General Forum

I would say 1987, as some 1987 cards were reprinted and TCMA was effectively out of the game by 1988, only issuing minor league sets with CMC.

Hard to know for sure when the kits started.  Just an educated guess.

Sounds like a good educated guess from what has been presented.

AN UPDATE-

Here's what my friend (who has arguably the most complete TCMA collection out there) says-

"I probably have around 100 cards that have the MLB logo on them. 

"Not included in that count are the the Baseball's Greatest Hitters, Greatest Pitchers and Greatest Sluggers sets which each have 45 cards and the complete set was produced without the MLB logo and again with the MLB logo on them.  I believe that these 3 sets are the only TCMA sets that were completely reproduced with the MLB logo. 

"The rest (my estimate of 100) I believe were random cards from miscellaneous TCMA sets that were included in the Hobby Collecting Kits.  Some of the cards were that were inserted in the Hobby Collecting Kits were done on different stock and without the MLB logo.  I believe I have most of those. 

"So some cards would actually have 3 versions (the regular set, a collecting kit version without the MLB logo and the collecting kit version with the MLB logo.  The MLB logo versions and the matching collecting kit cards were usually done on completely different card stock and often have different color print on the back that allows easy differentiation from the regular set that was produced."

He did say that DaClyde's article from 2015 contained cards of which he was unaware, as well as omitting cards that he owned.

Thanks for the update.

That is helpful info.

I look forward to seeing what our approach here is on these.

Mark

Sounds like all these "VARs" of different color backs are actually reprints - which was my suspicion all along (if anyone remembers my comments in many of these IRs). I think once we have the complete list, then we can get them listed in 1987, and then move any images and collections to the right place, and get them out of the original sets.

when we do establish the 1987 listings, would we want to note somewhere on the original set listings to watch for the reprints in a diffferent year, such as in the trivia section?

and, in the case I noted above where there are 3 different backs, we list one in the regular set, and 2 other variations in the reprint set?

just curious to see how this develops

mark

So I've been adding scans of my TCMA sets of late and have been taking the extra step of creating IR's for the variations that were distributed to the late 1980's collector kits.  I have been requesting the IR's as part of the base set they were taken from, but agree with the thought that they may be better served listed in the DB separately, and not as variations of the base sets.  I applaud any effort to bring these together but also agree with the comment that they may be hard for collectors to find if reported separately from the base set.

At this point, I have some variations that have been added, some that are pending, and some that were already listed.  I have no problem compiling everything I have and putting that out there as part of a master listing of 1987 TCMA Collector Set Reprints.  Interested in thoughts on how to proceed.

Aside from the collector set reprints, a number of sets were printed in different runs, sometimes with black ink backs, blue ink backs, different card stock, etc.  I've also been requesting adds for these different print runs as separate listings, and at this point a lot of them are out there.  There was a question posted here about the 1983 TCMA All-Time Cardinals set.  There are clearly two distinct complete sets - one with a black border around the front photo and one with a red border around the front border.  Separately, at least some, but not necessarily all, of the cards were also printed with a white back.  (I have white back versions for 5 of the 12 cards.)  Is it possible that these white-backed cards were distributed with the collector sets?  I'll post the two complete sets with the brown backs but will pause on moving forward with the white-backed cards until there is more information about them.

Let's all hold-off on adding ANY TCMA variations until Dave S comes back with the comprehensive list of the kit cards.

I have a number of the 1982 sets [The Greatest.....], I've entered them as identified on site. Most are different colored stock as noted with different back variations.

Are there other variations not listed or just back variations?