Jim Palmer
Pitcher · Baltimore Orioles
Nabisco All-Star Legends #Not visible
Year & Era
1991 — Junk Wax Era
Card Type
Insert / Promotional Food Issue with In-Person Autograph
Grade
Raw — appears Good to Very Good (VG/EX)
Rarity
Common food insert set, but made scarcer by the presence of a vintage in-person autograph.
Overall Assessment
An affordable and nostalgic food-issue insert featuring a legendary Hall of Famer with an in-person signature. Ideal for a casual collector or Orioles fan, though limited in monetary value by noticeable wear and off-centering.
Condition Grade
Raw — appears Good to Very Good (VG/EX)
Centering Assessment
Front is noticeably off-center with heavy left-to-right bias leaning heavily left.
Surface Condition
Fair to Good. Noticeable surface wear, minor scratching, and fingerprint residue, typical of a handled food-issue insert.
Corner Condition
Softened and rounded corners, particularly the top-right and top-left corners showing visible distress.
Edge Condition
Chipping along the top and right edges, with rough cutting characteristic of food-issue packaging.
Print Quality
Standard 1990s food-issue quality with slight dot matrix graininess and typical gloss finish.
Estimated Value
$5 - $15 raw, potentially higher if the signature is authenticated by a third party like PSA/DNA or JSA.
Comparison to Known Examples
This copy shows more corner wear and poorer centering than typical high-grade surviving examples from factory sets or sealed boxes.
Authentication Tips
Compare the blue ink signature against verified exemplars of Jim Palmer's signature; examine card stock thickness and reverse printing for authenticity.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading due to condition flaws (soft corners, heavy off-centering), unless authenticated specifically for the signature.
Red Flags
No significant red flags for forgery of the card itself, but signature authentication by PSA/DNA or JSA is required to verify the autograph.
Provenance Notes
Originally distributed via Nabisco food product packaging (such as cookies or cracker boxes) during the early 1990s promotional campaigns.
Historical Context
Jim Palmer is a Hall of Fame pitcher who spent his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles, winning three Cy Young Awards and three World Series titles. Although baseball is depicted rather than football, the card represents a classic era of promotional food-issue inserts.
Market Trends
Stable demand for Hall of Famer signed memorabilia, though food-issue inserts generally command modest collector interest unless graded very high.
Investment Potential
Low investment growth potential due to condition issues, but a nice sentimental piece for an Orioles or Hall of Fame PC (Personal Collection).
Similar Cards
1991 Nabisco All-Star Legends insert set featuring other Hall of Famers like Brooks Robinson, Nolan Ryan, or George Brett.
Display & Preservation
Store in a penny sleeve and rigid top-loader or semi-rigid holder, kept away from direct sunlight and high humidity to prevent further edge and surface degradation.
Interesting Facts
Jim Palmer famously never allowed a grand slam during his entire major league career, spanning over 3,900 innings pitched.