November 01, 2006

Appreciation: The Cult of Jerome Walton

This card is a sweepstakes card from a pack of 1990 Bowman. The text on back reads “Did you know…that the picture on the other side of this card is a reproduction of a painting of Jerome Walton that is part of a set of 11 paintings of superstar players by artist Craig Pursley? Do you know that this set of 11 artist-signed and numbered lithos has a value in excess of $440.00?”

Can you imagine if you won one of these sets in the sweepstakes in 1990, thinking that you’d be able to retire in ten years after the value shot through the roof? Here’s the complete checklist for the lithograph set: Kevin Mitchell, Jerome Walton, Mark Davis, Robin Yount, Gregg Olson, Bret Saberhagen, Bo Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Will Clark, Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden. I’m speechless. The highlight of the set is obviously still the Jerome Walton, if only because the other players were all marginally successful for longer periods of time. In fact, I can’t think of anyone in the history of sports I’d rather have a signed lithograph of than Jerome Walton.

7 comments:

Jason Presley said...

I bet Topps is still stuck with those lithos here 16 years later. I wonder if they managed to get rid of any of them or if someone is selling them in front of a gas station next to velvet Tupacs and velvet tigers?

Anonymous said...

I personally belonged to the cult for a while. I remember back in 1989 when he was all the rage. There was a point where getting his Upper Deck rookie card was better than the Griffey Jr. one.

I know I still have some in those special card cases. Time to retire again thanks to the Cult of Jerome Walton.

Anonymous said...

Look at his career numbers! He set most of his career highs in '89. Can you imagine being washed up at 25 or 27?

Scott

Anonymous said...

I have both that card and the artist autographed lithograph set. My set is number 25 I believe. I have tried to see what the value is today on them, and have even spoke to the artist Craig Pursley about them. Yeah, I thought it was a gold mine then. I would argue though that Nolan Ryan is the one that makes the set.

Anonymous said...

I won a set of these artist signed lithographs. I have been trying to get a value on them for years. I would argue that the Nolan Ryan is what makes the set. Even Doc Gooden and Don Mattingley is better than the Walton. Just my opinion. I thought I had a gold mine when I won them, but not so sure anymore, lol.

Anonymous said...

I've got the Bret Saberhagen card, signed by both Bret and Craig Pursley. Anyone have any idea if this is worth anything? I imagine it's pretty rare.

Anonymous said...

Ha, my brother won a set and was sure he'd retire off of them one day.
sux!!!