{"id":100820,"date":"2020-07-17T17:18:34","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T22:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=100820"},"modified":"2020-07-17T17:18:34","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T22:18:34","slug":"collectibles-column-hilariously-bad-1986-monty-gum-trading-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/07\/17\/collectibles-column-hilariously-bad-1986-monty-gum-trading-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Hilariously Bad 1986 Monty Gum Trading Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3078730302\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Wrestling trading cards have been around since the late 1800s, but few sets are as infamous as the 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars. This bootleg set is full of typos, misspellings, wrong pictures, bad cropping jobs and more. However, these gaffes only endear the Monty Gum cards to some collectors.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/package-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100829 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/package-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/package-2.png 293w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/package-2-220x300.png 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These unauthorized trading cards were produced in Holland in 1986, and feature many top stars from various territories. The cards have a color photo of a wrestler surrounded by a yellow border, with a blank cardboard back. The wrestlers\u2019 names and card number are printed in the upper left hand corner on the front. The cards have perforation marks on the tops and bottom where they were connected to one another in packs. These are smaller than traditional trading cards.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100825 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk.png 282w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk-212x300.png 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The 1986 Monty Gum cards were sold in paper packs that didn\u2019t seal at the top. Packs cost 25 cents each, and there were 50 packs per box, with usually between 7-10 cards per pack that were connected at the top and bottom.<\/p>\n<p>One of the highlights of the 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars set was one of the earliest known trading cards of \u201cMacho Man\u201d Randy Savage. The set also includes cards of wrestlers who haven\u2019t appeared on many other trading cards, such as the Fantastics, Joe LeDuc, Gino Hernandez, Bobby Jaggers and the Rock and Roll RPMs, among others.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/dog.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100826 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/dog.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/dog.jpeg 392w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/dog-208x300.jpeg 208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>Most of the photos were swiped from the Apter and Napolitano magazines of the 1980s, along with more mainstream entertainment magazines like<em>People<\/em>. Cards like the #22 Hulk Hogan still have the caption from the magazine that the card company couldn\u2019t quite crop out.<\/p>\n<p>The 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars set is notorious for its typos and misspellings. Ric Flair appears as \u201cRick Flair\u201d on cards 88-90, and card #34 has \u201cEric Flair\u201d locked up with Kevin Von Erich. Card #34 features \u201cthe Juneyard Dog,\u201d and card #79 identifies Greg Valentine as \u201cGreg Allen.\u201d Card #52 has a picture of Hulk Hogan choking Sylvester Stallone from \u201cRocky III,\u201d but hilariously reads, \u201cHulk Hogan &amp; Muhammed Ali.\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100824 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk2.jpeg 286w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/hulk2-215x300.jpeg 215w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some bad crop jobs identify wrestlers who aren\u2019t pictured. Cards #7 and #21 both say \u201cthe Road Warriors,\u201d but one card shows just Paul Ellering and Animal, while the other shows just Hawk. Card #66 has a photo of Dusty Rhodes dropping an elbow on an unseen King Curtis.<\/p>\n<p>But the single most awesomely bad card in the set has a combination of all those flaws. Card #72 is technically the first trading card of Jim Cornette; however, his first name is misspelled \u201cJin.\u201d The only part of Cornette that appears on the card is his right hand, which is holding a tennis racket that is being used to help Bobby Eaton choke an opponent.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1210745401\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/jin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100827 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/jin.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/jin.png 304w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/jin-228x300.png 228w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>Today the Monty Gum cards are plentiful and can easily be found on eBay and other sites. A full 100-card set usually sells in the $70-$100 range. Most cards don\u2019t go for more than $5 each except for the Savage card, which can fetch $10-$30.<\/p>\n<p>The 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars set has left a lasting impression on collectors, fans and even artists. CanadianBulldogsWorld.com published a hilarious take on this set (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merchandiseandmemories.com\/card-corner-wrestling-stars\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.merchandiseandmemories.com\/card-corner-wrestling-stars&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595109498988000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGJztCICwAyk18t7IG2xnWsN-EqZQ\">https:\/\/www.merchandiseandmemories.com\/card-corner-wrestling-stars<\/a>). Trading card artist Cuyler Smith used the design of the Monty Gum cards as the basis for two wrestling-related cards: Danny Devito as \u201cthe Trashman\u201d from \u201cIt\u2019s Always Sunny in Philadelphia\u201d and Jack Black as \u201cNacho Libre\u201d from the film of the same name.<\/p>\n<p>Graded cards with high grades are generally difficult to find, due in part to the perforation marks on the tops and bottoms making the cards very condition sensitive. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has graded 583 total cards, with only 149 (about 25%) receiving a grade of Gem Mint 10. Beckett Grading Services has only graded six cards, and not one received a grade higher than an 8.5.<\/p>\n<p><em>PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com\">michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com<\/a> or @MMooreWriter on Twitter.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT THE PRIOR COLUMN:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/07\/10\/collectibles-column-the-best-and-worst-jakks-pacific-tna-action-figures\/\">COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The Best and Worst Jakks Pacific TNA Action Figures<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1499787549\"><div id=\"pwtor-781696182\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Wrestling trading cards have been around since the late 1800s, but few sets are as infamous as the 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars. This bootleg set is full of typos, misspellings, wrong pictures, bad cropping <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/07\/17\/collectibles-column-hilariously-bad-1986-monty-gum-trading-cards\/\" title=\"COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Hilariously Bad 1986 Monty Gum Trading Cards\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,52,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-specialists_collectibles","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/Collectibles_package1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100830,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100820\/revisions\/100830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}