The Baseball Immortals set was first issued in 1980, with 173 cards representing the 173 players in the Hall of Fame at the time. Updates were issued annually through 1987 as the Hall elected new members. The cards have a pennant on the front that shows the year the player made it to Cooperstown.
The back of the card does list a team name, so that is what is used to determine which team a player is assigned to for team sets. That is why you'll see some players below included in the Cubs set even though they are not wearing a Cubs uniform.
The cards make no mention of the manufacturer. The Trading Card Database lists them as being made by SSPC. The Standard Catalog differs, naming Renata Galasso and TCMA as the makers of the cards. The packaging shows Collectors Marketing Corporation. So take your pick!
A total of twelve Cubs players were included. Eleven were in the original set and Billy Williams was in the 1987 update, which is the year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
My favorite Hall of Fame set!
ReplyDeleteI started making digital customs of inductees from 1988 forward several years ago, and have been adding to it each year. I have posted them all on my blog: Baseball Immortals on The Writer's Journey
ReplyDeleteThose wearing a Cubs uniform in my "set" include Lee Smith, Greg Maddux, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, and Leo Durocher. There is also a Frank Selee card, but he's wearing a suit, not a uniform. There may be some other execs associated with the Cubbies too but I don't recall off the top of my head.