1996 Leaf

Description

1996 Leaf is 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; the base set was almost an afterthought.

Distribution

There were three different products of 1996 Leaf Baseball.

Hobby Box - 30 Packs.

Retail Box Version 1 - 36 Packs.

Retail Box Version 2 - 24 Packs.

The marketing purpose behind the smaller 24-Count/Pack Box production isn't clear. It was not a "jumbo" version, as packs held the same number of cards as the larger Retail product. And it was definitely a product destined for the retail market because boxes offered the Hats Off inserts.

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds
Base	220	-	?	?
Bronze Press Proof	220	2000	PP	PP
Silver Press Proof	220	1000	PP	PP
Gold Press Proof	220	500	PP	PP
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

PP: Odds of finding any Press Proof: 1:10/packs.

Checklist

Base Set

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

Parallels

Press Proof

Randomly inserted into packs at the rate of 1:10 contained one of the following Press Proof parallels:

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

Each Press Proof was printed with holographic foil with the "Leaf 96" logo stamped in either Gold, Silver, or Bronze foil. The cards are NOT serial-numbered, and the words "PRESS PROOF" appear nowhere on the card.

Inserts

All-Star Game MVP Contenders

This 20 card set features 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 one of 5000 Gold MVP Contenders sets. The backs of each card carry the 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 honors 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 copies of each card was produced and is exclusive to retail packs.

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

Picture Perfect

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

One of twelve different Picture Perfect Promo cards was inserted into 1996 Leaf dealer order forms and hobby media press releases. The cards parallel 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 features players who stood out statistically. The cards were printed on a material with the feel of the leather that's between the seams or stitches of a baseball. Only 2500 copies of each card was printed and each is numbered individually on the back.

<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 is printed on canvas and features the top offensive stars. Only 5000 serial-numbered copies of each card were produced.

One of twelve different Total Bases Promo cards was inserted into 1996 Leaf dealer order forms and hobby media press releases. The cards parallel 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 feature the statistical highlights of Frank Thomas. The cards are printed on acetate and are die-cut to look like a compact disc. Cards 1-4 were randomly inserted into Hobby packs, 5-7 in retail, and card #8 was made available through a wrapper redemption offer. Each card is serial-numbered to 5000 copies.

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