I was a Charter F'ing Member!!

In 1991 Topps came up with the Stadium Club concept. I don't recall all the details but I do remember that I thought the cards were  pretty sharp. I signed up for the first offering which was available only through a mail-in offer that (I think) came in packs of the regular issue cards.

The first cards issued were 'Charter Member' cards and they came in a box about the same size as so many of the junky boxed sets of the day. Only the box was better looking. And they were designated as Charter Member issue in gold across the bottom. 

The cards were better looking as well. Back then full bleed/borderless cards were not routine. And these has richer color and better photography. They were slick and shiny, too. I'm not ashamed to admit that I really dug the set. 

The backs had a fake newspaper style story about the featured player. 

This dual Griffey card is kind of cheesy. I think they could have used a picture of the two of them posed together and issued this action shot of Junior on it's own.

The Charter issue included hockey and football stars as well as baseball cards. Here is Brett Hull, may be my least favorite hockey player ever.

If you missed out on Barry Sanders playing days you really missed out on a treat. He was amazing.

The history of the Stadium Club concept is probably out there on the 'net someplace but all I know is that I have a box of the 1993 cards that I'll put in a separate post. And I'll show off some of the back variations.