Denny's Cubs Card

The Denny's restaurant chain gave out baseball cards from 1991 through 1997.  The cards were usually available during the summer and were given with the purchase of a meal.  The sets had one player from each of the MLB teams.  That makes it pretty easy to track down the Cubs - one per year.

Most years the cards were made by Upper Deck and included a holograph feature.  I'm sure they were a technological marvel in the 90's.  Holograms are cool to look at but not easy to scan.  You can't really get the full effect of these with a picture.

1991 -  Andre Dawson - The card came with a Grand Slam meal and the back of the card describes the player's career grand slams.  Dawson had four as of 1990,two with the Cubs and two with the Expos.

1992 - Ryne Sandberg - This edition of the set shows the player and a feature from the team's city.  In the background is the John Hancock Center 875 North Michigan Building.

1993 - Ryno repeats in 1993.  This is also the last year that the cards have the Grand Slam name on them and the last time they talk about the player's career slams.

1994 - The Bulls weren't the only early 90's three-peat, Ryno did it with Denny's!

1995 -  The Ryno three-peat is snapped by Sammy.  The 1995 set is also the last that was produced for Denny's by Upper Deck.

1996 -  Ryno returns!  Pinnacle took over as the maker of Denny's cards in 1996.  They kept the holograms, but it really didn't scan very well.  It just looks like a blue sky.  

1996 Grand Slam - The Grand Slam set returned in 1996 as a 10-card set.  There were regular cards and specially marked Artist Proof cards.  The AP cards came one in every 360 packs.  The card I've got is the AP version.

1997 -  End of the line!  Sammy is the player featured, though Jose Hernandez (I think) gets some solid camera time, too.