Similar to a 1988 baseball test issue, this 1990 promotional set was a trial of Action Packed’s initial design. The basketball cards in this set, at least, were used to try for an NBA license and a set of cards. Unfortunately, an Action Packed basketball set using this design didn’t make the cut, but it was used for a football set. It’s on the back where we see that these were clearly promotional. In addition to the small photograph, short bio, and stats, the backs are distinguished by the outline of the word “Sample” and a very light outline of “Not For Sale” below that. If there’s any question whether this set was intended for sale, that sure answers it. These are definitely just promotional samples. There’s a crease where the card is folded. There’s also this blank white box with a star to the right of it…kind of seems extraneous, maybe someone has more info on that? The star takes the place of the card number in these promotional cards. Now to the front…we have Action Packed’s typical rounded corners. The player is embossed and, although I’m not completely sure, I think these are the first basketball cards ever with an embossed component (maybe someone can think of another before 1990)! And, in what can be considered the “base” set for these promos, we have a gold-foil stamped border.
Now about that gold-foil stamped border! It’s actually the borders that keep collectors on their toes with this set. I have discussed and photographed a “white border” Patrick Ewing that exists. There was also a Michael Jordan white border that was spotted on eBay in 2012. BGS graded a Michael Jordan that they labeled as “Silver Border.” But be careful when collecting variations. Are they variations? Is it a bit of sunlight fading? Even camera angle can make the cards look drastically different. PSA now has silver and gold varieties listed for all of the cards on it’s website, but doesn’t indicate that cards have been found for all of them. All of this makes me think that things are still unsettled here. Here’s the most logical thing I’ve heard about the borders, but completely unverified. Action Packed printed a few white border versions as a sample for an NBA license. They thought they would get the license and started printing the gold versions early. Once rejected, they stopped production and stamped the “Sample” info on the back. But the point stands to keep your eyes open and expect the unexpected in this set! There are even unfolded varieties. Some price guides considered the set to be made up of four components, excluding variations: Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Sugar Ray Leonard. But a more complete list includes three hockey players (Lemieux, Gretzky and Yzerman). There’s also rumors of uncut sheets from this set.
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