt Jarvis (“Official NFL card” added to front)
#666a Walter Stanley (normal, pack-issued card)
#666b Steve Young of Pro Set Press Inc. (Cowboys Draft/Prospect design on front, promo issued to him, NOT 49ers QB) ****
#668a Stan Humpheries (top of name “clipped off” on front, at right) *
#668b Stan Humpheries (name fully-printed on front)
#669a Jeff George Illinois (Indianapolis Colts)
#669b Jeff George Illinois (Atlanta Falcons) *
#669c Jeff George Illinois (New England Patriots) *
#669d Keith McCants (Atlanta Falcons) *
#669e Jeff George (Indianapolis Colts – Series 2 issued, clipped name on front) *
#669f Jeff George (Indianapolis Colts – Series 2 issued, yellow pant laces) **
#669g Jeff George (Indianapolis Colts – Series 2 issued, white pant laces)
#680a James Francis (with black strip through helmet/team logo on front) *
#680b James Francis (without black strip through helmet/team logo)
#688a Steve Broussard (lower-half of Falcons helmet/logo is gray on front)
#688b Steve Broussard (Falcons helmet/logo is black on front)
#687a Reggie Rembert (Top of name “clipped off” on front) **
#687b Reggie Rembert (Name fully printed on front)
#694a Rob Moore (name clipped off on top) *
#694b Rob Moore (name fully printed)
#698a Terry Wooden (back number 90)
#698b Terry Wooden (back number 51)
#701a Fred Washington (printed before death – no mention)
#701b Fred Washington (“bloody” photo, excess of magenta ink over face on back – short run misprint) **
#701c Fred Washington “Special Collectible” (memorial card – mentions death, name printed very low on front) **
#701d Fred Washington “Special Collectible” (memorial card – mentions death, name centered on front)
#705a Anthony Johnson (name printed high, almost touching photo, on front) *
#705a Anthony Johnson (name centered on front)
#706a Aaron Wallace (black and white diagonal plate scratch between RAIDERS and text area on back) **
#707a Harold Green (with black strip through helmet/team logo on front) *
#707b Harold Green (without black strip through helmet/team logo)
#718a Pat Terrell (back number 41)
#718b Pat Terrell (back number 37)
#719a Mike Bellamy (“MY” in last name “clipped off” on front) **
#719b Mike Bellamy (“MY” in last name fully printed on front)
#723a Oliver Barnett (position listed as DT on front) **
#723b Oliver Barnett (position listed as NT on front)
#729a Bernard Clark (with black strip through helmet/team logo on front) *
#729b Bernard Clark (without black strip through helmet/team logo)
#735a Willis Peguese (Period at end of text placed far away from last sentence)
#735b Willis Peguese (Period placed close to end of text – UNVERIFIED)
#736a Todd Kalis (S in ‘Started’ at beginning of text is clipped off at top) *
#736b Todd Kalis (‘Started’ is completely printed in text)
#739a Tom Hodson (blue/green line on front by feet) **
#739b Tom Hodson (line removed from photo)
#742a Kevin Haverdink (black line through first 6 lines of text on back) **
#742b Kevin Haverdink (black line removed)
#743A Johnny Bailey RC/(Back says 46) *
#743b Johnny Bailey RC/(Back says 22)
#744a Eric Moore (no prospect stripe)
#744b Eric Moore (prospect stripe added)
#747a Walter Reeves (Stat heading: receiving is clipped off at bottom)
#747b Walter Reeves (Stat heading: receiving is fully printed)
#748a Derek Hill (left leg of AFC logo on back has been hand-drawn/edited) **
#748b Derek Hill (correct, printed AFC logo on back)
#758a Jessie Hester (black line through ES or S in HESTER on front)
#758b Jessie Hester (black line removed from HESTER on front)
#760a Eddie Anderson (incomplete 9 in 1989 in text on back)
#760b Eddie Anderson (corrected 9 in 1989 in text)
#763a David Griggs (thin to thick stat line on back)
#763b David Griggs (thick (correct) stat line on back)
#770a Heath Sherman (broken b in “ball’s” on back)
#770b Heath Sherman (complete b in “ball’s” on back)
#772a Dexter Manley (mentions substance abuse problems on the back of the card) ****
#772b Dexter Manley (does not mention substance abuse, ” Backwards t ” in the word “photo” on back) ***
#772c Dexter Manley (does not mention substance abuse, black line printed over team/name bar and photo) ***
#772d Dexter Manley (does not mention substance abuse, black line removed from front, missing bio data on back)***?
#785a Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “peered through the Berlin Wall” )
#785b Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “posed at the Berlin Wall”)
#785c Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “posed,” thick black stripe in top border) **
#785d Commissioner at Berlin Wall (back says “peered through” different photo on front – UNVERIFIED)
#790-798a Photo Contest (pro set logo in purple (light) on back)
#790-798b Photo Contest (pro set logo in black on back) **
#790-798c Photo Contest (pro set logo in blue on back)
#795a Photo Contest – 49ers (printer’s lines in top left border on back)
#795b Photo Contest – 49ers (printer’s lines removed from back)
