TCMA All Time Cubs 1977

Today's post is the first of three that will take a look at the All Time Cubs sets that TCMA issued between 1977 and 1980. Although I was collecting at the time, I never saw these three oddball sets.

TCMA had been releasing All Time team sets since 1974, but their first Cubs set came out in 1977. The cards are the standard size of 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" and feature a black and white photo ofthe player on the front. The backs are very plain, with only a listing of the 12 players in the set. The list actually includes 13 names, but Charlie Grimm is listed twice; as both a first baseman and as manager. The cards are unnumbered; the Standard Catalog assigned the cards a number based on alphabetical order.



Here is Grimm's card and you can see that he is listed as both 1st base and manager. Most of the other players were either from the '30s or from the 60s. None of the 1908 Cubs, players like Tinker, Evers, Chance, or Brown, made the TCMA list. I find that strange that four hall of fame players were left off. If I had to make a guess, it would be that TCMA didn't have access to any of their photographs.

With most of the other teams that TCMA did these sets, there were the eight position players, two starting pitchers, one reliever, and a manager. Since Grimm was listed in two different slots, TCMA added another infielder to the Cubs roster, Billy Herman.

Here is the rest of the squad:



Second base: Rogers Hornsby



Shortstop: Ernie Banks



Third Base: Ron Santo



Left Field: Billy Williams



Center Field: Hack Wilson



Right Field: Kiki Cuyler



Right Handed Pitcher: Charlie Root



Catcher: Gabby Hartnett



Left Handed Pitcher: Larry French



Relief Pitcher: Emil Kush



Infielder: Billy Herman

Tomorrow, I've got the 1979 version.