1989 Fleer Bill Ripken #616 Error: The Story and Every Version
Posted by Cardboard Picasso on Oct 22nd 2026
In 1989, collectors opened packs of Fleer looking for Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson rookies. The card everyone ended up talking about was #616: Baltimore Orioles second baseman Bill Ripken, holding a bat with an obscenity written clearly on the knob. More than 35 years later it is still the most famous error card in the hobby, and Fleer's rushed attempts to hide it created five distinct versions for collectors to chase.
How the error happened
Ripken posed for the photo after batting practice, resting the bat on his shoulder with the knob facing the camera. Written on that knob in marker was a two-word profanity, usually abbreviated by collectors as "FF." Fleer's photo editors missed it while rushing the set to market, and the card shipped in early 1989.
For years Ripken said teammates had pranked him. Nearly two decades later he told the full story: he wrote it himself. A new shipment of bats had arrived that were heavier than he liked, so he kept one for batting practice only and marked the knob so he could spot it quickly in the bat rack. He says he never thought about the knob when he posed. He also suspects Fleer's editors noticed the writing and let it through for the attention it would bring.
Whatever the reason, Fleer scrambled to correct the card while the set was still being printed, and the original quickly became one of the most sought-after cards of the year.
Every version of #616
There are five versions of the card. They share the same photo and card number, so the only difference is what covers the bat knob. The right-hand column is how PSA names each one on the slab label. You can see all five side by side in this PSA Set Registry gallery.
| Version | What the bat knob shows | PSA label |
|---|---|---|
| FF error (original) | The writing is fully visible | FF Error |
| Whited out | A solid white blob covers the writing | Whited Out Vulgarity |
| White scribble | White scribble marks over the writing; some letters can still show through | Scribbled Out in White |
| Black scribble | Black pen-style scribbles over the writing | Black Scribble Over Error |
| Black box | A solid black rectangle covers the knob | Black Box Over Error |
The black box was Fleer's final fix and is the most common version in circulation. Collectors still debate the order of the corrections in between: some say the white-out came first, others the scribbles. Fleer never published a timeline.
Which versions are rarest
The white-out and white scribble versions are the scarce ones. At the last published count, PSA had graded fewer than 200 of each, compared with more than 15,000 FF errors. Far more FF errors reached packs than white-corrected copies, and the FF is also the version collectors most often send in for grading, which is why its graded population is so large.
The scarce versions now bring real money. A "Scribbled Out in White" copy graded PSA 10 sold for $4,915 on eBay in February 2025, a record for that version. High-grade FF errors remain the most popular way to own the card: they are easy to recognize, widely graded, and still affordable in mid to high grades.
What to look for when you buy one
- Buy it graded. Fakes and altered cards exist, and a slab from PSA, SGC or BGS confirms the card is real and names the version on the label.
- Read the label, not just the photo. A whited-out or scribbled copy can look like an FF error in a small photo. The grader's label settles it.
- Check the centering. 1989 Fleer often came off-center, so well-centered copies earn a premium at every grade.
- Know which version you want. The FF error is the iconic one. The white-out and white scribble are for collectors chasing scarcity, and a full five-card run is a popular set goal.
Who was Bill Ripken
Bill Ripken played second base in the majors from 1987 to 1998, mostly for the Baltimore Orioles, with stops in Texas, Cleveland and Detroit. In 1987 he and his older brother, Cal Ripken Jr., formed Baltimore's double-play combination while their father, Cal Ripken Sr., managed the team. Cal Jr. went on to break Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) in 2007. Bill later became a broadcaster and analyst, and he still gets asked about the card regularly.
Shop the Ripken error at Cardboard Picasso
We currently have two graded FF errors: a PSA 9 Mint and an SGC 8.5 NM-MT+. Both are fixed-price with no auctions, and both ship free in the US. For more famous mistakes and unusual issues, browse our Error Cards and Oddballs category.