1978 Bill Frisz Twins Team Issue Set
Inside a glass display case of mostly vintage singles, my LCS had this bagged set of cards for $15.
At first, I thought it was a Twins teams set from SSPC, which I already have in my complete set. So I ignored it for many visits. Recently, I asked about the cards and was told they were a Minnesota Twins team issued set from 1978. Comprised of two 25 card series, it featured a total of 48 retired (no active players appear in the set) Twins players and managers. With two checklist cards, one for each series. Oh, and one card for Metropolitan Stadium!
A simple photograph on the front, and black and white printing on the back, one a fairly heavy stock. These cards were put together for the Twins by Bill Frisz. Which is why it's commonly known as the 1978 Bill Frisz Twins Set. Makes sense... This was the first time I'd seen one for sale, and at $15, it was coming home with me!
The first series was very star packed (second series, not so much...) covering nearly every Twins great who played for the team in the 1960's.
Cards are slightly oversized, and do not fit in traditional 9 pocket pages. Never kept any 8 pocket pages around, as any oversized vintage is stored in Top Loaders. When I placed them face-down on the scanner, I didn't plan accordingly, so they don't fall in numerical order. And since no names appear on the front, I'll type them out for anyone who isn't a superfan that recognizes all of these players. (I sure can't.)
Including Harmon Killebrew in Twins "Greats" set is an obvious no-brainer. And the chosen photo is a nice Spring Training shot. Unfortunately, there are no in-game action shots in this set, as I'd really like a shot of Killebrew mashing a mammoth home run at the Met.
Typical card back in the set. Lifetime statistics are shown in two lines. What each player did while playing for the Twins (and Washington Senators), and then a composite overall career line. I would have liked Bill Frisz to separate those two lines better. What each player did for the Twins, and what they did for other teams. Killebrew for example, played the 1975 season for the Kansas City Royals, and wasn't that good. I'd like to see his poor stat line with Kansas City under his Twins line, without having to do any math...
One of my most wanted cards is a 1969 Topps Billy Martin. His rookie season as manager, and only season managing the Twins. Stories of his antics are still local legends around here. My copy of that card was stolen in 1994, and I've yet to replace it. So finding a Billy Martin card commemorating his time with Minnesota was included, making me very happy.
In Martin's defense, as the card back points out, he managed the Twins to win the AL West, with a 97-65 record. And a loss to Baltimore in the 1969 ALCS...
On the reverse side of the first series checklist, you could order a bunch of team stuff directly from the Minnesota Twins. The address on the back of the card was the address for Metropolitan Stadium. I'm assuming Mickey Giuliani was in charge of merchandised and fulfilling these orders.
Looking at how it was handled back then, seems really quaint today.
Series 2 featured a more obscure roster of past Twins greats. And a noticeable uptick in pictures that include a Met Stadium backdrop!
On the back is a year by year record, with attendance. Which makes sense. Not like the ballpark itself can hit home runs...
There's some quality Met Stadium going on behind Todd's father Randy... Too bad a splotchy negative took away some hat color...
Flipping the second series checklist to the back, continues the Twins mail order catalog. I picture all of these items (combined with the ones on the back of the first series checklist) for sale at souvenir stands inside Metropolitan Stadium, back in 1978. Now if I only had a picture of said souvenir stands...
A winning percentage of .529 from 1961 through 1977 is pretty good. That winning percentage would drop sharply over the next seven season, before Griffith would sell the team to billionaire banker Carl Pohlad. But that's another story for another time. And there's a lot of stories about that guy. Especially if you thought Griffith was bad, at least he didn't try to contract the franchise...
Using exclusively retired players, this meant no Rod Carew, Roy Smalley, Bert Blyleven, or similar players would be included. Not even Disco Dan Ford... Given what they had to work with, they did a great job with the set. The quality is right up there with other releases of it's day, stacking up well against 1978 Topps (and SSPC). The card stock is thick and sturdy, though I had a few minor dinged corners. Which is acceptable for a set that just turned 40, with likely not a great deal of them still out there.
Up until now, I didn't have a Byron Buxton autographed card in my collection. Despite his well documented struggles, potential alone is enough to keep his autographed Bowman rookies unreachable for a decent price. I'd been looking for just the right flavor of autograph to add, but they don't seem to stick around the market for very long here in Minnesota.
For roughly one hour's pay, I picked this up along with the 1978 Bill Frisz set. Numbered 1/10, with a great three color swatch. (The number 1 is a nice bonus!) Since I'm late in writing this up, I know how Buxton has played thus far in 2019... Which has been really well. But this purchase came in mid-March, weeks before the season started, and his production was still a wild card at that point. No one knew if the Twins were getting the vaunted second overall draft pick, who starred in the second half of the 2017 season. Or the guy who broke his toe with a migraine, batted only .170 or so, and missed nearly all of the 2018 season.
There's still so many more awesome cards from the last two months I have to talk about at some point. But I think next we'll take a broader look at my current address, with a twist!
Coming soon I hope...
