1995 Proline Autos Question???

fact81 · 05-21-2023, 08:56 AM

1995 Proline Autos have always stuck in my mind as some pretty cool cards.

1) All Serial #ed
2) On Card Autos!
3) Tons of players represented

However, I have always wondered something & even Beckett couldn't tell me..

What the h*ll does the "AP" mean in some of the Autos?
Perfect example below, I am selling a Jeff Blake Auto & it has the "AP" at the end of the print run. What does it stand for>??
Auto Pen? All Pro? Adrian Peterson?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16610937300...Bk9SR_qdvumHYg

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Rob

DynaEtch · 05-21-2023, 09:26 AM

I think it's something related to different versions of the run. This is what a quick search on COMC tells me (COMC refers to it as After Number X).

Some players have different run variants.

-There is a regular Trent Dilfer /2010
-Then there is a Trent Dilfer /306AP

I take this to mean there were 2316 total Dilfer autos from the two runs, if indeed those are the only two versions.

Found a player that even has 3 versions

-Steve Israel regular /1200
-Steve Israel /750AP
-Steve Israel /2413AP

Again Im interpreting this to be there are 4363 Israel autos out there, unless Im mistaken on that.

As to what AP itself stands for, I dont know. AP in cards has traditionally been used to mean Artist Proof (this continues to be a standard term in sketch cards). In the 90s artist proof was generally a parallel of a base. This looks to be a parallel version of the auto print run, so perhaps it means artist proof. Perhaps 'After Print'...that would suit this better.

fact81 · 05-21-2023, 09:42 AM

Fair enough DynaEtch!

DynaEtch · 05-21-2023, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fact81

Fair enough DynaEtch!

Im just guessing of course, because of what Im seeing on COMC. I know nothing about this product, so take what Im saying with a grain of salt. Maybe someone who collects it and is familiar with the set can confirm.

fact81 · 05-21-2023, 09:52 AM

No no, Im with ya! Makes sense, I just recall back when I was 13-14 years old, all of us that collected football cards never knew the answer & it randomly came up in conversation yesterday after a case of Miller Lite

corndog · 05-21-2023, 10:23 AM

All of the AP autograph cards were issued after the 36 pack retail boxes that included one autograph per box.
I believe all of the AP cards were included in smaller 18 pack boxes (if I remember correctly) and the only retail store that I ever saw them in was KB Toys.
These boxes would either have one autograph card per box or no autograph card and one printers proof card per pack.
There were also random inserts as well. I remember buying these in 1996.
To my knowledge there were no AP cards in the retail boxes.

I believe that the AP refers to After Production or After Printing or Additional Print.
I have never seen where the people at Classic stated what the AP stood for.

thenwhatjk · 05-21-2023, 11:05 AM

Seems tangential enough to post these

corndog · 05-21-2023, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenwhatjk

Seems tangential enough to post these

Those are the rare #/50 autographs that were included in Hobby Hot Boxes.

They look exactly like the regular printers proof cards except the card fronts don't have UV coating in order for the signature to stick.
They also have an embossed seal.

Those are awesome!

fact81 · 05-21-2023, 12:05 PM

Thanks for info guys! Kaybee Toys!!! Holy smokes! First auto ever pulled was from there! 1992 Classic Tommy Maddox(UCLA Uni)

bsuggs · 05-22-2023, 10:27 AM

Seems like I remember AP meaning “Added Player”

NHRonin · 05-22-2023, 06:45 PM

AP - Alternate Photo?

ken161 · 05-22-2023, 06:51 PM

It's a cool set. I've been chipping away for years.

One thing I've noticed (and this is true of other Proline auto sets as well) is that the print run number is not always commensurate with how difficult it is to find the card. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect some cards don't have as many autos in circulation as the number on the card indicates.

fact81 · 05-23-2023, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken161

It's a cool set. I've been chipping away for years.

One thing I've noticed (and this is true of other Proline auto sets as well) is that the print run number is not always commensurate with how difficult it is to find the card. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect some cards don't have as many autos in circulation as the number on the card indicates.

Agreed 100%

2dueces · 05-23-2023, 04:03 PM

I always thought the 90’s were junk wax. This thread changed my mind.
Nice cards and a worthy hunt. Good luck.

SleeperCards · 05-23-2023, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsuggs

Seems like I remember AP meaning “Added Player”

That's what I remember as well.

thenwhatjk · 05-23-2023, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken161

It's a cool set. I've been chipping away for years.

One thing I've noticed (and this is true of other Proline auto sets as well) is that the print run number is not always commensurate with how difficult it is to find the card. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect some cards don't have as many autos in circulation as the number on the card indicates.

Who else is like that besides Mills?

corndog · 05-24-2023, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenwhatjk

Who else is like that besides Mills?

There used to be plenty of Sam Mills until one collector started buying them all up after he passed away. Especially the 1994s.

Dallas Cowboys · 05-24-2023, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corndog

There used to be plenty of Sam Mills until one collector started buying them all up after he passed away. Especially the 1994s.

Are you sure it’s one person? I’ve got one in my hall of fame collection. I suspect several people bought him up when he made the hall last year.

corndog · 05-24-2023, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Are you sure it’s one person? I’ve got one in my hall of fame collection. I suspect several people bought him up when he made the hall last year.

