Description:

This collectible phone card features a dynamic action shot of Gary Sheffield, a prominent Major League Baseball player renowned for his impactful career during the 1990s and 2000s. In this image, Sheffield is captured mid-swing, highlighting the fluid power and technical skill that made him a successful hitter. He is dressed in the white pinstriped home uniform of the Florida Marlins, with the team name prominently displayed across his chest. His batting cleats, gloves, and helmet showcase the classic teal and black color scheme. The dark background sharply contrasts with Sheffield’s well-lit figure, drawing attention to his poised batting stance. The top left corner displays the number "#10," indicating the series or card number within the collection.

In the top right corner, the Florida Marlins logo is prominently featured. This emblem depicts a stylized marlin fish leaping through a ring, with the team name encircling it in teal and white. This retro logo is distinctive, reflecting the era when the Marlins were a relatively new addition to MLB. The bottom of the card showcases Gary Sheffield’s name in bold blue text with a shadow effect, giving it a subtle three-dimensional appearance. Directly beneath, a simple line of text reads "1996 collector series #1," situating this card within the mid-1990s and identifying it as the first in a series of collectible phone cards.

The overall design balances the action-packed image with clean, easily readable text and logos, creating an aesthetically pleasing and dynamic layout that appeals to baseball fans and collectors alike. It captures not only Sheffield’s athleticism but also the excitement and energy of the sport. The deliberate use of color—particularly teal and black—accentuates key elements like Sheffield’s equipment and the team logo, grounding the card firmly in its team identity.

In sum, this card functions both as a practical item—originally intended as a phone card for making calls—and as a valuable piece of memorabilia for baseball enthusiasts. It blends utility with fandom, reflecting the mid-90s era of baseball collectible culture when trading cards and similar items were popular both for collecting and everyday use.

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Turning to the back of the card, the design is more utilitarian. It features a white background with a lightly shaded gray box containing detailed information about the phone card’s use and instructions. This section highlights the terms and conditions, along with reminders of the card’s remaining balance and value. The back also displays a “VISA PHONE CARD” logo, indicating the issuing company or affiliation, along with smaller print details such as authorization codes, service numbers, and customer service contacts.

Toward the bottom, a barcode is present, likely used for inventory control or activation tracking. Accompanying this are a series of numbers, which may include a serial or card number for identification purposes. A magnetic stripe at the top suggests that the card was swipeable and functional for phone services, making it not just a collectible but also an operational telecommunications card. The text is clear but densely packed, emphasizing the card’s original practical use in making phone calls and checking balances.

While the front of the card is colorful and image-driven, the back relies heavily on straightforward informational content—typical of phone cards from this era. Its design aims to inform and assist users during calls, including instructions on how to check remaining balances. This functional approach contrasts with the front’s sports-oriented excitement, highlighting the dual purpose of the collectible phone card as both a practical tool and a keepsake item.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.