Barry Larkin Collection 964: 1994 Leaf - #11 - MVP Contenders Silver Collection

Barry Larkin

Year:  1994

Brand:  Leaf

Insert set:  MVP Contenders Silver Collection

Card number:  11

The MVP Contenders insert set from 1994 Leaf was both a proper insert and a contest of sorts (where the prize was a Frank Thomas 5"x7" card).  Those who mailed in cards also were entered to win one of 5000 Gold MVP Contender insert sets.  I'm happy to report that I actually own both of the MVP Contender cards, though you'll have to wait for a future Barry Larkin Collection post to see the gold card!

Turning back to today's card, the Silver Collection card back is full of legalese and probably best ignored nowadays.  Luckily, the front design saves this particular card in my eyes - it's a nice design with just enough unique elements to capture my attention!  I especially like the National League logo in the background, appropriate for a contest in which you were to pick the NL (and AL) MVP winner!  

For those wondering, here's the full checklist for this particular insert set:

• AL1 Albert Belle
• AL2 Jose Canseco
• AL3 Joe Carter
• AL4 Will Clark
• AL5 Cecil Fielder
• AL6 Juan Gonzalez
• AL7 Ken Griffey, Jr.
• AL8 Paul Molitor
• AL9 Rafael Palmeiro
• AL10 Kirby Puckett
• AL11 Cal Ripken, Jr.
• AL12 Frank Thomas 
• AL13 Mo Vaughn
• AL14 Carlos Baerga
• AL15 AL Bonus Card
• NL1 Gary Sheffield
• NL2 Jeff Bagwell 
• NL3 Dante Bichette
• NL4 Barry Bonds
• NL5 Darren Daulton
• NL6 Andres Galarraga
• NL7 Gregg Jefferies
• NL8 Dave Justice
• NL9 Ray Lankford
• NL10 Fred McGriff
• NL11 Barry Larkin
• NL12 Mike Piazza
• NL13 Deion Sanders
• NL14 Matt Williams
• NL15 NL Bonus Card

The two bonus cards (one for each league) were used in case the actual league MVP was someone other than one of the 14 preselected players for the year.  For the record, it was Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell that won the MVP awards (and thus it was their cards which ended up as proper "winner" cards for the contest).