Barry Larkin Collection 152: 1997 Upper Deck SPx - #19 - Steel Parallel

Barry Larkin

Year:  1997

Brand:  Upper Deck SPx

Parallel set:  Steel

Card number:  SPX19

The 1997 Upper Deck SPx set is confusing for someone who never opened a pack from the brand.  According to what I could find online, each card had six different versions:

• There was the regular base card version (in which the photo on the back of the card was in color)
• There were 5 parallels (steel, bronze, silver, gold, and Grand Finale)
• The steel and silver parallels can be distinguished by looking at the background behind the player's number - if it has a holographic logo it is a steel parallel (such as the card above).  If it has an etched background, it is a silver parallel.
• None of the parallels are serially numbered though online sources state that the Grand Finales are limited to 50 copies.

At some point in time, I'll have to try and track down all of the different versions of this card - but for now I'm happy to at least have the steel parallel!  The one downside to the die-cut beauty is that the back shows major scuffing.  Upper Deck might have been going for a steel-like look, but all they really accomplished was to create a card that's too easy to mark up.