Card Identification Forum

Is this a reprint or an original? I'm looking for any information on this card & why it's not in the database on here. 

Some info about the card is here:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/don-mattingly-1980-greensboro-hornets-1806335856

No way to tell from the scans if it's an original or a copy made later.

Likely not on the site because we don't have the full checklist for the set.

There's more pictures on eBay, I just looked up sold Mattingly Greensboro. I got these pictures from there if that helps to tell its authentic. 

I have been a dedicated minor league collector for 30+ years and have been aware of this "card" for a long time...and it is not real. 

Well, I mean sure it's obviously real in that it exists and has the look and feel of a baseball card, but...

-it isn't from 1980

-wasn't produced/released by the Greensboro Hornets

-isn't officially licensed

SCD has a great book called The Standard Catalogue of Minor League Baseball Cards (published in 2000 and edited by Bob Lemke) and it includes a listing for this card which has an image of the front and states:

“1980” Don Mattingly Greensboro Hornets

Unauthorized issue produced in the late 1980s; no collector value.

(Yes, it actually has quotes around the year.)

I’ve seen these pop up occasionally on eBay and can recall seeing one sell for over $400 several years back. I had exchanged emails with Mr. Lemke about a few minor league sets and shot him a message with the link to the completed Mattingly. His reply was simply, “How unfortunate for the buyer.”

I am beyond appaulded at the current listing on eBay...and  hated seeing that the seller apparently suckered someone into purchasing a copy recently. 

While the card isn’t real, it does at least seem to have been printed in far fewer quantities than other minor league fakes/counterfeits (ex: 1985 McGwire Modesto, 1988 Griffey San Bernardino and a Mattingly B&W Columbus Clippers card that has the TCMA design from 1985.)

But regardless of print run, it’s still a fake.

Just curious, but are the other 11 cards in the set available?  If not, that would be a very strong telltale that it is fake.

Ebay is definitely not a source for authenticity.