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Beyond Monetary Value: Are 1989 Score Paul Gibson Error Cards Worth Anything?

paul gibson 1989 score error card

The 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card is one of the more unusual errors in the hobby’s history.

Most error cards result from printing mistakes or issues with the player depicted errors involving the player depicted on the card, whether it’s a misspelled name, incorrect stats, or even the wrong player entirely.

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However, the 1989 Paul Gibson card stands out because the error didn’t involve Gibson himself but rather another player in the photo’s background.

This peculiar mistake has made the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card a fascinating find among error card collectors. While it isn’t particularly valuable, it’s a fascinating error and a worthy addition to any error card collection.

This article will explore the story behind this intriguing error card. We’ll also discuss its value in today’s market.

Who is Paul Gibson?

Born on January 4, 1960, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the third round of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft. The Detroit Tigers signed him in May 1981 after the Cincinnati Reds released him.

Gibson made his major league debut on April 8, 1988, and was honored as Tigers Rookie of the Year after the season. While not a headline-grabbing player, he was known for his reliability, especially during his early years with the Tigers.

His performance helped solidify his role as a trusted relief pitcher, and he continued to pitch effectively for the Tigers until 1991 when he was traded to the New York Mets for Mark Carreon.

Paul Gibson may not have had a Hall of Fame career, however, it was a solid career. Though not filled with All-Star appearances or major accolades, he was a dependable pitcher for his team when called upon. He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Baseball Category with the Class of 1994.

Ironically, despite a solid career, he’s most remembered in the hobby for this 1989 Score error card.

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The 1989 Score Baseball Set

Set in the heart of the junk wax era, the 1989 Score baseball set was packed with many superstars of the day and multiple Hall of Fame rookie cards. The 1989 Score baseball set consists of 660 cards, each showcasing one of six colors framed by a white border.

The set includes the rookie cards of two Hall of Fame players: Randy Johnson and Craig Biggio. The set also featured notable players such as Nolan Ryan, Ken Griffey Jr, Cal Ripken Jr., Jose Canseco, and Mark McGwire.

Surprisingly, only a few error cards are in the set, and most were corrected by Score. However, the number of cards printed has ensured that the cards from this set barely hold any value.

1989 was a thrilling year for error card collectors, as nearly every major baseball card set produced by various companies featured notable mistake cards. From the 1989 Upper Deck Dale Murphy Reverse Negative Error Card, to the Randy Johnson 1989 Fleer error card and a quarter of the cards in the Topps’ set.

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1989 Score Paul Gibson error card

The 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card is one of the more unusual error cards in the hobby. While most errors involve printing mistakes or other mistakes surrounding the player, the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error lies in an unintended background detail.

The 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card looks like a typical baseball card at first glance, with Paul Gibson captured mid-pitch in an action shot. However, a closer look at the entire card reveals something peculiar in the background.

Another player is caught in an embarrassing moment—adjusting his pants with his hands positioned awkwardly.

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This odd and unfortunate detail somehow went unnoticed by the editors and producers at Score, allowing the card to make its way into circulation before the mistake was discovered. Once collectors noticed the error, Score corrected the card in subsequent print runs. In the corrected versions, Score airbrushed the player’s hand away from his crotch.

Although Score corrected the error, a significant quantity of the error card had already made its way into circulation, turning this card into a humorous error card. While not as popular as some error cards, the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card has since earned its place in the quirky world of error cards, celebrated for its unusual and unexpected mistake.

Variations of the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card

PSA recognizes two versions of the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card, the “Player in Background Adjusting Cup” and the “Hand Airbrushed Away” version. However, according to the Junk Wax Gems forum, this card has four variations.

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  1. The original version with the player adjusting his crotch area.
  2. The well-known corrected version with a large white squarish shape over his arm. There’s a tiny pink remnant at the crotch area.
  3. The lesser-known and more challenging version to find has a “cleaner” square shape over the arm. There’s also yellow ink within the covered-up area, and a slight blueish color can be seen in the crotch area.
  4. Another version has the same “cleaner” square shape over the arm. However, there’s no yellow ink within the covered-up area. The slight blueish color at the crotch remains.

Value of the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card

Despite the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card’s popularity among error card collectors, it holds relatively little monetary value. There are several reasons for this. However, before considering the reasons, let’s see how much the last three 1989 Score Paul Gibson error cards have sold on eBay.

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1989 Paul Gibson Score Grotch Grab error Card #595 4 Card Lot$2.25September, 2024
X 2 1989 Score PAUL GIBSON “Crotch Grab” Baseball Funny Error Card #595 Tigers$1.99August, 2024
1989 Score Error Paul Gibson #595 Tigers * Holding Crotch Background$4July, 2024
   
   

Graded

Let’s also consider how much the graded 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card sells for, using data from the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).

1989 Score Paul Gibson error card #595 (Player in Background Adjusting Cup) PSA 9$44May, 2020
1989 Score Paul Gibson error card #595 (Player in Background Adjusting Cup) PSA 9$10.5May, 2020
1989 Score Paul Gibson error card #595 (Player in Background Adjusting Cup) PSA 6$11September, 2020
1989 Score Paul Gibson error card #595 (Player in Background Adjusting Cup) PSA 9$44.99May, 2024`
1989 Score Paul Gibson error card #595 (Player in Background Adjusting Cup) PSA 10$125June, 2020

There are several reasons why the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card isn’t worth much, even though it’s a well-known error card.

Firstly, the card is from a junk wax era set. Baseball cards were produced in their millions, leading to a saturated market and decreased value. As a result, even a corrected error card like this one is available in such high numbers that they aren’t difficult to find even today. This surplus keeps the card’s value relatively low.

While Paul Gibson’s career was solid, it wasn’t exactly Hall of Fame-worthy. As a player, he was reliable but never reached superstar status. His career didn’t generate enough fanfare or achievements that would make his cards highly sought after.

As a result, the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card is generally worth only a few dollars, often traded among error card collectors for its novelty and curiosity rather than its monetary value.

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Bottomline of the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card

The 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card may not have significant monetary value, but it remains a fun and memorable card for error card collectors. Despite being a junk wax-era card, this quirky mistake has captured the hearts of many.

What makes this card appealing is the unexpected nature of the error—a background moment that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, captured and immortalized. For error card collectors, the 1989 Score Paul Gibson error card offers a humorous talking point and adds a fun twist to any error card collection.

While you won’t make any money investing in this card, its appeal lies in its fun and novelty, and it will continue to delight collectors for years to come.

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John Bassey

John Bassey

John is a freelance writer and founder of WordCraft Consult, a consultancy that provides expert writing services and enhances youth engagement in reading. With six years of writing experience and over 300 clients, He has made significant contributions as a content writer for several brands, such as Tech Triangle, KBO Bikes, Dolls Magazine, and, more recently, Cardlines.

John has a Bachelor's degree in Statistics and an enduring passion for creating content.  He is  currently dedicated to nurturing WordCraft while advancing appreciation for collectibles and literature through highly informative articles. 
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