1989 Upper Deck Promo Cards Add a New Collecting Trail Beyond the Set

The appeal of the 1989 Upper Deck dealer preview cards lies in the small details that a regular set checklist can’t capture. Wally Joyner and DeWayne Buice each appear in three back hologram variations: one with the hologram at the top, one with a small hologram at the bottom, and one with a large hologram at the bottom. That makes this a compact but distinct collecting project alongside the familiar 1989 Upper Deck set.

The cards were sent to dealers to preview Upper Deck’s upcoming product. Their subjects are limited to two players, but the three back designs create six described combinations across those subjects. That’s enough variation to give collectors a clear goal without turning the pursuit into a sprawling checklist: identify the player, check the hologram’s placement and size, then decide how far to take the run.

A side collection with its own checklist

The collector behind this find has already acquired the bottom small hologram versions for both players. Completing all three back variations remains an open question. That hesitation is part of the project’s appeal: the cards can sit comfortably as a pair within the larger 1989 collection, while the remaining hologram designs offer an optional next step.

For anyone tracking the variations, a simple checklist can keep the distinctions clear. Record Wally Joyner and DeWayne Buice separately, then mark each back as top hologram, bottom small hologram or bottom large hologram. The source identifies those three designs but gives no card numbers, print runs or other catalog details, so the visual descriptions are the reliable identifiers available here. A checklist should leave room for notes and photographs if a collector wants to document how each example matches the described variation.

From pack opening to a more focused hunt

The route into this collection began with a familiar choice for an ’80s card collector: which packs to buy while building a set. The writer had been opening Topps packs since 1986 and chose them in 1989, when a pack of Upper Deck cost a dollar—more than the writer could spend at the time. The goal was the pleasure of opening packs, seeing which players turned up and working toward a complete set, rather than buying cards for a financial return.

Years later, after returning to the hobby, the writer added the 1989 Upper Deck set at an affordable price. The set had been overproduced, as had the Topps cards discussed in the account, so finding the full set did not require chasing scarce examples. The dealer previews offer a different kind of interest: they are related to that set, yet their hologram variations create a narrower collecting question than simply filling out the base checklist.

That contrast is useful for collectors who revisit an era already known for large production. A widely available set can still lead to small discoveries when a collector checks dealer material, alternate designs or other releases connected to the product. Here, the source of the new find was Trading Card Database. The discovery didn’t change the basic appeal of the 1989 set; it gave one collector a fresh reason to look more closely at the cards surrounding it.

Keeping the scope clear

The known details make this an easy project to define, but they don’t answer every cataloging question. The account doesn’t state the cards’ numbers, how many were distributed, or whether other variations exist. It also doesn’t report a sale result or grade. Collectors comparing examples can stick to what is described: the two player subjects and the three hologram positions and sizes. Any further identification would need supporting evidence from the cards or a reliable reference.

The pictured Wally Joyner card shows why the fronts and backs both matter to the record. A front image helps identify the subject; the reverse is where the hologram variation is distinguished. If adding examples to a collection, keeping both views together in personal records can make later comparisons easier, especially when the differences are confined to the back. The writer’s bottom small hologram cards already complement the 1989 Upper Deck set, while the top and bottom large versions remain possible additions.

There’s no need to decide on a complete run before enjoying the find. The two acquired examples already give the set builder a defined connection to Upper Deck’s 1989 preview material, and the remaining variations provide a clear path for future browsing. For collectors who like a manageable side quest, these cards offer a satisfying detail to watch for when the main set is already home.