There is one guy who way overpays for Mills' Pro Line autos. Most sellers adjust their BIN pricing just because he overpays so much. He has been hoarding Mills autos for at least 10 years now.

thenwhatjk · 05-26-2023, 03:58 PM

$78 for Jeff Blake /205, sheeeeeeesh

fact81 · 05-26-2023, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenwhatjk

$78 for Jeff Blake /205, sheeeeeeesh

Blew my mind too!!

davinci88 · 05-26-2023, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenwhatjk

$78 for Jeff Blake /205, sheeeeeeesh

Any idea why? That's wild.

jplarson · 05-26-2023, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corndog

There is one guy who way overpays for Mills' Pro Line autos. Most sellers adjust their BIN pricing just because he overpays so much. He has been hoarding Mills autos for at least 10 years now.

That reminds me of the Laser Inscription (?) Erik Kramer that some guy hoarded hundreds of.

fact81 · 05-26-2023, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davinci88

Any idea why? That's wild.

Possibly 2 guy’s putting together a complete set got into bidding war?

davinci88 · 05-26-2023, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fact81

Possibly 2 guy’s putting together a complete set got into bidding war?

It's wild what some auction prices have gone for. For some random players in many cases.

Seems like set-building is not a dead science after all.

05-21-2023, 08:56 AM	#1
fact81 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fair Lawn NJ Posts: 492	1995 Proline Autos Question??? 1995 Proline Autos have always stuck in my mind as some pretty cool cards. 1) All Serial #ed 2) On Card Autos! 3) Tons of players represented However, I have always wondered something & even Beckett couldn't tell me.. What the h*ll does the "AP" mean in some of the Autos? Perfect example below, I am selling a Jeff Blake Auto & it has the "AP" at the end of the print run. What does it stand for>?? Auto Pen? All Pro? Adrian Peterson? https://www.ebay.com/itm/16610937300...Bk9SR_qdvumHYg Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Rob __________________ Always looking for Barry Sanders Detroit Lions

05-21-2023, 09:26 AM	#2
DynaEtch Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 9,641	I think it's something related to different versions of the run. This is what a quick search on COMC tells me (COMC refers to it as After Number X). Some players have different run variants. -There is a regular Trent Dilfer /2010 -Then there is a Trent Dilfer /306AP I take this to mean there were 2316 total Dilfer autos from the two runs, if indeed those are the only two versions. Found a player that even has 3 versions -Steve Israel regular /1200 -Steve Israel /750AP -Steve Israel /2413AP Again Im interpreting this to be there are 4363 Israel autos out there, unless Im mistaken on that. As to what AP itself stands for, I dont know. AP in cards has traditionally been used to mean Artist Proof (this continues to be a standard term in sketch cards). In the 90s artist proof was generally a parallel of a base. This looks to be a parallel version of the auto print run, so perhaps it means artist proof. Perhaps 'After Print'...that would suit this better. __________________ ~~~ '90s trading cards === Golden Era ~~~ Last edited by DynaEtch; 05-21-2023 at 09:31 AM.

05-21-2023, 09:42 AM	#3
fact81 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fair Lawn NJ Posts: 492	Fair enough DynaEtch! __________________ Always looking for Barry Sanders Detroit Lions

05-21-2023, 09:52 AM	#5
fact81 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fair Lawn NJ Posts: 492	No no, Im with ya! Makes sense, I just recall back when I was 13-14 years old, all of us that collected football cards never knew the answer & it randomly came up in conversation yesterday after a case of Miller Lite __________________ Always looking for Barry Sanders Detroit Lions

05-21-2023, 10:23 AM	#6
corndog BODA Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: From a table in McDonalds, with lovely fake flowers on it. Posts: 18,141	All of the AP autograph cards were issued after the 36 pack retail boxes that included one autograph per box. I believe all of the AP cards were included in smaller 18 pack boxes (if I remember correctly) and the only retail store that I ever saw them in was KB Toys. These boxes would either have one autograph card per box or no autograph card and one printers proof card per pack. There were also random inserts as well. I remember buying these in 1996. To my knowledge there were no AP cards in the retail boxes. I believe that the AP refers to After Production or After Printing or Additional Print. I have never seen where the people at Classic stated what the AP stood for. __________________ He has no rival, He has no equal. Last edited by corndog; 05-21-2023 at 12:10 PM.

05-21-2023, 11:05 AM	#7
thenwhatjk Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berrrrrrwyyyyn IL Posts: 9,081 thenwhatjk	Seems tangential enough to post these __________________ White Sox. Oilers/Titans. Bears. Bulls.

05-21-2023, 12:05 PM	#9
fact81 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fair Lawn NJ Posts: 492	Thanks for info guys! Kaybee Toys!!! Holy smokes! First auto ever pulled was from there! 1992 Classic Tommy Maddox(UCLA Uni) __________________ Always looking for Barry Sanders Detroit Lions

05-22-2023, 10:27 AM	#10
bsuggs Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Mississippi Posts: 3 V.o.l.s	Seems like I remember AP meaning “Added Player”

05-22-2023, 06:45 PM	#11
NHRonin Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,254 roninent1 Roninent1	AP - Alternate Photo?

05-22-2023, 06:51 PM	#12
ken161 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 416	It's a cool set. I've been chipping away for years. One thing I've noticed (and this is true of other Proline auto sets as well) is that the print run number is not always commensurate with how difficult it is to find the card. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect some cards don't have as many autos in circulation as the number on the card indicates.

05-23-2023, 04:03 PM	#14
2dueces Member Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 437	I always thought the 90’s were junk wax. This thread changed my mind. Nice cards and a worthy hunt. Good luck.

05-26-2023, 03:58 PM	#20
thenwhatjk Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berrrrrrwyyyyn IL Posts: 9,081 thenwhatjk	$78 for Jeff Blake /205, sheeeeeeesh __________________ White Sox. Oilers/Titans. Bears. Bulls.