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.


Wednesday, April 6, 2022

1986 Drakes Big Hitters Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

1986 Drake's Big Hitters has 37 cards, two of which are Cubs players.

Size of Cards

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

Basic Features

Food cards from the early twentieth century to the present have a devoted following among collectors. This is only one of hundreds of strange sets available. There are some weird sets that are extremely difficult to obtain or extremely rare, but not this one.

Baseball cards have been packed as a promotional component in food products for decades. Drake's Bakery decided to try to capitalize on Hostess' popularity with baseball cards and baked products in 1981.

The "Big Hitters Plus Super Pictures" baseball card set by Drakes features 37 cards that measure 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". The hand-cut cards were used as back panels on a variety of Drake's snack items. On the back of each uniquely designated package are two, three, or four cards. The card's front includes a color photo of the player with his team, position, and name at the bottom and the Drakes logo at the top. The backs of the gray and black cards contain statistics printed on them, as well as Drakes advertising.

Drake's Big Hitters Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number Player
1981 Drake's Big Hitters
13 Bill Buckner
1982 Drake's Big Hitters
5 Bill Buckner
1983 Drake's Big Hitters
2 Bill Buckner
1984 Drake's Big Hitters
4 Bill Buckner
7 Ron Cey
1985 Drake's Big Hitters
6 Ron Cey
18 Gary Matthews
28 Ryne Sandberg
43 Rick Sutcliffe
1986 Drake's Big Hitters
9 Keith Moreland
19 Ryne Sandberg
1987 Drake's Big Hitters
7 Keith Moreland
21 Ryne Sandberg
1988 Drake's Big Hitters
16 Andre Dawson
31 Rick Sutcliffe


Keith Moreland appeared on the back of Yankee Doodles with two other players.
Ryne Sandberg appeared on the back of Apple Pies with three other players.