Jets Running Back Has Double Salute on His Football Card

It's not exactly something you have to look closely to see. Unlike some of baseball's more adult-oriented errors over the years, the 2006 Bowman Signs of the Future Leon Washington autographed card screams the unspoken word.

Washington's card in the newly released series shows the rookie with arms folded and middle fingers on both hands extended in what is generally regarded the universal gesture of disdain. Some collectors, however, have theorized Washington is simply trying to form two "W"s for "Washington" or is exhibiting another kind of symbol. Washington hasn't been available for comment.

The card has quickly become something of a cult phenomenon as collectors scramble to grab the unusual image, which somehow escaped the quality control folks inside the Topps company, makers of the Bowman brand. The cards have been selling on eBay for $25-50 over the last week.  Most of the demand involves the error, but Washington's success on the field has also factored in.

The card may create some interest in the product, but Topps claims it was simply an oversight, missed by a photo editor in the early stages of production.

A statement from Topps reads: "It has come to our attention that Leon Washington's "Signs of The Future" Autograph card in 2006 Bowman Football includes an inappropriate gesture on the card front. In no way does Topps condone this type of behavior to be photographed for its trading cards and is deeply embarrassed that this photograph was not deleted in the early stages of the editing process. We apologize for this oversight and recommend collectors to return the card to Topps for a randomly chosen replacement  autograph card from our 2006 Bowman football product:"

The issue invokes memories of the classic "error" on Billy Ripken's card in the 1989 Fleer baseball issue. Ripken is pictured holding a bat, the knob including two words, one which was of the four-letter variety. Fleer attempted several corrections, modifying the letters, blacking them out and using several other crude techniques in an effort to lessen the negative publicity.