At first, I thought it was a Twins teams set from SSPC, which I already have in my complete set. So I ignored it for many visits. Recently, I asked about the cards and was told they were a Minnesota Twins team issued set from 1978. Comprised of two 25 card series, it featured a total of 48 retired (no active players appear in the set) Twins players and managers. With two checklist cards, one for each series. Oh, and one card for Metropolitan Stadium!
A simple photograph on the front, and black and white printing on the back, one a fairly heavy stock. These cards were put together for the Twins by Bill Frisz. Which is why it's commonly known as the 1978 Bill Frisz Twins Set. Makes sense... This was the first time I'd seen one for sale, and at $15, it was coming home with me!
The first series was very star packed (second series, not so much...) covering nearly every Twins great who played for the team in the 1960's.
Cards are slightly oversized, and do not fit in traditional 9 pocket pages. Never kept any 8 pocket pages around, as any oversized vintage is stored in Top Loaders. When I placed them face-down on the scanner, I didn't plan accordingly, so they don't fall in numerical order. And since no names appear on the front, I'll type them out for anyone who isn't a superfan that recognizes all of these players. (I sure can't.)
Top (L-R): Harmon Killebrew, Calvin Griffith, Dean Chance, Earl Battey
Bottom (L-R): Jimmie Hall, Jim Grant, Dave Boswell, Bob Allison
There's some pretty big names of Twins past, just in the first 8 cards.
But this is good too...
Up next in the next 8 cards...
Top (L-R): Camilo Pascual, Don Mincher, Sam Mele, Billy Martin
Bottom (L-R): Tony Oliva, Metropolitan Stadium, Gene Mauch, Jim Lemon
Tony Oliva only played for the Twins (from 1962-1976), so he only gets the single stat line.
In Martin's defense, as the card back points out, he managed the Twins to win the AL West, with a 97-65 record. And a loss to Baltimore in the 1969 ALCS...
And punching out 20 game winner Dave Boswell during the season...
Top (L-R): Jerry Zimmerman, Zoilo Versalles, Bill Rigney, Frank Quillici
Bottom (L-R): Al Worthington, Cesar Tovar, Rich Reese, Jim Perry
Great shot of the Met stands under the overhanging light towers, on Al Worthington's card.
Looking at how it was handled back then, seems really quaint today.
Series 2 featured a more obscure roster of past Twins greats. And a noticeable uptick in pictures that include a Met Stadium backdrop!
Top (L-R): Bill Hands, Johnny Goryl, Ray Corbin, Bernie Allen
Bottom (L-R): Tom Hall, Joe Decker, Leo Cardenas, 1st Series Checklist
Speaking of Met Stadium, I have to highlight it's card in the set.
And make it bigger!
I think this is the aerial shot from the 1965 World Series, but I'm not sure. Either way, it's a pretty well known photo, as far as photos of Met Stadium go...
On the back is a year by year record, with attendance. Which makes sense. Not like the ballpark itself can hit home runs...
Here's some more from series two...
Top (L-R): Ron Perranoski, Jim Merritt, Johnny Klippstein, Randy Hundley
Bottom (L-R): Joe Nossek, Jack Kralick, Jerry Kindall, Jim Holt
And we're just about done with series two...
Top (L-R): Sandy Valdespino, Danny Thompson, Lee Stange, Rick Renick
Bottom (L-R): Ted Uhlaender, Dick Stigman, Jim Roland, Bill Pleis
Which leaves...
The last player in the set would be Dick Woodson.
And with a name like Dick Woodson, you deserve to have a separate scan...
The full second series checklist. Definitely lacking in the star power vs series one.
All brought to you by the man who brought the Twins to Minnesota, Mr. Calvin Griffith.
And his mustard colored tie...
And hey, Calvin Griffith was born in Montreal, so that is worth something!
My overall impressions with the 1978 Bill Frisz Twins Set?
I am very happy that I was able to add this to my collection...
Which also added this card on the same day...
Up until now, I didn't have a Byron Buxton autographed card in my collection. Despite his well documented struggles, potential alone is enough to keep his autographed Bowman rookies unreachable for a decent price. I'd been looking for just the right flavor of autograph to add, but they don't seem to stick around the market for very long here in Minnesota.
2015 Leaf Trinity Byron Buxton Autographed Patch
For roughly one hour's pay, I picked this up along with the 1978 Bill Frisz set. Numbered 1/10, with a great three color swatch. (The number 1 is a nice bonus!) Since I'm late in writing this up, I know how Buxton has played thus far in 2019... Which has been really well. But this purchase came in mid-March, weeks before the season started, and his production was still a wild card at that point. No one knew if the Twins were getting the vaunted second overall draft pick, who starred in the second half of the 2017 season. Or the guy who broke his toe with a migraine, batted only .170 or so, and missed nearly all of the 2018 season.
So far 2019 is looking up for Buxton...
And the Twins...
There's still so many more awesome cards from the last two months I have to talk about at some point. But I think next we'll take a broader look at my current address, with a twist!
Coming soon I hope...
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