Dickering Over 1990 Dickerson

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Newsday (New York)
June 9, 1990, Saturday, ALL EDITIONS
Dickering Over 1990 Dickerson

BYLINE: Norm Cohen
SECTION: SPORTS; BASEBALL CARDS, ETC; Pg. 24
LENGTH: 618 words
Pro Set's policy of "leap before you look" has created another tidal wave in the hobby.
This time the subject is Eric Dickerson, the Colts' running back who has been at odds with the NFL Players
Association for a number of years.
Collectors have become the pawns of that disagreement, and a subsequent one between Pro Set and the
licensing arm of the NFLPA.
Dickerson is No. 338 in Pro Set's 1990 edition, but few of the cards showing him in action during the Pro
Bowl have found their way to the marketplace. Dealers are asking in excess of $ 75 for those that have.
Pro Set was forced to yank the cards from distribution by the NFLPA, which says Dickerson never was
cleared for use in any of the 1990 football sets.
"Pro Set had no right to make that card," said Doug Allen, NFLPA assistant director.
Pro Set president Lud Denny said he believed Dickerson's authorization was enough.
"Eric Dickerson wrote us a letter giving Pro Set permission to use his likeness in our 1990 set," Denny said.
"It's the same letter that he wrote us last year.
"Last year, the NFLPA relented and let us use [the Dickerson card]," Denny said. "I didn't see why this year
would be any different."
Dickerson wrote no such letters to Pro Set's competition, however, leaving Score, Topps, Action Packed and
Fleer at a competitive disadvantage of which Allen said the NFLPA wanted no part.
So this year the licensing group enforced a clause in its contract that restrains the card companies from
using any players without its approval.
"We haven't made Pro Set the official card of the NFLPA like the NFL has chosen to do," Allen said.
"Our contract provides for [card companies] to secure player rights through the players association," Allen
said. "The five companies have gotten every player that they wanted except one . . . It's not that we don't like
Eric Dickerson, but you can see why we can't allow one company to use his likeness if the others can't.
"Dickerson is free to put conditions on the use of his picture, but we're free not to use his likeness," Allen
said. "We've had some players who have said they wanted to be on cards of companies other than Pro Set,
and we had to tell them that they have to be willing to appear in all the sets or none."
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Dickering Over 1990 Dickerson Newsday (New York) June 9, 1990, Saturday, ALL EDITIONS
In the meantime, Denny has a number of Dickerson cards locked up in the drawer of his desk.
"This is not an error card, nor is it to be considered rare," Denny said. "In fact, once the players union gives
us the green light, we'll be glad to send the card to collectors free of charge. All they have to do is send us
their name."
Last year, Pro Set created a controversy by printing cards of William (Refrigerator) Perry before receiving
permission. The company pulled Perry from production, replacing him with Ron Morris of the Bears.
Somehow, close to 9,000 Perry cards found their way into the hands of collectors. One youngster in
Tennessee bought a pack that contained 16 Perry cards - an obvious publicity stunt.
Bits and pieces
Here's a bizarre little tidbit. Steve Carlton and Whitey Ford - two of the most famous lefthanded pitchers -
sign autographs with their right hands.
Looking for a piece of history? The White Sox say they intend to auction off every salvageable part of
Comiskey Park after the oldest major-league stadium is demolished.
Sox officials have told season ticket holders they are entitled to a stadium seat. Subscribers to partial-season
plans will receive a brick from the ballpark.
Odds and ends
Chicagoland Processing Corp. is commemorating the 35th anniverary of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World
Series championship with a limited-edition silver coin, available for $ 34.95 (1-800-765-0123).
PERSON: ERIC DEMETRIC DICKERSON (96%);
ORGANIZATION: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%); INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%);
COMPANY: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%); INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%);
SUBJECT: HOBBIES (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (90%); AMERICAN

FOOTBALL (90%); SPORTS (90%); SPORTS REGULATION & POLICY (89%); COLLECTORS &
COLLECTING (78%); AMERICAN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS (77%); ASSOCIATIONS &
ORGANIZATIONS (77%); BASEBALL (74%); APPROVALS (72%); ERIC DEMETRIC DICKERSON (96%);
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
Copyright 1990 Newsday LLC

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Page 1

Newsday (New York)

June 9, 1990, Saturday, ALL EDITIONS

Dickering Over 1990 Dickerson

SECTION: SPORTS; BASEBALL CARDS, ETC; Pg. 24

LENGTH: 618 words

Bits and pieces

Odds and ends

PERSON: ERIC DEMETRIC DICKERSON (96%);

ORGANIZATION: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%); INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%);

COMPANY: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%); INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (84%);

SUBJECT: HOBBIES (90%); PROFESSIONAL SPORTS (90%); AMERICAN

Copyright 1990 Newsday LLC

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