Cam Newton Variation Explained

Last week when I was reviewing 2011 SAGE Hit High Series, I noticed what appeared to be a Cam Newton short print variation of the #100 base card. I speculated it was added to provide another chase element to the product, although nothing had been reported.

Cam Newton Base Variations

Tom Geideman, president of SAGE Collectibles, read that review and had this to say:

So that you’re aware this is what happened with the Cam Newton dual base card situation:

We were missing a photo of one of the Pre-Rookie cards (Ryan Mallett PR6) so we either had to delay the sheets being turned over to the printer or risk missing our date. We opted to fill that missing spot with a ‘new’ card to add value to the product without having to spend a lot of time getting a new design, etc. The solution we came up with was inserting a second version of the Cam Newton base card to replace the Mallett Pre-Rookie, and then print the Mallett PR6 card on a digital sheet (much quicker to do than the conventional printing). To make sure collectors were able to determine what we had done, we made the photo of one on the left and the photo of the other Newton base card on the right. The Newton base card variation is done at the same printing quantity as the other 4 Pre-Rookie cards in High Series. The Mallett Pre-Rookie card – because it was digitally printed – is much more short-printed.

We weren’t trying to pull a fast one at all, just trying to hit our packaging dates while still trying to add some value to the product.

So there you have it. Not truly a short printed variation per se, but definitely a distinct card in and of itself. And as it turns out, there is a short print card, but it is actually the Ryan Mallet Pre-Rookie insert.

Thanks, Tom, for the clarification and the collector information!

Upper Deck Announces Shorter SP

Today, Upper Deck released an image of an even shorter short print Brett Favre card inserted into packs of 2009 SPx. This card is in addition to the short printed, red practice jersey card previously featured on this blog.

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Upper Deck’s announcement, directly from their Facebook account:

This is a previously unannounced card we produced of Favre that is inserted into packs of 2009 SPx. It is more limited than the version with Favre wearing the red jersey or of Vick. If you pulled one of these, you’ve really got something special of the gunslinger looking to take the Vikings to the next level.

Gotta love that ball cap…

Favre’s Official Return

On Friday, Upper Deck officially released an image of Brett Favre’s first Vikings card. Similar to the Michael Vick card, this Favre card will be numbered as part of the 2009 Upper Deck flagship set but will be inserted into packs of 2009 SPx. Also similar to the Vick card, this card will be short printed due to the rush to print and seed the card into the SPx product line. 2009 Upper Deck is set to go live on September 1 while SPx is due out two weeks later on September 15.

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What do you guys think? Do you like this idea or should Upper Deck have waited and just added Vick and Favre to later releases rather than quick throw in these practice jersey cards?

Sorry for being late with this one. Stupid buying a house and moving…