Barry Larkin Collection 1,025: 1995 Summit - #10 - Sample

Barry Larkin

Year:  1995

Brand:  Summit

Card number:  10  (Sample)

I've already shown off Barry's regular base card from the 1995 Summit set (see here).  Today, we have a much rarer "Sample" version of that same base card.  According to baseballcardpedia, the Sample cards from the '95 Summit set were issued in an 8.5" x 14.5" black portfolio as part of a nine card set.  The full checklist for the sample set is:

• NNO Title Card / Sean Casey
• 10 Barry Larkin
• 11 Albert Belle
• 79 Cal Ripken, Jr.
• 80 David Cone
• 125 Alex Gonzalez
• 130 Charles Johnson
• BB12 Jose Canseco
• BB17 Fred McGriff

All of the cards have "sample" printed on both the front and back of the card so you can't miss the fact that you are holding one of the cards!  

Overall, I'm rather lukewarm on oddball cards such as sample cards.  As a kid, I liked getting sample cards in my magazines but as adult collector, I can't help but think that the giant printed "SAMPLE" kind of ruins the overall look of the card!  That being said, it's certainly nice to have a rare-ish Larkin card from the era so no complaints about that!