In the ’80s, Leaf was to Donruss as O-Pee-Chee was to Topps. The Canadian version of the main set. In both of those cases, the sets were replicated without much change other than a Logo. After a year off in 1989 things changed for Leaf.
The brand was putting product back out as a way to compete with the more premium Upper Deck brand (getting a theme here with a lot of these sets from this time). In 1990, that worked out. The set looked pretty good, although simple, but that was pretty much what worked for it. Given it was successful, Leaf increased production since the demand in 1990 showed it could be successful. But if 1990 was the Spring and Summer, this Leaf sure turned brown in what would represent it’s Autumn (1991).
But have no fear, Leaf would be back. For now, let’s dig into this box and see what we have and get a feel for this set.
1991 Leaf Series 2
So. There’s not much too it. Remember when I said that 1990 Leaf was simple but good. This is simple and bad. It reminds me of the “good and terrible” line from Coming to America, but just terrible.
I always pick a few big names to start with. Two of these seemed a bit interesting to me. Edgar Martinez and Sammy Sosa always look like two different players to me from the start of their career for the end. For different reason though.
Edgar, maybe it’s the mustache. I don’t know. He just looks different on cards. Its mostly these that are not close ups. Sammy on the other hand is a bit of a different story. That’s more his body type that’s different. And if you’ve seen Long Gone Summer, or seen a recent Where Are They Now? Sports Illustrated, Sammy looks really different now.
This Went Sideways
These felt so odd. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen landscape pictures on a portrait card. But if this set wasn’t bad enough, this helps it along.
The funniest of these for me is the Greg Gagne card. He might as well be a mime pretending to be stuck in a box. Except that he is really stuck in a box.
Odd Plays
There weren’t too many truly odd or funny pictures in this set. Again, it’s pretty boring. But I had to find something. Like Carlos, are you going to swing the two bats or are you just going to use them as crutches? Then you have Ernest Riles who might actually be playing basketball instead of baseball.
But what always takes the cake for me… poor Darrin Jackson. Dude obviously is blowing it in the outfield and we have to put it on a card.
Gold Rookies
There were a couple reasons for Leaf to be less successful in 1991. One was the fact that it was over-produced and other cards were just better (like 1991 Topps Stadium Club). The other reason was that there wasn’t a great crop of rookies for the set. Quite honestly, the only reason why I picked these… I knew their names and I was showing a different card.
Shiny Cards
Oh, shiny things… great. Even the shiny stuff just doesn’t cut it. Poor Harmon Killibrew. I really don’t need a silver set of him. And could we have dignified Nolan Ryan with a little bit different version from the rookie cards?
TTMs and Other Stuff
Some positives about this opening was that I did fill out some packs for my unopened pack collection. I also got a ton of cards for TTMs. It seems as I am opening these boxes and saving the oldest that I had at the time for last, I get bigger stacks of TTM cards along the way.
So, that wraps it up. There isn’t much too it. Hopefully me writing something… anything… about this set makes it just a little more exciting.
For more about 1991 Leaf Series 2, check out BaseballCardPedia.com.