Brian Downing Card Appraisal

1992 Pinnacle Brian Downing Baseball Card #261

This is a 1992 Pinnacle baseball card featuring Brian Downing of the Texas Rangers, designated as a 'Designated Hitter'. The card measures the standard 2.5 by 3.5 inches and is printed on a heavy premium cardstock with a distinctive glossy black border design, which was a hallmark of the Pinnacle brand in the early 1990s. The front features a high-action color photograph of Downing mid-swing, showcasing the player in his Rangers home white uniform, blue helmet, and batting gloves. The 'Pinnacle' logo is printed in gold foil/white at the top right, with centered gold-toned text for his position and team name at the bottom. The condition of this specific example shows visible 'chipping' along the black edges, which is extremely common for this set due to the dark ink exposure on the paper fibers. Specifically, the upper right corner and left-hand edge show white flecks of paper loss. The centering appears slightly biased toward the right border. Despite the edge wear, the surface gloss remains intact and the color registration of the action shot is sharp. This card represents the 'Junk Wax' era of collecting but remains a nostalgic piece for fans of the veteran outfielder/DH known for his unique batting stance.