Welcome Cubs Fans!

This blog will discuss the 1980s and the baseball card collecting hobby, with a focus on the Chicago Cubs. Contrary to vintage baseball cards, the majority of modern cards are affordable. The various sets will be considerably simpler to obtain. So, with thousands of cards in between, we'll start with 80 Topps and end with 89 Upper Deck. The apex of this period was represented by the Sandberg Rookie of the Year in 1983.


Friday, May 17, 2024

1992 French's Mustard Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

18 cards in the French's Mustard collection included 1 Cubs player.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are standard-size 2 ½ x 3 ½

Basic Features

In the 90s, a unique set of cards was introduced for collectors. These cards were distributed in packs of three, which were attached to specially-marked 16 oz. bottles of French's mustard. The cards were enclosed in a plastic hangtag, making them easily accessible. Alternatively, collectors had the option to obtain the full set through a mail-in offer. Each card in the set showcased a player from the American League and another player from the National League. It's worth noting that these cards were officially licensed by the MLBPA and produced by MSA (Michael Schechter Associates). This peculiar collection truly captures the essence of the 90s era.

Chicago Cubs 1992 French's Mustard Checklist


Number Player
9 Ryne Sandberg


Wednesday, May 15, 2024

1988 Score Young Superstars Series 2 Cubs

Number of Cards

The Score Young Superstars 2 has 40 cards, of which there are 1 Cubs player.

Card Dimensions

The standard-sized cards are the following dimensions: 2-1/2" by 3-1/2"

Basic Features

The compact purple box containing the glossy 40-card set of "Young Superstars" includes a checklist on one side. This exclusive set can only be acquired as a complete collection from hobby dealers or by participating in a direct mail-in offer. Every card showcases vibrant full-color images on the front and a small portrait on the back.

Chicago Cubs 1988 Score Young Superstars Series 2 Checklist


Number Player
18 18 - Shawon Dunston


Tuesday, May 7, 2024

1989 King-B Disc Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

24 disks in the King-B collection included 1 Cubs player.

Size of Cards

The size of the disks are 2 3/4"

Basic Features

Despite being granted permission by the Major League Baseball Players Association ("MLBPA") players' unions to use their images, MSA (Michael Schechter Associates) chose to cut costs by not acquiring licenses from the leagues. Consequently, the team logos have been removed through airbrushing, which is a customary practice for MSA sets. The majority of MSA releases were done in partnership with the food industry, with each disc being included in a package of Beef Jerky.

Chicago Cubs 1989 King-B Disc Checklist


Number Player
- Ryne Sandberg


Sunday, May 5, 2024

1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints

Number of Cards

360 cards in the 1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints which there are 20 Cubs.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are (approximately) 1 7/16" x 2 5/8"

Basic Features

Renata Galasso, a former baseball card dealer from New York, established her company in the early 1970s. The Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report magazines featured 40 cards with one perforated sheet. This particular set was a reprint of the original T-206 set. Each card clearly indicates it is a reprint with the words "Renata Galasso Reprint" printed at the bottom. The T206 set, originally issued from 1909 to 1911, is widely regarded as one of the most famous and sought-after card collections. Despite being reprints, these cards are not considered unlicensed.

Not to be confused with the 1983 Galasso 1909-11 T206 (Reprint) Monster set, the reverse of those cards is printed "capital reprint."

Chicago Cubs 1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints Checklist


Player
Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Brown
Frank Chance
Frank Chance
Johnny Evers
Johnny Evers
Solly Hofman
Del Howard
Rube Kroh
Carl Lundgren
Pat Moran
Orval Overall
Orval Overall
Francis Pfeffer
Jake Pfiester
Jake Pfiester
Harry Steinfeldt
Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker




Sunday, April 28, 2024

1989 Topps Heads Up Test Cubs

Number of Cards

24 cards in the Topps Heads Up collection included 2 Cubs players.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are over-size 4 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Basic Features

These exclusive die-cut "headshots" are a rare collection showcasing famous baseball superstars, commonly known as the "shrunken head" set. On the reverse side, you'll find the player's name and team printed in black, along with a convenient plastic suction cup and adhesive strip for effortless display on any flat surface.

Chicago Cubs 1989 Topps Heads Up Test Checklist


Number Player
9 Ryne Sandberg
15 Mark Grace


Friday, April 26, 2024

1989 Topps Glossy Rookies Insert Cubs

Number of Cards

22 cards in the Topps Glossy Rookies collection included 3 Cubs players.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are standard-size 2 ½ x 3 ½

Basic Features

This 22-card set was exclusively available as an insert in 100-card "supermarket jumbo" packs. The card design bears a slight resemblance to the Glossy All-Star set. Each Jumbo pack contained one insert card. The cards featured either one asterisk (*) or two asterisks (**) on the copyright line. This release marked the first instance of Topps including cards of the previous year's draft picks in their set.

Chicago Cubs 1989 Topps Glossy Rookies Insert Checklist


Number Player
4 Damon Berryhill
11 Mark Grace
12 Darrin Jackson







Sunday, April 21, 2024

1988 Topps Cloth Test Chicago Cubs

Number of Cards

1988 Topps Cloth has 121 cards which there are 4 Cubs players

Card Dimensions

The standard-sized cards are the following dimensions: 2-1/2" by 3-1/2"

Basic Features

This compilation was initially an "Experimental Release" never meant for distribution by Topps. Each card was printed on an extremely thin gauze-like material and displays a color headshot of the player, possibly making it the rarest of the 1988 Topps series - the blank-backed sheet (28 x 40 inches).

Chicago Cubs 1988 Topps Cloth Test Checklist


Number Player
- Drew Hall
- Les Lancaster
- Frank Lucchesi
- Jim Sundberg