Yes, I know Classic embodies the junk wax era, but give me a second to make the argument that there is still fun to be had in 1994 Classic and to also make you appreciate Yinka Dare cards. As hard as it can be to even give most of our Classic base cards away, we can’t forget the insert sets. What you’re looking at here is one of the twenty-five 1994 Classic BCs (that’s how many price guides referred to them), meaning “bonus cards.” They didn’t stray far from the design of the base set, but really have an attractive design with the featured player in a normal texture over a metallic background. And you could open all the boxes of jumbo packs you wanted, that’s not where they were. They were inserted into smaller, cheaper packs that Classic called “periodical packs.” They weren’t particularly rare, you got one in every pack, but there is NNO Jason Kidd card serial numbered out of 5,400 belonging to this set. So you have to admit, searching for a Grant Hill with this design and the possibility of such a limited Jason Kidd definitely puts the set into a different light. The backs of these cards are all about the photograph, other than that, we just have some simple biographical info in a triangle corner. But you have to admit, it’s a great photo of the 7′ 1″ Yinka Dare. Let’s talk about him a second, it’s really a moving story…
He played tennis in his spare time in Nigeria and was actually potted by a lawyer who suggested professional basketball to him. So he didn’t even pick up a basketball until 1991. After a season at a prep school, he enrolled at George Washington University and was hugely important to the team there. During his freshman year, he led them to the Sweet 16, the furthest they ever advanced in the tournament. He became their all-time leader in blocks after only two seasons. His story becomes sad after that. After just a few minutes of playing in the NBA, he tore his ACL, and even after returning, just couldn’t achieve the level needed. He left us too soon at the age of 32 due to a heart condition. But when you hear how others remembered him, it’s very moving. His coach at George Washington said he never heard him say a bad word about anyone and he was as kind and respectful as anyone he’s ever been in contact with. The pro players who knew him had equally kind words. I know the statistics might not suggest it, but he clearly left his mark on the community at George Washington and all of the pros he came into contact with.
There’s just something about his story that makes me appreciate my cards of him.
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