1988 Donruss Baseball Forum

With recent updating of the Donruss variations, I was finally able to go through my doubles and see what I had. While I had purchased a complete factory set, most of my doubles were pack variety. I put together nearly a set of the 1987 and 1988 pack versions, so I thought I ould list the remainder on my want list. I have been receiving a few cards, and can usually identify the item on the card that makes it different from the factory version. however, one card I got in the mail today has me stumped. Can anyone tell me the specific difference between the 1988 #286 Kevin Bass (Factory / Pack)? I am sure someone will know...thanks in advance!

The images we have on site are accurate, and show clear differences:

https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/119/cid/44288/1988-Donruss-286-Kevin-Bass?PageIndex=1

https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/119/cid/11873027/1988-Donruss-286-Kevin-Bass?PageIndex=1

               Packed Out Version                                          Factory Set Version

 <---- Packed Out Version

 <--- Factory Set Version

Fronts - the black pattern is in opposite corners.

Backs - the text in both contract status and career highlights is slightly more "packed together" on the FS version and so the text lines under the first one start with different words.

Thanks for showing the difference. I am able to tell the difference with all the donruss variations except the 1990 Donruss pack and factory set borders. 

Gotta pick out the speckles, look for the bigger ones that right up against the photo, then compare your other cards or the images here.

OMG! I feel like a total baffoon for not seeing the obvious difference on the front. I swear I thought I looked at the two in the data base to see the difference and didn't even notice the fronts were different. I am going to credit this lackage of perception on the fact that I just went through some 6000 cards looking for minute differences. Time to update my reader glasses and improve the room lighting. Thanks to all who enlightened me, and please forgive my senior moment...It gave me a good laugh.

I am going out of my mind on this set.  I have read many different threads on this subject and there are different conclusions.  What is the final definitive answer?  vrooomed posted photo examples, but card #223, it is exactly the opposite.  The "packed together" is on the pack version.

He stated:

Backs - the text in both contract status and career highlights is slightly more "packed together" on the FS version and so the text lines under the first one start with different words.

Look at card #223, it is exactly the opposite.  The "packed together" is on the pack version.  

?

I guess I get it.  Both versions of the front border came out of packs and the factory set, so you can't go by that.  You have to go by the font on the back, smaller font or "packed together" is from the factory set.  

#223 is Ruben Sierra, and the fronts differ between the cards found in packs and the cards found in factory sets. Additionally, the backs differ, and we have been exteremely careful in ensuring the correct versions of the cards contain the correct images.