If you were ripping through packs of 2024 Topps Series 2 looking for the usual shiny parallels, you probably didn't expect to find a crude joke from 1989 staring back at you. Yet, there he is. Jackson Holliday, the Baltimore Orioles' crown jewel, posing with a bat over his shoulder.
Look closer at the knob of the bat. It says Fun Face.
Basically, it's the ultimate "if you know, you know" moment for baseball card collectors. It isn't just a random short print; it's a meticulously crafted tribute to the single most notorious error card in the history of the hobby. If you’re under 40, you might just see a goofy rookie card. If you lived through the Junk Wax era, you see the ghost of Billy Ripken.
The Infamous 1989 Inspiration
You can't talk about the Jackson Holliday fun face card without talking about Bill Ripken. Back in 1989, Fleer released card #616. On the bottom of Ripken’s bat, written in clear, black marker, were two words that definitely weren't "Fun Face."
It was an expletive. A bad one.
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Fleer scrambled to fix it, creating a rabbit hole of variations: the black box version, the white scribble, the airbrushed "white out." Collectors went absolutely nuts. For a few months in the late eighties, that card was the most famous piece of cardboard on the planet. Billy Ripken eventually admitted he wrote it himself just to identify his batting practice bat, never dreaming the photographer would catch it.
Topps decided 2024 was the year to bring that chaos back, but with a family-friendly twist. They used their biggest rookie star to recreate the exact pose, the exact bat-on-shoulder angle, and the exact marker-on-knob aesthetic.
Why This Card is Driving Collectors Wild
Honestly, the "Fun Face" version is just the tip of the iceberg. Topps didn't just make one tribute; they recreated the entire "panic" of 1989. This makes the Jackson Holliday fun face card part of a larger hunt that has turned Series 2 into a scavenger hunt.
There are actually several versions of this Short Print (SP) and Super Short Print (SSP) floating around:
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- The "Fun Face" version (the "clean" original tribute).
- The Black Box variation (mimicking the Fleer fix).
- The White Scribble and Black Scribble versions.
- The "Saw Cut" version, which looks like the bottom of the card was sliced.
These weren't on the official checklist when the set dropped. They were "stealth" inserts. That’s why the prices spiked so fast. On release day, people were paying north of $700 for a raw copy. Even now, a high-grade PSA 10 can easily clear $1,000 depending on which specific "correction" variation you’re holding.
Hunting the Variation: What to Look For
It’s easy to miss if you’re just skimming your base cards. The Jackson Holliday base card in Series 2 is #697. The "Fun Face" variation uses that same number, but the image is totally different.
On the base card, Holliday is usually mid-swing or running. In the Jackson Holliday fun face card, he is standing still, looking directly at the camera, with the bat resting on his right shoulder. The bat knob is the giveaway. If you see a black smudge or the words "Fun Face" where the wood meets the air, you just hit the jackpot.
Kinda funny how a joke from 35 years ago is still the most effective way to sell a pack of cards in 2024.
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Market Value and Long-Term Potential
Is this a smart investment or a gimmick? Sorta both.
Historically, "gimmick" cards have a high entry price that craters once the next big set comes out. We saw it with the Kevin Hart variations and some of the "short print" legends from previous years. However, the Holliday card is different because it taps into "Hobby Lore."
The Billy Ripken card is still a staple in every serious collection. By linking Holliday—who many believe will be a perennial All-Star—to the most famous error ever, Topps created a "cross-generational" must-have.
Recent sales data shows the market is settling. While those $1,500 "buy it now" prices from June 2024 have cooled, the SSP (Super Short Print) versions remain remarkably steady. Collectors aren't just buying the player; they're buying the story.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to grab one of these, don't just jump at the first eBay listing you see. Here is how to handle the hunt:
- Check the Code: Look at the fine print on the back of the card at the very bottom. Variations often have a different ending code than base cards.
- Verify the Variation: Don't pay "Fun Face" prices for a "Black Box" version unless you specifically want the box. The "Fun Face" text version is generally the most sought-after of the group.
- Watch the Grading Pop: Because Topps printed a decent amount of Series 2, the "Pop Report" at PSA and SGC is growing. If the number of 10s explodes, the price will likely dip. Wait for the supply to stabilize before dropping four figures.
- Inspect the Bat Knob: If buying raw, ask for a high-res photo of the knob. There are already fakes appearing where people have "customized" base cards with a Sharpie to mimic the look.
The Jackson Holliday fun face card is a rare instance where a massive corporation like Topps actually showed a sense of humor. It’s a nod to the weird, gritty, and sometimes accidental history of card collecting. Whether Holliday becomes a Hall of Famer or just a solid pro, this specific card will likely remain one of the most talked-about rookies of the decade.