1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds RC PSA/DNA Autographed Say No To Drugs Inscription

  

1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds Rookie Card -- Autographed. PSA/DNA Authentic -- "Say No To Drugs" inscription. One of the toughest and most unique autographed trading cards issued after World War II. Steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have come to define a generation of Major League Baseball players, many of whom have simply vanished from the public eye in order to avoid unwanted scrutiny. More than four decades ago, however, Barry Bonds had no idea that promoting a little-known professional line of sporting goods (Mims wristbands) would yield one of the most important single autographed baseball cards in history.

MIMSBANDZ (also known as Mims wristbands) were created in 1986 by Los Angeles native, James Mims, who had convinced Dusty Baker, then with the Oakland Athletics, to wear homemade wrist bands with his picture on them during games. This was initially seen by other players as somewhat comical but because of catchy slogans such as Say No To Drugs, the product caught on and before long, Barry Bonds was also using them since his father, Bobby, had been close friends with Dusty Baker.

In all, more than 100 Major League players wore MIMSBANDZ and to some, it became a status symbolthe same as having their picture on a baseball card. In order to get Barry Bonds to have inscribed Say No To Drugs on any baseball card.

The same caption that was on some of the Mims wristbands he wore during games. One would have had to have met him during the very short time period when he was under contract to Mims. Tougher yet would be a full signature along with such an inscription since Bonds began to shorten his autograph beginning in 1987 during the regular season. Topps cards were initially distributed in December of 1986.

This means that the window of opportunity to have had Barry Bonds create this spectacular PSA/DNA certified piece with the "Say No To Drugs" inscription, would have been approximately 4 months i. From December of 1986 until the beginning of April 1987.

Further evidence suggests a "rookie era" signature. Bonds has penned Barry L. Something he only did early in his career. To date, there have been only three different verifiable examples of 1987 baseball cards that were signed by Barry Bonds with the Say No To Drugs inscription AND which were authenticated as real by PSA/DNA. One is a 1987 Fleer in a private collection.

A second is a 1987 Donruss. This, the third such example, is the only known 1987 Topps card. As such, it is an essential part of the most widely-collected autographed baseball set from the last 65 years.

For additional provenance: it came directly from a famous collection of a deceased Wrigley Field ball hawk. The family has asked to remain anonymous but still have two season tickets for all Chicago Cubs games. The card itself is in Near Mint to Mint (8 out of 10) condition and the autograph as well as inscription are Gem Mint (10 out of 10) quality. The item "1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds RC PSA/DNA Autographed Say No To Drugs Inscription" is in sale since Friday, October 26, 2018. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Sports Trading Cards\Baseball Cards".

The seller is "bmw_cards2" and is located in Madison, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada.

1. Modified Item: Yes
2. Certification Number: 27261436
3. Card Number: #320
4. Year: 1987
5. Grade: Authentic
6. Professional Grader: Professional Sports (PSA)
7. Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
8. Card Manufacturer: Topps
9. Era: Modern (1981-Now)
10. Original/Reprint: Original
11. Player: Barry Bonds
12. Card Attributes: Autograph
13. Modification Description: "Say No To Drugs" inscription added by Bonds to top of card
14. Autograph Format: Hard Signed
15. Autograph Authentication: Professional Sports (PSA/DNA)
16. Autographed: Yes