I love minor league sets for a couple reasons. The production numbers of sets are relatively low and they provide the first cards for many future stars, as well as cards of a lot of players that never make it to the major leagues.
There were a few minor league sets produced before 1978, but not many with any consistency. In 1978, TCMA became the first company to attempt to produce sets of minor league teams on a yearly basis. Interesting, minor league sets are generally collected and sold as sets.
The only Orioles affiliate printed in 1978 were the Rochester Red Wings, but this led to more and more teams signing up. Today, all of the Orioles affiliates have sets for sale in their team stores. A few years, some teams also have update sets.
The TCMA Rochester Red Wings set in 1978 only had 17 cards, but did include HOFer Frank Robinson, the Red Wings manager that year.
Checklist - Frank Robinson, Tom Bianco, Tom Chism, Dave Criscione, Mike Dimmel, Blake Doyle, Kevin Kennedy, Wayne Krenchicki, Rafael Liranzo, Marty Parrill, Skeeter Jarquin, Ray Bare, Tony Chevez, Jeff Rineer, Earl Stephenson, Tim Stoddard and Don Cardoza
1978 TCMA Rochester Red Wings set
1978 TCMA Rochester Red Wings #1.jpg 1978 TCMA Rochester Red Wings #2.jpg