Lance Parrish Autographed 1990 Donruss Learning Series #41 California Angels Card

This is one of the more unusual and genuinely interesting Lance Parrish issues from 1990. The 1990 Donruss Learning Series #41 was not a normal retail baseball card release. Instead, it was part of a special educational program created for use in elementary and middle schools, making it a terrific oddball addition to a deep Parrish autograph collection.

The Donruss Learning Series consisted of only 55 cards and was distributed as part of educational packets for students. Third- and fourth-grade programs included the cards, a baseball-and-history timeline, additional Donruss cards from wax packs and a teacher's guide covering several academic subjects. The version for grades five through eight included the cards, an older-student teacher's guide and a 14-minute instructional video filmed at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

Unlike the regular 1990 Donruss product available virtually everywhere, the Learning Series was distributed exclusively through elementary and middle schools. Each set also came with a Carl Yastrzemski mini-puzzle. That unusual method of distribution gives the cards a completely different background from the mass-produced regular Donruss set.

Parrish is correctly cataloged as #41 in the 55-card set, appearing between Sandy Alomar #40 and Candy Maldonado #42. The compact checklist is loaded with stars and Hall of Famers, including George Brett, Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, Nolan Ryan, Robin Yount, Bo Jackson, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Barry Larkin, Andre Dawson and Tom Glavine.

The cards resemble the familiar 1990 Donruss design, but carry a special Learning Series designation that identifies them as part of the educational release. Beckett describes the cards as standard size with bright red borders, color player portraits and horizontally oriented backs containing biographical information, statistics and career highlights.

The timing of Parrish's inclusion couldn't have been much better. His 1990 season with the California Angels was one of the strongest late-career performances of any catcher of his era. At age 34, Parrish batted .268 with 126 hits, 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 133 games, posting a .451 slugging percentage and 123 OPS+. He produced 4.5 WAR, the highest figure on the Angels that season.

Parrish's performance earned him selection to the 1990 American League All-Star team and the Silver Slugger Award at catcher. It was his eighth and final career All-Star selection and his sixth Silver Slugger Award.

For a comprehensive Parrish autograph run, this is exactly the kind of card that stands out. It isn't simply another variation of his regular 1990 Donruss #213the school-only educational distribution and 55-card checklist give the Learning Series an entirely different history and collecting appeal.

Card Details:

• Player: Lance Parrish
• Team: California Angels
• Year: 1990
• Manufacturer: Donruss
• Set: Learning Series
• Card Number: #41
• Special 55-card educational release
• Distributed exclusively through elementary and middle schools 
• Part of educational packets designed for different grade levels
• Special Learning Series designation differentiates it from regular 1990 Donruss
• Parrish appears between Sandy Alomar #40 and Candy Maldonado #42 
• Star-filled checklist includes Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn and others
• 1990 American League All-Star
• 1990 Silver Slugger Award winner
• Hit .268 with 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 1990
• Eight-time MLB All-Star
• Three-time Gold Glove Award winner
• Six-time Silver Slugger Award winner
• 1984 World Series Champion
• Personally autographed
• Condition: NM-MT or better

Authentication: Signature obtained through a private signing conducted by Under the Radar Sports Promotions and guaranteed to pass any third-party authentication service.

A particularly fun addition for collectors of Lance Parrish autographs, California Angels memorabilia, Donruss Learning Series cards, school-distributed baseball cards, educational issues, 1990s oddball cards, or comprehensive signed player collections.