A Question for Team Collectors...

[Mungo Hungo]

Originally Posted by chlankf

I narrowed my collecting scope down to Iowa baseball related items. I do collect a couple sets T201 Mecca and B18 Blankets, but my main focus is memorabilia and pre-war cards. I got started by collecting Des Moines items and moved on to OJs. I collect mainly DesMoines simply because I grew up for miles from Des Moines watching The Oaks from the 70s and the Cubs of the 80s to today. I try to find items that are fairly unique or really limited, fortunately not many people collect Des Moines or Iowa. For cards, I try to stick with issues that appealed to me.

Chlankf,

Since you’re an Iowa collector of 70s/80s issues, would you have any idea whether there may be some long lost Iowa Oaks cards from 1981? I see that sets are listed for 1979-80 and 1982-on, but I see nothing for 1981...

[cubman1941]

I am a Cub guy also and collect virtually anything Cubs. I have Cub cards from early on to today although the ones from 1990 on I got mainly from trading. I think the most fun I have is finding an odd ball I don't have. I like and enjoy the early Cub cards (pre-1940) but don't go out of my way to get them. I try and find something I need in various auctions and, usually, bid what I would pay for them as I don't have deep pockets. To me having fun going after Cub items (not just cards) I want is most important whether I get them or not. I am always amazed at how much early stuff is out there and, many times, I just like to look.

[JCM2009]

I collect only Cleveland Indians up to 1980. Have also created a master Cleveland Indians team checklist which has been a challenge in itself.

[chlankf]

Originally Posted by Mungo Hungo

Chlankf,

Since you’re an Iowa collector of 70s/80s issues, would you have any idea whether there may be some long lost Iowa Oaks cards from 1981? I see that sets are listed for 1979-80 and 1982-on, but I see nothing for 1981...

I'd have to dig out my team sets but I don't believe there was a set that year. It was a transition season as they changed to the Cubs the following season. I remember hearing that the team had been sold prior to or during the '81 season which could account for no issue.

Side note. I love the early Iowa Cubs team sets with the creepy ass Cubbie Bear mascot. I remember hugging him as a kid and was bummed out when the flood of '93 hit downtown DM and the stadium. This resulted in the loss of the mascot outfit. Flash forward to early 2000's and Cubbies head shows up on eBay. The guy who wore/was Cubbie was given the head when the rest was lost. I was and still am so emotionally attached to this one of a kind centerpiece in my collection.

[Mungo Hungo]

Originally Posted by chlankf

I'd have to dig out my team sets but I don't believe there was a set that year. It was a transition season as they changed to the Cubs the following season. I remember hearing that the team had been sold prior to or during the '81 season which could account for no issue.

Side note. I love the early Iowa Cubs team sets with the creepy ass Cubbie Bear mascot. I remember hugging him as a kid and was bummed out when the flood of '93 hit downtown DM and the stadium. This resulted in the loss of the mascot outfit. Flash forward to early 2000's and Cubbies head shows up on eBay. The guy who wore/was Cubbie was given the head when the rest was lost. I was and still am so emotionally attached to this one of a kind centerpiece in my collection.

Thanks chlankf. It certainly doesn't appear that there was an Iowa set in 1981--at least Beckett and Trading Card Database don't list anything, and nothing turns up in Google searches. But occasionally minor league cards will fly under the radar, so I was hoping you might be aware of something that the rest of us are not.

[CobbSpikedMe]

The SF Giants are my current team and I do collect Giants cards. Both pre and post war. Particularly the T205s right now. However, I also collect another team, the Jersey City Skeeters of the Eastern and International Leagues. I grew up in Jersey and just started picking up some Skeeters cards here and there and it just turned into a full blown team collection. Some of the cards are basically impossible and I'll never get them, but there are still a few that I can realistically acquire.

How about some images for this thread...

The C46 Jersey City team set and a cabinet photo of a couple players in spring training. The mount sucks, but how many JC cabinets are out there for me to choose from?


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