1996 Leaf

Description

1996 Leaf was a 220-card set released in May, 1996. For the first time, Leaf was released as a single-series. The main selling point was the large number of serial-numbered inserts in this set, which was a point of focus and emphasize by card companies during this time period.

Distribution

There were three different products of 1996 Leaf Baseball:

Hobby: 30 Packs per box, 12 cards per pack.

Retail (version 1): 36 Packs per box, 12 cards per pack.

Retail (version 2): 24 Packs per box, 12 cards per pack.

The marketing purpose behind the smaller 24-pack/box production is not clear. It was not a "jumbo" version, as these packs held the same number of cards (12) as the larger Retail product.

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds
Base	220	-	?	?
Bronze Press Proof	220	2000	1:10	1:10
Silver Press Proof	220	1000	1:10	1:10
Gold Press Proof	220	500	1:10	1:10
MVP Contenders	20	-	1:8	1:8
22K Gold Leaf Stars	15	2500	1:190	1:190
Hats Off	8	5000	N/A	1:72
Picture Perfect	12	5000	1:140	1:140
Statistical Standouts	8	2500	1:210	N/A
Total Bases	12	5000	1:72	N/A
Frank Thomas Greatest Hits	7	5000	1:210	1:210

Checklist

Base Set

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf') AND (num < 211) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>

Gold Leaf Rookies

The Gold Leaf Rookies, which had been a staple of the Leaf product as an insert since 1991, were relegated to a ten-card subset for 1996.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf') AND (num > 210) ORDER BY num +0 ASC; </sql2wiki>

Parallels

Press Proof

All Press Proof parallels were randomly inserted at the rate of 1:10 packs. There were three versions:

• Bronze (limited to 2000 copies)
• Silver (limited to 1000 copies)
• Gold (limited to 500 copies)

Each Press Proof featured holographic foil on the area of the card that was shaded to each player's specific team color. The "Leaf '96" logo in this area was stamped in either Gold, Silver, or Bronze foil for distinction. However, these cards were not serial-numbered and the words "Press Proof" did not appear anywhere on the card.

Inserts

All-Star Game MVP Contenders

• Regular

• Gold (redeemed)

This 20 card set featured possible contenders for the MVP at the 1996 All-Star Game held in Philadelphia. If the player on the front of the card won the MVP Award (which turned out to be Mike Piazza), the holder could send it in for a Gold MVP Contenders set. (Unlike the set from 1994, none of the Gold sets are serial-numbered.) The backs of each card had instructions on how to redeem the card. The Piazza card when returned with the redemption set had a hole in it to indicate the set had been redeemed.

Curiously, the backs of the Gold cards have the same information on how to redeem winning cards.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf All-Star Game MVP Contenders'); </sql2wiki>

Gold Stars

This 15-card set honored some of the games great players on 22-karat gold trim cards. Only 2500 serial-numbered cards of each player were printed.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Gold Stars'); </sql2wiki>

Hats Off

This eight-card set was printed and embossed on a wool-like material with the feel of a Major League ball cap. Only 5000 serial-numbered copies of each card were produced and they were exclusive to retail packs only.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Hats Off'); </sql2wiki>

Picture Perfect

This 12-card set was printed on real wood with gold foil trim. Cards 1-6 were exclusive to hobby packs, with cards 7-12 exclusive to retail packs. Only 5000 serial-numbered copies of each card were printed.

One of twelve different Picture Perfect Promo cards were also inserted into 1996 Leaf dealer order forms and hobby media press releases. The cards were identical to the standard Picture Perfect inserts except for the text "promotional card" running diagonally across the front of the card and "PROMO/5000" text on back.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Picture Perfect'); </sql2wiki>

Statistical Standouts

Exclusive to Hobby packs, this eight-card set featured players who stood out statistically. The cards were printed on a material with the feel of the leather between the seams of a baseball. Only 2500 serial-numbered copies of each card were printed.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Statistical Standouts'); </sql2wiki>

Total Bases

This 12-card, hobby exclusive set was printed on canvas and featured the top offensive stars. Only 5000 serial-numbered copies of each card were produced.

One of twelve different Total Bases Promo cards were inserted into 1996 Leaf dealer order forms and hobby media press releases. The cards were identical to the standard Total Bases inserts except for the text "promotional card" running diagonally across the front of the card and "PROMO/5000" text on back.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Total Bases'); </sql2wiki>

Frank Thomas Greatest Hits

This eight-card set featured the statistical highlights of Frank Thomas. The cards are printed on acetate and were die-cut to look like a compact disc. Cards 1-4 were randomly inserted into hobby packs, 5-7 in retail packs, and card #8 was made available through a wrapper redemption offer. Each card was serial-numbered to 5000 copies.

<sql2wiki database="carddb"> SELECT num,player,info FROM cards WHERE (year = 1996) AND (setname = 'Leaf Thomas Greatest Hits'); </sql2wiki>

Leaf
Vintage Era: 1948-49 - 1960
Canadian Era: 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988
Donruss Era: 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996
Pinnacle Brands Era: 1997 - 1998
Donruss-Playoff Era: 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005
Parallel Brands: 1998 Donruss Collections - 1998 Leaf Fractal Foundations
Other Leaf Brands: 1998 Leaf Rookies & Stars - 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars - 2002 Leaf Rookies & Stars - 2005 Leaf Century