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A Breakdown Of The Major Randy Johnson 1989 Fleer Variations And Errors

The 1989 Fleer series is iconic because it gave us several famous cards which are still popular cardstoday. Randy Johnson’s 1989 card and all its variations are amongst the most chased cards from the era. Over 12 clearly defined versions, an aura of mystery, and Fleer’s rush to cover up an accidental Marlboro advertisement. This article shall cover everything about the Randy Johnson 1989 Fleer error card and all its variations. Familiarizing yourself with the different variations is essential, as their values can differ significantly. After making his debut with the Montreal Expos in 1988, Johnson quickly made a name for himself. Randy Johnson played as a pitcher for 22 seasons in the MLB. He is undoubtedly one of the most dominant pitchers to play the game. With over 300 career wins and ten MLB All-Star selections, Johnson has the second-most career strikeouts of any pitcher ever and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s little surprise that his rookie card is a chase card for collectors. While collectors pulled and hoarded cards from 1989 Fleer packs, they missed something important. A variation in card 381. Johnson had unknowingly posed in front of the Marlboro advertisement board. His pose and the picture’s angle ensured the word Marlboro was unobstructed and clearly visible over his left shoulder. For obvious reasons, Fleer couldn’t allow a cigarette advertisement on a trading card. Children consisted of the vast majority of collectors in the 80s. Fleer stopped production and attempted to cover up the word in later print runs.

By John BasseyJuly 17, 2026Cardlines
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