1978 SSPC Cubs

In 1976, Sports Star Publishing Company (SSPC) issued a 630 card set. However, they didn't have permission from the players union or MLB, and the set was pulled from the market. There must have been a ton already released, because I picked up the Cubs set pretty easily.

Two years later, they were back in business, this time with all of the necessary licenses. But they changed formats and instead, the cards were issued only as team sets and only as full page inserts in a magazine they called "All Star Gallery 1978."



Team sets were printed for only a handful of teams: Dodgers, Rangers, Reds, White Sox, Red Sox, Angels, Royals, and Cubs. 27 cards were made for each of the ten teams, meaning 270 cards in the set. Two more teams, the Phillies and Yankees, had separate magazines with another 27 cards.

I picked up the Cubs' version of the magazine two weeks ago for only $6.00. The 27 cards were still in their original tri-fold insert in the magazine. There are no perforations to punch the cards out, just lines on the backs. Right now I haven't cut the cards out, and I haven't decided whether to do so or not. Any thoughts?

All of the big names from the 1978 Cubs were included in the set. It looks like all of the pictures were taken at the Cubs spring training camp in Scottsdale in 1978, since all of the players are wearing the home uniform.

Today I'll give you a look at the position players and tomorrow it will be the pitchers.


Outfielder Larry Biittner


First baseman Bill Buckner


Outfielder Gene Clines


Catcher Larry Cox


Outfielder Hector Cruz


Shortstop Ivan DeJesus


Catcher Mike Gordon


Outfielder Greg Gross


Utility infielder Mick Kelleher


Left Fielder Dave Kingman


Utility infielder Rudy Meoli


Outfielder Bobby Murcer


Third Baseman Steve Ontiveros


Catcher Dave Rader


Tarzan Joe Wallis

And as a bonus, here's the skipper, Herman Franks