this is the cardboard equivalent to a blind squirrel finding a nut

i was not buying donruss in 1988 - the first time in their existence that i didn't open at least a box worth's of packs. when it came in to my purview later on, i was quite dismissive of the design of randomly set black, blue, and red borders.

it was much later on that i saw david cone's card

and was forced to reconsider my opinion of the design.

with the photo used for cone's card featuring the met pitcher on the mound in dodger stadium, the design really works. the lines all line up - the wall of the right field pavilion vertically and the top of the outfield wall horizontally - as do the colors - the pavilion seats, the darker shading of the back of the bullpen wall, and the window looking in to the bullpen - plus, the photo is framed perfectly. cone's head and planted foot are in line with each other and the vertical aspects of the border design.

maybe i owe 1988 donruss an apology. at least for one card.