Help Id'ing an issue
 

Hi All:

I need some help with this. I have what I thought were 1978 McDonald Red Sox cards. See below. Or so it appears in my old 2011 SCD Standard Catalog of Vintage Cards.

However when I search on ebay another different looking item comes up. See:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-McDonal...8BPlQjESrGdfLA

and

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-McDonal...fZHcw6NawnUxXA

To further confuse me my Catalog says there are 6 cards in the set but I have 8 different with Burleson and one other player I don't know off the top of my head ( Hobson? ). Bottom right in the photo below.

Then I find this which shows a 1976 set but with a few different photos than mine

http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewSet...cDonald's-
Boston-Red-Sox-Postcards-

And finally, in my research I think I saw some of the cards I have with facsimile autographs without the autographs and/or vica versa.

Can anyone shed light on this set(s)?

Thanks,

Fred

Team issue
 

Fred,
You're right about the player on the bottom right being Butch Hobson. I believe these are a team issue. I recall them being in abundance around the Red Sox PR office when I visited frequently in the 70s. They were sent out to fans requesting photos and/or autographs. Can't confirm whether they were ever used in a McDonald's promotion, but I'm sure they originated with the Sox.
B.ob Ric.hard.son

Fred, I would be interested in the Yaz if you'll sell it.

I don't buy the 1978 date for McDonalds. I lived in the Boston area in 78, and went to McDonalds fairly often. Never saw any cards there of any kind.

The date I've heard in the past was 1975, which might be correct. Supposedly the happy meal prize for someone eating in was a choice from the "fun chest " or something like that and the individual cards were one of the choices. I vaguely recall the prize box, but not the cards as we ate there very little (Moved to a more urban town for HS in 77) The red hats were more of a 75 thing as well, so team issue 75 and maybe 76 would have them.

Even back then there was some confusion about what were McDonalds cards and which were the team issue. Of the 4 in the op, the Fisk matches what I've always thought of as the McDonalds cards. The others would be team issue.
BUT that could be entirely wrong, or even reversed from what they really are.

It's sad in a way that the team issue and similar cards of the era from all sources weren't documented well at the time.
I don't know if it ever got expanded, but the listing for the small black and white cards sold outside the park in 78 was incomplete. There was a handful of "high numbers" with unidentified pics of late season call ups.
Very tough set, maybe tougher than the McDonalds cards which aren't easy.

Steve B

Hi Guys:

Thanks for your input.

Bob, great to hear from you.. it's been YEARS!!

Don, until I know what I have I will not be selling or trading them. I am not married to them, but just want to find out first what exactly it is that I have here before doing anything with them.

Steve, so there is some McDonald connection. Thanks for the confirmation.

As stated, my 2011 SCD guide shows the Fisk card and lists it as 1978 McDonalds. Beside the four shown I also have Doyle, Lynn, Rice and Tiant All have the facsimile autograph but Doyle.

Since Doyle was not with the Sox in 1978 that would date his card to 1976. In looking at the photos on the tradingcarddb.com link referenced above, it appears my cards of Fisk, Lynn, Rice and Tiant match the photos shown.

My Burleson and Yaz are different poses, and Doyle and Hobson are not listed.

Perhaps the cards with the facsimile autographs are the McDonald issue. I don't recall where I got these, but I do know they all came together.

If anyone else can help with more info. Please post.

Thanks,

Fred