Mike Soroka ERROR Card

[My Sharona]

First post -- here goes nothing...

I somehow stumbled across a Twitter post about a Mike Soroka card produced by PANINI: https://twitter.com/TheShortStop3/st...20644425281537. I like photos, so here is what it looks like:


https://twitter.com/TheShortStop3/st...281537/photo/1

The card featured in the Twitter post is Mike Soroka from his debut season in the set that PANINI does each year for the National Convention. On its face, it is a RC auto /5 with a three color game used jersey patch, guaranteed as authentic by PANINI.

The reason for the Twitter post and this thread is that Mike Soroka is not the player who is pictured on the card. After some research, it appears the player pictured on the card is Miguel Socolovich, who did pitch for the Braves in 2018 (but not very well).

There are multiple variations of the card, including a base patch (gray jersey), numbered patterns (color patch with escher squares/rainbow spokes pattern, for example), and at least 5 autos (apparently with tri color patch).

The autograph appears authentic, and there is no reason to believe it is not. It is definitely not a Miguel Socolovich autograph:


https://images.app.goo.gl/pYom8XfcTnVcrpxZ6

I have not seen anything about this card posted anywhere on any forums, but versions of the card are trading regularly on eBay, and PSA has authenticated versions of the card.

It appears PANINI made a production error and printed a picture of Miguel Socolovich instead of Mike Soroka, although it is clear that Miguel Socolovich was not intended to be included in the set, which is traditionally limited to hot rookies and stars. Of course, Mike Soroka was one of the hottest pitchers in baseball until his recent injury, and a rising star.

So, with that background, what does everyone think about this unique card?

[mjohnatgt]

Not real interesting unless they released a corrected version, is normally what happens with this kind of screw-up.

[Rabs]

There is also another card labeled as Mike Soroka but has another Braves pitcher pictured. It’s a Bowman one.

[rngrdanny22]

Looks like Panini airbrushed the logo, but got most of the face too.

Seriously though, it's just an error that probably wasn't corrected. Topps has done this before (1994 Carlos Beltran rookie comes to mind).

No added value except as a conversation piece.

[My Sharona]

Why is this any different than the NNOF, for example?

[mjohnatgt]

1) Because card companies have been putting the wrong player's picture on cards since the dawn of time. One of the more famous ones is the Aurelio Rodriguez card in 1969 Topps where it actually pictures a batboy. See below, Heritage even made a "Reprint" of it since it's a hysterical error.
2) Because Mike Soroka is not a future Hall of Famer
3) Because the entire print run has the error, while the Frank Thomas error was corrected very early on and less than 1 in 1000 cards released had the error.
4) Because when it was found out, it set off a chase to locate these cards, and they've become famous. Yours is a brand new error.


2018 Topps Heritage - [Base] #275.5 - Error Variation - Mike Trout (Batboy Pictured)
Courtesy of COMC.com

1969 Topps - [Base] #653 - High # - Aurelio Rodriguez, Leonard Garcia (Leonard Garcia (Bat Boy) Pictured on Card) [Poor#@to#@Fair]
Courtesy of COMC.com

[JPWisco]

Originally Posted by My Sharona

Why is this any different than the NNOF, for example?

Error cards matter when they are rare compared to the correct version. The true valuable error card basically only exists on older cards, because errors used to be corrected but they are not anymore.

NNOF is a rare printing error. Most examples have the name on front, making the card a valuable oddity.

As it is /5 and that is Soroka's preschool scribble--er, auto, I imagine this card could sell for more than it otherwise would because of novelty appeal and it is low numbered.

But generally uncorrected errors don't sell for much above a normal price.

[rngrdanny22]

Did the blue jersey Arenado guy get a new account?

[My Sharona]

Originally Posted by rngrdanny22

Did the blue jersey Arenado guy get a new account?

Thank you for your helpful feedback.

[Mister2Bits]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

2) Because Mike Soroka is not a future Hall of Famer

Can I have a look into your crystal ball?

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by My Sharona

Why is this any different than the NNOF, for example?

It was never corrected. Look at all error cards that have some value all of them have a corrected version. The Al Leiter card in 1988 is one that the first run had the wrong player in the photo then next printings were corrected. Back in 1988 this was a pretty huge card.

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by shrevecity

It was never corrected. Look at all error cards that have some value all of them have a corrected version. The Al Leiter card in 1988 is one that the first run had the wrong player in the photo then next printings were corrected. Back in 1988 this was a pretty huge card.

And now both are worth less than 50 cents each, since such a large number were printed before the error was corrected.

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by Mister2Bits

Can I have a look into your crystal ball?

You can look into my microwave. I have a bowl of oatmeal cooking.

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by My Sharona

Thank you for your helpful feedback.

You're welcome. Did you ever sell those super rare Bowman errors?

[1989FF]

On a related E/V note...

Been discussed? Variation?

No Spot on pants-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-TOPPS-...p2047675.l2557



Spot on pants-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2018-Topp...p2047675.l2557

[UCCF]

Originally Posted by 1989FF

On a related E/V note...

Been discussed? Variation?

No Spot on pants-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-TOPPS-...p2047675.l2557



Spot on pants-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2018-Topp...p2047675.l2557

I'm going to guess printing mark or just random spot, not a variation.

