Right off the bat things get confusing with this set. The pins have a copyright of 1984 and that is how most are listed on Ebay. But the Standard Catalog lists the set as a 1985 release. I'm going with 1985 since the set includes stats on the back from the 1984 season.
The set consists of 133 buttons / pins. They are the same small size (1.25" diameter) as the pins put out by Kellys, Sunoco, and MLBPA in the late '60s. You could buy the pins in packs of three pins. Complete sets were also available at hobby shops.
I've tried to find out more about the company that made these, Fun Foods. According the to the boxes, Fun Foods was based out of Little Silver, New Jersey. A Google search of Fun Foods Little Silver turned up nothing. It's like the company never existed. Anyone from the east have any knowledge of Fun Foods?
As far as the Cubs in the set, they pretty much nailed it. Nine Cubs were included. Only one of the starting position players was left out, Keith Moreland. The other seven made it... Gary Matthews, Bobby Dernier, Ron Cey, Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Leon Durham, and Jody Davis. The other two Cubs were pitchers Rick Sutcliffe and Lee Smith.
No, I've never heard of Fun Foods. I have a bunch of these pins, it's one of like 1 or 2 examples of my folks buying me a baseball collectible.
ReplyDeleteI've got a little box filled with a bunch of these pins that I purchased at a flea market (or maybe off os Craigslist). But don't remember seeing them back in the 80's... and never heard of Fun Foods.
ReplyDeleteI remember buying the coins in the three button packs at the local convenience stores in the Chicago area. No idea who they were. Definitely in 1985 though.
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