• Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on Ebay
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Rookie Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
      • Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • NBA Top Shot
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • Vintage Sports Memorabilia

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.  It helps keep us afloat!

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
    • Hobby Shops Selling, Breaking Online During COVID-19
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Sports Card News / Modern Sports Card News / Collectors Still Chasing the Truth About Ripken Card

Collectors Still Chasing the Truth About Ripken Card

September 14, 2006 By Rich Mueller

Donovan Ryan was a kid in 1989, hooked by the scandalous controversy over the obscenity on the bottom of Bill Ripken’s bat in the now-famous 1989 Fleer card. It was definitely a word not to be used at the dinner table and for millions of kids his age, it only fueled an interest in baseball cards that had been gaining steam for a couple of years.

Early on, the card was selling for hundreds of dollars as speculators jumped in on the resulting frenzy caused by national media interest. Ryan Billy Ripken 1989 Fleer Fuck Facecouldn’t afford one then, but these days–with the card still a curiosity but no longer a wallet-buster– he’s made it one of his hobby passions.

Ryan is not out to acquire every single one with the infamous “F” word phrase. He’s convinced the truth about the card is still out there and he knows there are more than the five versions commonly cited in price guides.

“Three years ago I stumbled upon a white proof that later was found to be just a missing ink variation,” said the California resident. “That card reminded me of the famous error I could not afford as a kid in 1989 so the mission began.”

“Slowly I discovered variations not listed by Beckett or any other source. I
dug deeper. Ryan Wehn and Jon Pederson,two other collectors with the same interest and motivation in the FF master set goal, were also a part of it. We started asking veteran collectors whose names we found in old magazines and asked on the internet anyone who seemed like they might know something. Since then we have confirmed over twice the number of versions as Beckett lists and have heard of others.”

Ryan even started a website, www.BillRipken.com, where he shows the variations he’s discovered.

Currently, the obscene version sells for between $5-10 on eBay.

In their quest, Ryan and the other Ripken investigators have searched for the truth about whether the “error” was intentional.

The general concensus has been Ripken was the victim of a joke by teammates and that Fleer’s proofreaders simply missed the obscene phrase. Others speculate that it was intentionally done by Fleer to boost sales and hopefully recover from the poor 1988 results.

“One collector wrote me saying he had received a forwarded e-mail from a Fleer executive stating it was indeed intentional but I have not been able to prove that’s true,” Ryan said.

He and his group have also discovered some facts including:

  • The estimated print run. “Fleer printed for two weeks before stopping. Based on previous print runs Beckett estimated in 1989, 80-100,000 of the FF were released. Not rare by any means.”
  • The Black Box variation was also not rare having been double printed on full 132-card sheets.
  • The whiteout can easily be faked. “I have bought three copies on the internet that were forged. I stopped one seller from selling these after a long battle.
  • It’s believed Fleer employed someone to make a small cut into the card to mark them so they would be pulled before distribution. The cuts vary in placement and length.

Vintage collectors may scoff, but it’s this kind of card that helps define a 20-something generation’s memories of a childhood hobby.

“It brings us a unique feeling of satisfaction that today’s cards do not bring us,” Ryan explains. “The discoveries we make and the fellow collectors we aid, helped bring back our interest in the hobby.”

Click here to see 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken cards for sale on eBay.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Graded Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card Tally Nears 120,000 Billy Ripken 1989 Fleer Fuck Face‘For Keeps’ Podcast Tackles 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken Saga Topps, Cal Ripken Team Up for “2131” Card Set Lou Gehrig bat Cal Ripken Jr.A Piece of the Game TV Looking for Memorabilia to Feature Autographed 2131 photo Cal Ripken Jr.Ramblings: Ripken Recollections as Anniversary Approaches Ramblings: Reader Reaction Notes: Device Helps Blind Collector; Jumbo Wagner History; Ichiro Signing; Cal Cards Infamous Billy Ripken Card Gets G-Rated Bobblehead The Story Behind Keith Comstock’s Nutty 1989 Minor League Card Humble Beginnings: Most of Cal Ripken Jr.’s First Baseball Cards Were Destroyed
Rich Mueller

About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]

Filed Under: Modern Sports Card News Tagged With: 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken, 1989 fleer ken griffey jr., Cal Ripken

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase, we receive a commission.  The revenue is what helps keep SC Daily afloat!

