70s Saturday - 1976 Fleer Baseball Firsts Cubs

 In 1976 Fleer included a Baseball First card in packs of their cloth patches. (If you'd like to read a complete history of the cloth patches and insert cards, go here.)

They again turned to artist Robert Laughlin to create the pictures for the 42 card set.  As the name implies, the cards feature different first events in baseball history.  

Since the cards are more about events rather than players, coming up with a Cubs team set was a bit tricky. Below are the four that the Trading Card Database considers to be Cubs cards.

Mike "King" Kelly is credited with inventing the slide. He played for several teams including the Cubs.  The picture on the top shows him in a Chicago uniform.

Kelly was also involved in one of the first big player transactions, when the Cubs sold his contract to Boston for $10,000.

In 1870, both the Cubs and Reds took their teams to New Orleans for the first spring training.

In 1876, the National League's first season, Cubs second baseman Roscoe Barnes became the major league's first .400 hitter.  He hit a robust .429.  The next closest hitter was 63 points behind him!