I don’t care how big of a collecting snob you are. Even if you’re the guy who spends his weekends bustin’ cases of Topps Sterling and Upper Deck Exquisite you still gotta love 1991’s insert line, Pro-Visions. These cards were so great that it didn’t even matter if you pulled your least favorite player, just as long as you had one to brag about was more than enough.
The man behind these beloved 90’s insert is Terry Smith. He’s also done some football and basketball but I think it’s his baseball paintings that will be forever remembered by collectors. My one small nit pick is his Mark McGwire pieces. Below are three different paintings done by Mr. Smith throughout Big Mac’s career.
Maybe I missed something but was this a common pose by Mark McGwire? Was he constantly walking around with sleeveless jerseys and a bat stretched out behind his head? Maybe he was aiming to be the white Bo Jackson instead of the redheaded stepchild of the Bash Brothers?
You can check out Terry Smith’s website HERE.
No thanks. Just another total crap insert from the era of desperate over-production
When you read VOTC’s comment in the voice of “Comic Book Guy” it sounds so much better. Seriously, just add a “Worst.Era.Ever” or something and it’s complete.
For 1991, Pro-Visions was an awesome insert, especially considering how awful the ‘91 Fleer base was.
In 1991, the only insert better than Pro-Visions was Donruss Elite #’d to 10,000 and Upper Deck’s Heroes autographs.
@VOTC I respectfully disagree. Donruss had Diamond Kings and the Fleer Pro-Visions were an nice alternative to them. They were simple and elegant and for the most part, well executed. I don’t care if they weren’t numbered or autographed; that’s not my fortè.
If you are collecting for the fun of it and don’t care if a card has any future value, who cares if it was over produced.
Heck, I just picked up four boxes of 1988 Topps and a 1989 Donruss Rack Box to rip for the grand total of $40 including shipping.
I’m going to get a lot more enjoyment out of my $40 than somebody buying half a box of some current release and getting about 100 cards for their trouble.
Different tastes for different people, these type of cards are junk to me. I however did not grow up collecting them, I basically started when the first “hit” per box products started to come out. I just find no personal value in base or parallels.
VOTC: Uh-oh I see a “Fleer Pro-Visions sucks” T-shirt in your future. Maybeb you and Gellman can split a room next year (1 queen bed, please). These cards were great but it was Canseco who ended up 2nd the “Bash Brothers” race. McGwire set the HR record, 500 homeruns, an eventual spot in Cooperstown. Canseco’s just a rat.
Before 1995, Jose was still the King Bash Brother.
That was the year Big Mac really started to “evolve”… and I don’t mean his hitting.
I wonder how this card would look with Gellman in a cut off Pink Princess tshirt holding a 3 footlong summer sausage
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL