1999 SKYBOX THUNDER RAVE BRIAN McRAE
Ah, the underappreciated art of penning baseball-card backs…
At its best, card-back text is an intersection of Hemingway and haiku, delivering key information and sublime insight in a tiny, rhythmic capsule of words:
“Holder of host of fielding marks for NL 3rd sackers, Ron topped former high in RBI’s in ’69. Total was second best in loop.”
At its worst, well, it’s this:
“Yo, Brian… pitchers be cryin’ when they see you step to the dish. They know you’re gonna do whatever you wish.”
Such was the state of the oversaturated card market in the late ’90s that all of the various companies were searching desperately for any points of differentiation. Hence, this card-back rap with an R. Van Winkle flow…
The Brian McRae issue in question is a “Rave” parallel from the 1999 Skybox Thunder set, serial numbered 146 out of 150.
The card front has very little to recommend it aesthetically, with B-Mac superimposed over a sea-green drop cloth, and a quartet of generic clip-art baseball images lining the top.
And the card back? Well, the card back is wack.
Word.
Just, word to your mother…
At least 1998, the year featured on the stat line on the card, was McRae’s best year as a hitter in the majors…
The random capitalization on the back of the card is another treat. And the team logo right next to the stats and the unreadable logo on the card front — this card is the gift that keeps giving.
If Public Enemy and Milli Vanilli had a baby, it would be this card.
OK Charlie, PE is giving this card too much cred. I might suggest that it is the offspring of MV and BAG (Brian Austin Green). Or perhaps MV and Mr Van Winkle himself [hums bass line from “Under Pressure”]…
Collaborate and listen!