The Official F*** Face Baseball Card

November 8, 2011

Here’s one you may not have heard before:

But in January of 1989, Billy Ripken [brother of Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken], scheduled to be a five cent common in the 1989 Fleer set, ignited the hobby already entering its prime with the debut of the very first Upper Deck set. Packs of Fleer hit hobby stores right after New Year’s and, within two weeks, everyone had to have their hands on card No. 616, Billy Ripken.

Why?

It was the bat that he designated to use only in batting practice. It was the bat that had “F–K FACE” written on the knob, the obscenity in its full four-letter glory.

Oh dear:

Bet he didn’t send that card home to Mom!

When Fleer heard about the problem, they rereleased the card with the naughty words obscured.

When confronted about the issue, Ripken said one of his teammates had written the words on the bat it to prank him. But - 20 years later - he admitted that he had done it himself—but only so he could quickly recognize the bat amongst a bunch of others. He had no idea he’d have his picture snapped! He explains what happened at the link.

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