Is it worthless?

Something has puzzled me ever since I took this card home. It's a 1999 Omega card, one of the many, many sets that Pacific issued in the late 1990s. But I didn't buy it at store or at a card show.

This card was part of a free sample mailing that Pacific apparently distributed to newspaper publications at the time. We would receive a large envelope once or twice a year as Pacific announced yet another set in a fancy PR release. I didn't pay much attention to the cards at the time because I wasn't collecting then, and I found the cards particularly gaudy.

For some reason, the cards Pacific sent in the mailings were always of Tony Gwynn. I would end up taking the cards home because no one else at the office wanted them, and I didn't have the heart to throw them in the trash (I don't think I've ever thrown away a single baseball card ever since my first horrid mistake back in 1974).

But here's the thing; they were free samples, and it's obvious Pacific didn't consider them real cards. Here's what the cards look like on the back:

A big "SAMPLE" stamped diagonally across the back with the "E" pressed into Gwynn's jawline.

My question is, do collectors think these are cards? I would imagine they would, especially those who collect the Padres or Tony Gwynn. They'd be extra cool, I would think, because these weren't cards you could find anywhere on the market. But I wonder what kind of value Beckett and their ilk would put on cards like these. Are these cards not considered "real cards" to them? Do people often see sample cards like this on eBay or at card shows? I haven't, although my experience is limited.

Anything's collectible. I know that. But I ask you anyway, are these "cards"? I'd be interested to know people's thoughts.

By the way, I have five or six of these Gwynn cards. They're not in perfect shape, but fairly decent. If anyone is interested in them, I'd be happy to trade something for them. Just send me an email or leave a comment.

(EDIT: It's unanimous: everyone considers them legitmate cards. That's a relief. Some things still make sense in the world. Thanks everyone).