u/ssglong2007

The Story:
In 1993, a factory printing error created a vertical "slip" on the sheet, but the pieces were scattered across the country. One box of cereal ended up in an Arkansas attic (containing my Nolan Ryan), and another was opened by a kid in Kentucky (containing the Frank Thomas).

The Hunt:
For 33 years, these "sheet-mates" were separated by 500 miles. While my Nolan Ryan was away at CGC being slabbed, I went on a mission to find its vertical neighbor. I searched eBay for a "Frank Thomas rare error" and found the exact Kentucky specimen I was looking for. I bought it from the original owner last week.

The Proof:
The two cards fit together like a perfect puzzle.

The Frank Thomas card has the top half of Nolan Ryan’s missing stats on its back.
The Nolan Ryan card has the top half of Ozzie Smith’s stats on its back.
Updated measurements show a precise 15-17mm shift, proving a systematic factory mistake across this Triple Hall of Famer pillar.

The Result:
The Long-Steinsiek Collection is finally whole. The Ryan is already in a CGC slab, and the Thomas is next in line to get its matching pedigree. After 33 years, the Kentucky-Arkansas connection is closed, and we finally have the physical proof of how this HOF error was made.

Huge shoutout to the CGC Registry team! They just reviewed my 1993 Post sheet-mate research and officially approved a brand-new set category for it!