A never ending quest for Herschel Walker, base, insert, parallel and commemorative cards.
After being left out of the 2020 and 2021 Panini sets, Herschel Walker makes a return in the 2022 National Treasures Collegiate set. This is a 40 card set of college greats. The base cards are numbered to #99, while the parallels are in the following runs: Blue-#'d to 75; Silver-#'d to 39; Gold-#'d to 10; Silver-#'d to 5 and Platinum, which is a One of One. There are also four Printing Plates available, again in 1-1 runs.
Because the back of the base card and the various parallels are all the same and for the fact that I was able to acquire them within a short period of time, I decided to show them all in one post. So to begin, here his Walker's base card in the set.
As mentioned, the reverse is the same on all of them, so I will only show the obverse going forward.
Here is the Blue, which is numbered to #75
Next is the Silver parallel.
Then comes the Gold version:
And finally, at least to this point, is the Emerald version, which is #'d to just 5.
So I'm glad to be able to check off several cards from the latest set to feature Herschel. Who knows? Maybe someday a printing plate will pop up for sale and not be too crazy expensive. Of course, I have uploaded these images to the Trading Card Database.
Honestly, I was floored when I saw this card on EBay. Herschel Walker had not been featured in a regular issue card set since 2019. I was beginning to think that any new examples of Walker on a football card was a thing of the past.
When I came across this example, I was able to snag it and immediately went about researching the 2022 Panini Gold Standard set. As Panini is wont to do, there are an incredible number of insert cards, in addition to the base set. I counted at least 48 individual insert sets.
This particular subset, the Golden Records Signatures, is an 18 card set featuring players from the past, who hold a certain record. In Herschel's case, he is the only player in NFL history, to have at least 4,000 yards rushing, receiving and returning kickoffs. All these cards are autographed. The cards are serial numbered to 10. The #'s are very hard to see. They are in the upper left of the card front. This one is #6 of 10.
From what I could tell on the Cardboard Connection set list, this is the only card Herschel has in the entire set.
I'm very pleased to announce that another one of my top ten most wanted Herschel Walker cards has been located and added to the Herschel Hoard.
This is a 1996 #298 Pacific card of Walker, in the much harder to find, red parallel version. I have been unable to locate this particular card for years, until a few days ago, when one appeared on EBay. From what I have been able to discern, the red parallels were placed in retail boxes that year, at the rate of 9 cards in every 37 packs.
So now, I am only lacking the silver parallel from this set. Those were also issued 9-37, but in hobby boxes, rather than retail.
As I've said in the past, nabbing a Walker card from his playing days, especially a hard to find version, gives me more of a thrill than even a more modern, 1 of 1, or autographed card.
Usually, I find these cards in a very random fashion. I can look on EBay, or other secondary market sites every day for months, with no luck. Then I'll get busy with life and not check those sites for a few days. When I go back, THAT is when I find my treasure!
This beauty has left the Top Ten Most Wanted list and has been replaced by a card from the '90's, which is even tougher to locate. That would be the 1997 Fleer Decade of Excellence Rare Traditions card #9. It looks quite similar to the regular Decade of Excellence card(already in the Hoard), however, this version is marked "Rare Traditions" and is stamped in foil.
According to Beckett, these cards were only issued in 1 of 330 packs. I couldn't be more pleased to add this baby to the collection.
I am pleased to be able to fill in a space that was empty for a long time, both at the TCDB and here at the Herschel Hoard. This is a 2006 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Tools of the Trade Red Spectrum card TOT-60, featuring Herschel Walker.
The card has a rainbow effect on the middle of the card front, hence the spectrum name. I had the other three red versions of Walker's Tools of the Trade cards, but have been looking for this one for a long time.
As can be seen on the card back, it is serial numbered to just 25.
Another nice autographed card of Herschel, joins the Hoard. This is a 2011 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Variation #SS-HW card, signed by Walker on the helmet. The regular version of the Sweet Spot series, shows a team logo on the helmet, while this variation has the college mascot on the helmet.
I am fortunate to already have the regular version, which is serial numbered to 50, in my collection. As can be seen, this variation is serial numbered to 30. This one is #1 of 30, as shown on the bottom of the card front. I am pleased to add yet another signed card to the Hoard.
This one of one Panini Flawless Diamond card, is the trifecta in the #40 series featuring Herschel Walker. I already have the base card and the Emerald version, which is serial numbered to 5.
It has been a long time since a card I was seeking found its way into the Hoard. I had to pony up a bit for this one, but I did so, first, because I didn't have the card in my collection and also, because it is a one of one example.