[bn2cardz]

The only recent wrong photo that I can think of that was corrected was the 2015 Topps Patrick Corbin. The fixed card is only found in the factory set.

Pack issued (Photo is actually Vidal Nuno):


Factory set:

[jh00k]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

The only recent wrong photo that I can think of that was corrected was the 2015 Topps Patrick Corbin. The fixed card is only found in the factory set.

Same thing happened last year with Will Smith the pitcher - Tony Watson picture in 2019 Series 1 and the corrected Will Smith picture in the factory set.

[Danderlion]

I still remember pulling an international variation in 2012 Bowman of Miguel Cabrera... or so I thought. The image was clearly Miguel, but the name on the card said Asdrubal Cabrera. sorry, can't find a good pic.

[My Sharona]

Thank you to those who have provided helpful and thoughtful responses. A few responses to the numbered list 1-4:

1) Batboy error was great. Thank you for sharing.

2) Let's assume, for these purposes, that Mike Soroka is a future Hall of Famer. I agree that's important to ultimate value.

3) The entire print run may have the error, but there are /25, /10, and /5 auto versions of the card, and it was part of a limited production run/set already. Moreover, every single card includes authenticated game used memorabilia. It's apples to oranges (in my view) with the mass production errors mentioned above itt.

4) Yes, of course this is new, and un-discussed, hence the thread. And I do suspect others are chasing the /25, /10, and /5 auto, at a minimum, and maybe the base patch, depending on the size of the production.

Does anyone know how big the production run was for the 2018 PANINI The National set or how big the production run usually is for that set?

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by My Sharona

Thank you to those who have provided helpful and thoughtful responses. A few responses to the numbered list 1-4:

1) Batboy error was great. Thank you for sharing.

2) Let's assume, for these purposes, that Mike Soroka is a future Hall of Famer. I agree that's important to ultimate value.

3) The entire print run may have the error, but there are /25, /10, and /5 auto versions of the card, and it was part of a limited production run/set already. Moreover, every single card includes authenticated game used memorabilia. It's apples to oranges (in my view) with the mass production errors mentioned above itt.

4) Yes, of course this is new, and un-discussed, hence the thread. And I do suspect others are chasing the /25, /10, and /5 auto, at a minimum, and maybe the base patch, depending on the size of the production.

Does anyone know how big the production run was for the 2018 PANINI The National set or how big the production run usually is for that set?

How many of these do you own?

[My Sharona]

Also, is anybody aware of another error like this involving an authenticated game used memorabilia patch? Or an auto? That would make for a better comparison, of course.

[My Sharona]

Originally Posted by rngrdanny22

How many of these do you own?

Somebody ban this clown already.

[gravity]

Originally Posted by My Sharona

Thank you to those who have provided helpful and thoughtful responses. A few responses to the numbered list 1-4:

1) Batboy error was great. Thank you for sharing.

2) Let's assume, for these purposes, that Mike Soroka is a future Hall of Famer. I agree that's important to ultimate value.

3) The entire print run may have the error, but there are /25, /10, and /5 auto versions of the card, and it was part of a limited production run/set already. Moreover, every single card includes authenticated game used memorabilia. It's apples to oranges (in my view) with the mass production errors mentioned above itt.

4) Yes, of course this is new, and un-discussed, hence the thread. And I do suspect others are chasing the /25, /10, and /5 auto, at a minimum, and maybe the base patch, depending on the size of the production.

Does anyone know how big the production run was for the 2018 PANINI The National set or how big the production run usually is for that set?

Don't bet the farm on this one. This type of error card is only ever going to be a curiousity to the big Soroka collectors, if even that.

This card basically has everything going against it (ranked from highest to lowest importance)

1. Panini Baseball cards are unlicensed and don't feature team logos anywhere on them. Relatively few people collect unlicensed cards.
2. Out of all the unlicensed Panini baseball sets, The National set is the bottom of the barrel, prices reflect it. It's hardly even a set in most opinions.
3. These types of incorrect photo errors happen pretty often as mentioned multiple times in this thread. None of them are sought after avidly.
4. The card doesn't even feature Soroka, it only has his name (and autograph). IF it were flipped and it was Soroka's picture + auto with some other dude's name on there, then maybe it'd be more interesting, but still not worth a whole lot.
5. It's a sticker autograph.

But if you like the card for the curiosity and weirdness of it, collect 'em all! Just don't expect it to hold or increase in value even if Soroka makes the HOF.

[mjohnatgt]

Here is an interesting error:

2008 Donruss Americana Celebrity Cuts - [Base] - Century Prime Materials [Memorabilia] #97 - Willie Nelson (Uncorrected Error: Willie Mays Relic) /50
Courtesy of COMC.com
Despite the price it's listed at, it normally sells under $50.

And here is another one:

2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition - Collegiate Patches Signatures #JOS - Jordan Swagerty, Magic Johnson (Magic Johnson Autograph) /125 [Noted]
Courtesy of COMC.com
Sells around $50 as well.

As they say in Mean Girls, "stop trying to make 'fetch' happen." Or as Shakespeare put it, "methinks thou dost protest too much." The card is a slightly interesting error. That's all.