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.


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





Tuesday, April 16, 2024

1982 Davco Hall of Fame Baseball Stars Cubs

Number of Cards

1982 Davco Hall of Fame has 25 cards which there are 1 Cubs player

Size of Cards

The dimensions of the cards are approximately 4 1/4" by 7 1/4".

Basic Features

The set commonly known as the "Blue" set features cards with blank backs. On the front side, there is an action drawing of the player along with a portrait surrounded by blue borders and a red, white, and blue facsimile ribbon at the top and sides of the picture. Below the image, the player's name and the reason for their induction into the Hall of Fame are printed.

Chicago Cubs 1982 Davco Hall of Fame Baseball Stars Checklist


Number Player
2 Grover Cleveland Alexander


Thursday, April 11, 2024

1983 All-Star Set Collector's Edition (Glossy Send-Ins) Cubs

Number of Cards

1983 Topps All-Star Glossy has 40 cards which there are 1 Cubs player

Size of Cards

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

Basic Features

Customers who redeemed 25 runs + 50 cents were granted a collection of 5 cards from the Topps Company Store. These cards feature a glossy player photograph with a white border and a yellow frame, enclosing a vivid full-color image of the player. On the backside, the cards proudly exhibit the inscription "All-Star Set Collector's Edition," accompanied by the player's name, team, and position, all elegantly printed in red and blue on a white card stock.

Chicago Cubs 1983 Topps (Glossy Send-Ins) Checklist


Number Player
24 Bill Buckner




Chicago Cubs 1983 Topps Game




Monday, April 8, 2024

1988 Fantastic Sam's Discs Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

20 disks in the Fantastic Sam's Discs collection included 1 Cubs player.

Size of Cards

The size of the disks are 2 3/4"

Basic Features

Fantastic Sam's is a chain of hair salons that specifically caters to families. The distinctive collection of discs, easily identifiable by its orange border, was created in partnership with Mike Schechter Associates. When customers visit any of the Fantastic Sam's locations, they receive a complimentary disc. These discs are perforated and connected offering a chance to win a baseball-themed prize by scratching it off. It is important to note that this particular set does not feature any team logos. Although the Major League Baseball Players Association ("MLBPA") players' unions granted permission to use their images, MSA (Michael Schechter Associates) opted to minimize costs by not obtaining licenses from the leagues. As a result, the team logos have been airbrushed out, as is customary for MSA sets. The majority of MSA releases were in collaboration with the food industry, further enhancing the rarity of this specific set.

The set also contained a collector's sheet that had all the discs.

To prevent purchasing a false piece of history, always get a professionally graded card from a recognized provider. In the future, graded cards will be significantly more valuable.

Chicago Cubs 1988 Fantastic Sam's Discs Checklist


Number Player
15 Andre Dawson



Thursday, April 4, 2024

1987 Glossy All-Stars + Rookies Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

1985 Topps All-Star Glossy has 22 cards which there is 1 Cubs player

Size of Cards

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

1987 Glossy All-Stars Basic Features

In this insert set, you will find 22 glossy cards. These cards feature the starters from the 1986 All-Star Game, including the manager and honorary captain. On the front of each card, you will see a vibrant red, white, and blue all-star banner with the year printed above. Most cards display an action shot of the players at the bottom, along with the national league emblem in yellow and red next to the player's name. The backs of the cards are printed in red and blue. Each league, American and National, is represented by 11 cards. Inserted one per rack pack

1987 Glossy Rookies Basic Features

In this particular insert set, there are 22 glossy cards, with one of them featuring a standout Cubs player. This is the initial regular-issue Topps set that incorporates a Glossy Rookie insert card in each jumbo pack. The front of each card showcases a colorful red, white, and blue banner with the year clearly displayed. Furthermore, the cards feature a dynamic action shot of the player's name at the bottom. Flipping the card over reveals an attractive red, white, and blue color scheme on the back.

Chicago Cubs 1987 Glossy All-Stars + Rookies Checklist


Number Player
3 Ryne Sandberg
Chicago Cubs 1987 Glossy Rookies Checklist
22 Rafael Palmeiro






Wednesday, April 3, 2024

1988 Donruss Rookies Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

1988 Donruss has 56 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

The card fronts bear a resemblance to the 1988 Donruss regular issue, with the exception of featuring "The Rookies" logo in the lower right corner. Additionally, the fronts showcase a green and black border instead of the usual blue and black border. On the backs, you will find the customary information such as bio stats, career highlights, and the minor league teams they were a part of.

Chicago Cubs 1988 Donruss Rookies Checklist

Number Player
1 Mark Grace
31 Damon Berryhill
45 Darrin Jackson XRC*
46 Mike Capel









Tuesday, April 2, 2024

1985 Topps All-Star Glossy + Glossy Send-Ins Cubs Checklist

Number of Cards

1985 Topps All-Star Glossy has 22 cards which there are 3 Cubs player

Size of Cards

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

Basic Features

In this insert set, you will find 22 glossy cards. These cards feature the starters from the 1984 All-Star Game, including the manager and honorary captain. On the front of each card, you will see a vibrant red, white, and blue all-star banner with the year printed below. Most cards display an action shot of the players at the bottom, along with the national league emblem in yellow and red next to the player's name. The backs of the cards are printed in red and blue. Each league, American and National, is represented by 11 cards.

Number of Cards

40 cards in the Topps Glossy Send-Ins collection included 1 Cubs player.

In 1985, if you collected the special offer cards from the Topps Wax Packs and played the "Winning Pitch" game, you could exchange them for some amazing rewards. By sending in 25 runs and 75 cents, collectors had the chance to receive one of the eight unique five card series. Not only that, but they also automatically entered the Grand Prize Sweepstakes. It was an exciting opportunity for collectors to add to their card collections and potentially win big!

Chicago Cubs 1985 Topps Glossy Send-Ins + All-Star Glossy Checklist


Number Player
9 Rick Sutcliffe
11 Leon Durham
21 Ryne Sandberg
Chicago Cubs 1985 Glossy Checklist
3 Ryne Sandberg


1985 Glossy Send-Ins set of 40








1985 Topps All-Star Glossy set of 22




Monday, April 1, 2024

1989 T&M Sports Action Photos Cubs

Number of Cards

The 1989 T&M Sports Action Photos consists of 72 cards, with three cards from the Cubs team.

Card Dimensions

The size of the cards are hugh 8" x 10"

Basic Features

This set from the junk era displays players in action and portrait shots on the front, with blank backs. The oversized nature of these cards made them a bit awkward to store. The set in question has been officially licensed and should not be mistaken for a "Broder" card.

Chicago Cubs 1989 T&M Sports Action Photos Checklist


Number Player
- Andre Dawson
- Shawon Dunston
- Mark Grace