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Limited issue 1990 Topps baseball card (#USA1) of a young George H. W. Bush leaning on a wooden fence and wearing his Yale baseball uniform. The card, which depicts Bush as captain of the 1948 Yale baseball team, features his name below, “George Bush,” and “USA” in red lettering to the upper left. Of significant interest is the card’s top surface, which yields a thick glossy coat, a trait that identifies this as a rare ‘White House issue’ card. Encapsulated and graded by PSA as "NM 7."
Supporting the authenticity of this card are three signed letters from George Bush and his son, George W. Bush, each directed to Ronald E. Wade, a floor leader at the 1988 Republican National Convention who Bush later appointed to his Presidential Inaugural Committee. Wade served as the regional director for Bush's presidential campaigns in 1980, 1988, and 1992. The letters read as follows:
- TLS from George Bush, July 5, 2001: “Here is a Topps card for your Bush display. Glad to do it. I hope all goes well with you. President Bush comes to Walker’s Point tomorrow; Governor Jeb is here now. Life is grand!"
- ALS from George W. Bush, signed “GW,” postmarked April 2, 1989: “No word on the Bush card yet. The old boy is hoarding them. Even I don’t have one. We will see about the May 18th (17th?) fundraiser.”
- ANS from George W. on the inside of an 8.5 x 12.5 photograph folder: “I mentioned the card to Dad’s office – as yet no response. Thanks for your friendship.” In overall fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelopes and by a letter of provenance from Wade, who relays how he obtained the card.
In 1990, Topps Chairman Arthur Shorin created a special edition trading card—#USA1—and personally presented President George H. W. Bush with 100 copies during a meeting in the Oval Office. The president distributed the cards to friends, family members, and select White House staff. Although only 100 copies were originally gifted to President Bush, Topps later produced a nearly identical, more widely available version, resulting in two distinct issues. The most notable difference lies in the finish: the cards presented to President Bush feature a thick, glossy coating on the front, while the later version has an uncoated surface similar to standard 1990 Topps cards. One of the rarest trading cards of the 1990s, this example comes with direct provenance to President George H. W. Bush and represents an unmissable opportunity for serious collectors.
