____________________ Everywhere around this burg they're running out of verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. Everywhere around this town, they're running out of nouns.
October 27, 2020, 11:03 AM
Bill Mullins
I mistakenly said "Big League Chew", I meant "Big League Cards".
Big League Cards was an outfit that would print custom baseball-style cards for people. I think Jim Bouton was behind it. The had a very consistent design motif, and the cards in the videos match that motif. So even if the Ms. Foundation was the publisher, I suspect that they had BLC do the actual production.
(and note that it is graded as a "promotional card")
And now that you've posted the link to the full set, I'm pretty sure I saw it when it was released 25 years ago, and that I picked one up. Whether or not I can find it in my hobby room after so many years is another story.
Although initially orders went directly to Bouton, he eventually licensed the name "Big League Cards" to a print company. I'm not sure if they exist anymore.
October 27, 2020, 03:19 PM
catskilleagle
Big League Cards seems to have been the go-to company for many companies/organizations to have promo cards done. I have seen cards done by Big League for a few TV and radio stations across the country, including a card I have for a local radio station. The Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band cards were also done by Big League.
Jess
November 02, 2020, 03:32 AM
catskilleagle
Here are two cards from the Billboard magazine 36-card set done by Big League Cards (1989). It was a gift to subscribers featuring photos of employees on the fronts with bio info and jokes on the back.
November 02, 2020, 04:54 PM
pcetodd
With a few exceptions, I see those Big League cards as being in the same realm as locally produced hot air balloon cards, or clown entertainers. There's just too many and they are too obscure to make a list of them. Like the Choice ones the Philly Show cards are printed with.
August 10, 2023, 01:10 AM
catskilleagle
Here are some other examples by Big League Cards starting with a card from the Hogettes set, cards that promoted an unofficial Washington Redskins fan club of sorts (a different card every year given out in unknown quantities from around 1985 to around 2003).
This message has been edited. Last edited by: catskilleagle, August 10, 2023 01:40 AM
August 10, 2023, 01:13 AM
catskilleagle
There's a thread about the Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band set but here's an image of the cards for this one.
August 10, 2023, 01:24 AM
catskilleagle
And here's a BLC single that probably isn't listed anywhere. It's a promo for a San Francisco Bay Area radio station DJ. It's one of perhaps hundreds of cards printed to promote radio and TV stations across the country. Todd decided not to include these kinds of cards in PCE because there are just too many of them.
I looks like it was signed to me but I think it says "To Joss." I found it in a bargain box years ago and got it for around a buck as part of a lot.
September 30, 2023, 03:56 PM
catskilleagle
Here's another one of those Big League Cards. It promotes a media escort company which is different from an escort service.
September 30, 2023, 06:02 PM
Bill Mullins
quote:
Originally posted by catskilleagle: . . . which is different from an escort service.
And just how much knowledge do you have about escort services?
September 30, 2023, 07:31 PM
cardaddict
What, exactly, do you want to know?
September 30, 2023, 08:47 PM
Bill Mullins
Well, I had one question, but it turned out that the answer was "Forty bucks, same as in town."
September 30, 2023, 10:49 PM
cardaddict
As a wise man once remarked, " 'Nuff said."
October 02, 2023, 02:47 PM
catskilleagle
Well, uh, I just know what a friend in Alabama told me about them. It's just what I heard.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Mullins:
quote:
Originally posted by catskilleagle: . . . which is different from an escort service.
And just how much knowledge do you have about escort services?
September 02, 2024, 08:18 PM
catskilleagle
I found another oddball Big League Card, this one acting as a business card for an autograph collector back in the 80's. Anyone here know him?
September 02, 2024, 09:54 PM
Bill Mullins
When I was chasing signatures on nonsports cards through the mail in the 1990s, I used to subscribe to "Autograph Collector" magazine. Pretty sure I remember his name from there.
September 03, 2024, 08:30 AM
webjon
Those are interesting, I've never run across one in person.
September 04, 2024, 12:12 AM
catskilleagle
I've seen this card (promo for Bouton's book, "Strike Zone"...in case the link breaks) for sale before but the seller always wanted at least $30 which seemed way too high to me. I just checked to see if one was for sale, and yeah, there is one but the seller wants about $60 shipped. I don't get it. Am I missing out on the hottest card I've never heard of?
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Mullins: I mistakenly said "Big League Chew", I meant "Big League Cards".
Big League Cards was an outfit that would print custom baseball-style cards for people. I think Jim Bouton was behind it. The had a very consistent design motif, and the cards in the videos match that motif. So even if the Ms. Foundation was the publisher, I suspect that they had BLC do the actual production.
(and note that it is graded as a "promotional card")
And now that you've posted the link to the full set, I'm pretty sure I saw it when it was released 25 years ago, and that I picked one up. Whether or not I can find it in my hobby room after so many years is another story.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: catskilleagle, 