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs
  • Graded Rookie Cards
  • Authenticated Photos
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less
  • Pre-1985 Graded Football Cards $5 and Less
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $10 and less
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less
  • Complete Sets Under $10
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1

RSS Auction Report

  • RR Auction Presents Space and Aviation Auction Ending April 22, 2021
  • Steve Novella Offers 100+ PSA Graded Baseball and Basketball Card Auctions Ending April 20, 2021
  • Record $1.3 Million Auction. Historic Masters Victory


Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forum
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cards
  • Game Used Jerseys
  • 1952 Topps Baseball
  • Championship Rings For Sale
  • Vintage Basketball Cards
  • NBA Signed Items
  • Signed Sports Memorabilia
  • UFC Memorabilia
  • Autographed Baseballs
  • NASCAR Autographs
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cards
  • Player Pictures
  • Vintage Football Cards
  • Sports Card Boxes
  • Sports Collectors Store

Pages

  • 10 Hottest Kareem Hunt Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest UFC Trading Cards
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 20 Hottest Barry Sanders Football Cards
  • 2016 Cubs Replica Championship Rings Don’t Cost a Fortune
  • 2017 Topps Definitive Collection Box Breaks, Most Watched
  • 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA Championship Memorabilia Guide
  • 2019 US Women’s World Cup Apparel, Merchandise, Memorabilia Guide
  • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Kevin Durant Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • 8 Types of Kobe Bryant Collectibles to Remember Him By
  • Aaron Judge Game Used Memorabilia Inventory Growing
  • About Us/Contact/Advertise
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Affordable Vintage Sports Cards and Collectibles
  • Barnebys Sports Memorabilia Auctions
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Best Derek Jeter Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Best Display Cabinets for Sports Memorabilia
  • Best Joey Votto Rookie Cards
  • Best Pascal Siakam Rookie Cards
  • Chiefs Super Bowl Champs Memorabilia Hits the Market
  • Current Most Watched Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Dale Murphy Rookie Card Remains Popular, Affordable
  • Eagles Super Bowl Champions Memorabilia Guide
  • Fanatics Under Wraps 2017 Next Level Edition Autographed Baseballs
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Frank Gore Rookie Cards Get No Respect
  • Gardner Minshew Rookie Cards Heat Up as Fun-Loving Rookie Shows His Ability
  • Great Gifts for Cubs Fans
  • Guide to 2018-19 Clemson Tigers National Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to Houston Astros Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to LSU National Championship Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Nationals World Series Champs Memorabilia, Merchandise
  • Guide to St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Memorabilia
  • Hank Aaron Cards on eBay
  • Henrik Lundqvist Rookie Cards a Strong Long-Term Play
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Hottest 2019 Baseball Rookie Cards
  • Hottest 2019 NFL Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Chicago Bulls Memorabilia Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Devin Booker Rookie Cards as Suns Star Piles Up Points
  • Hottest Kyle Lewis Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Lonzo Ball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini World Cup Stickers on eBay
  • Hottest Pokémon Card Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Hottest Topps Living Set Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Topps NOW Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Xander Bogaerts Rookie Cards
  • LeBron James Lakers Jerseys Already Available
  • Links
  • Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Popular Mark McGwire Rookie Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Kobe Bryant Basketball Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Topps Project 2020 Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Nick Bosa Rookie Cards Getting Collectors’ Attention
  • Patriots Super Bowl 51 Champions Merchandise
  • Ryne Sandberg Rookie Cards, Minor League Issues Still Collector Favorites
  • Selling Sports Cards on eBay for Cash
  • Soccer Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Test
  • The 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant Auto Saga: A Timeline
  • Tony Gwynn Rookie Cards Recall “The Best Hitter Since Ted”
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Top Selling Patriots Super Bowl Championship Items
  • Upper Deck Authenticated Autographs Remain Popular, Accessible
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
  • Wade Boggs Rookie Cards Still a Collector Favorite
  • Wayne Gretzky Cards
  • What’s Hot on eBay
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Where to Buy the Anthony Fauci Topps Baseball Card
  • Write About Your Sports Collection
  • Write for Sports Collectors Daily

Copyright © 2021 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Genesis Web Design by Wickam Group