Mario Lemieux
Center (NHL Hockey Player) - Note: This is an Ice Hockey card, not a Football card. · Pittsburgh Penguins
Donruss Leaf - The Mario Lemieux Collection #Not visible on front (Part of a 10-card insert set)
Year & Era
1991-92 — Junk Wax Era
Card Type
Insert Card
Grade
6.0 - 7.0 (EX-MT estimated)
Rarity
Common Insert; released in high volumes during the mass production era of the early 90s.
Overall Assessment
A classic piece of 90s hockey memorabilia featuring one of the greatest players in history. While technically a hockey card and not a football card as requested, it remains a staple for Pittsburgh sports collectors.
Condition Grade
6.0 - 7.0 (EX-MT estimated)
Centering Assessment
Front centering appears slightly shifted to the right (approx 45/55 L-R). The full-bleed image makes L-R centering issues less obvious than T-B.
Surface Condition
Near Mint; standard glossy finish for the era occasionally prone to light scratches or fingerprint oils. No major dimples visible.
Corner Condition
Bottom right corner shows visible white wear and softening. Top corners appear relatively sharp but may have minor micro-fraying.
Edge Condition
Edges appear generally clean with standard factory cutting; however, dark borders on the bottom and top are highly susceptible to chipping.
Print Quality
High-quality photography for the time with a distinct gold-foil stamped Leaf seal. Subdued color palette typical of Leaf's premium branding in 1991.
Estimated Value
$2.00 - $8.00 (Raw); $25.00 - $45.00 (PSA 9/10).
Comparison to Known Examples
Average condition copy. Many examples of this set suffer from significant corner chipping due to the dark bottom text box.
Authentication Tips
Verify the presence of the indented gold foil seal and the specific card stock thickness. Counterfeits of this specific insert are extremely rare due to low market value.
Grading Recommendation
SGC or PSA; however, grading is only recommended if the card is in perfect MINT condition, as the cost of grading exceeds the raw value for mid-grade copies.
Red Flags
No significant red flags observed; the wear on the bottom right corner confirms it is an authentic original from the 1990s.
Provenance Notes
Originally distributed as inserts within 1991-92 Leaf Series 2 hockey wax packs and jumbo packs.
Historical Context
Commemorates the legendary career of Super Mario during the era where he led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Market Trends
Stable; Mario Lemieux remains a Top 3 all-time hockey icon, though junk wax era inserts have a high supply that keeps prices affordable.
Investment Potential
Low for raw copies; Moderate for high-grade PSA 10 specimens due to the difficulty of finding perfect edges on dark-bordered cards.
Similar Cards
Wayne Gretzky 1990-91 Upper Deck, Jaromir Jagr 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Rookie.
Display & Preservation
Penny sleeve and top-loader to prevent further corner softening; avoid UV light to prevent fading of the white jersey in the photo.
Interesting Facts
The 'Mario Lemieux Collection' was one of the first high-gloss, premium foil-stamped insert sets that helped define the transition to the 'Super Premium' card market.