1988 Pro Set Prototypes

1988 Pro Set Prototypes

 


Updated December 21, 2014

Description:  Eight 'sample' cards were printed in 1988 to promote Pro Sets' Inaugural Football Edition.  Action shots of the best players at the time were printed on the card fronts.  The backs had close-up head shots of the players in full color, just as Score had done with their baseball products.  Also, statistics and a brief biography were included with 'Sample' watermarked across the back to denote them as prototypes.  Jerry Rice was there at the unveiling of the cards on Feb 22-23, 1989 at a National Candy Wholesaler's Show in Phoenix, Arizona.  They are listed in online databases as '1989 Pro Set Test.'

This is how they look  Sealed

	1989 Pro Set Test
1	Dan Marino
2	Jerry Rice
3	Eric Dickerson
4	Reggie White
5	Mike Singletary
6	Frank Minnifield
7	Phil Simms
8	Jim Kelly

 

Different photos were used on all the players base cards, except for Jerry Rice.  His base card used the same picture shown above. 

 



The backs of the cards were changed entirely.  Someone must have noticed that they looked too much like Score cards of the time.  So, Pro Set changed the backs from portrait to landscape printing.  Head shots were printed on the left, and under them went the helmet pictures and biographies.  Statistics  and a brief paragraph on their career highlights were printed on the right.  Even the Pro Set logo was changed to look like the one at the top of the page.

Furthermore:  These cards were extremely rare at one point.  But, it only took one seller with a lot of extra sealed packs to drive the prices way down.  Shame!  And I do not say this because of the resulting loss of value.  I believe new collectors will not truly appreciate them because of their low cost.

Notes:  If I have made a mistake or omitted some information, please email me at 1990proset dot gmail dot com.