1978 MSA Wiffle Ball Checklist - contributions welcomed

darkhorse9

I would like to try and solve the confusion surrounding the obscure 1978 Wiffle ball set by putting together a firm checklist on this set. As I've mentioned in other posts, this set differs dramatically from the 1977 set in many ways. (distribution, size, player selection etc)

The 1977 set had 81 players in in and they were standard MSA discs (although smaller than usual) die cut, and inserted into boxes one card per box.

The 1978 set had the cards printed right on the box itself with three cards facing out and two facing in. Seven players were added to the checklist from the previous year (Candelaria, Cardenal, Joshua, North, Rodriguez, Spencer and Wynegar) Making 88 players in this set.

The cards were printed onto various styles and sizes of Wiffle Ball products. Four different styles exist. Ball boxes in sizes Junior, Regulation and Softball each contained five cards. A fourth version was a cardboard sleeve that held a bat and ball together. This version contained just two cards printed on the sleeve. Much like the distribution of Post cards in the 1960's and Hostess cards in the 1970's, one could surmize that less propular sizes of products might lead to some lesser quantities of cdertain cards. That's why it is important to understand how these cards were ditributed.

Below is a checklist of the cards, listed by the boxes or method they were released. There seems to be no doubling up of any players onto different size boxes so this seems to hold up.

This checklist is not complete. I do not have confirmation on 14 players. My guess is that means there are two boxes and two bat/ball sleeves to be uncovered. That's where input would be appreciated. Ths cards are listed below the checklist as "unidentified packaging"



Ball Size Player card facing

1) Junior Outside – Bert Campaneris/ Dave Lopes/ Mark Fidrych
Inside – Rennie Stennett/ Dave Kingman

2) Baseball Outside – Wayne Garland/ Frank Tanana/ TonyPerez
Inside – Larry Hisle/ Jim Rice

3) Baseball Outside – Randy Moffitt/ Gary Maddox/ Ted Simmons
Inside – John Mayberry/ Ellie Rodriguez

4) Baseball Outside- Lou Brock/ Dave Concepcion/ Mike Schmidt
Inside – Fred Lynn/ Dave Parker

5) Baseball Outside- Bert Blyleven/ Richie Zisk/ Lee May
Inside – Von Joshua/ Ralph Garr

6) Baseball Outside- Buddy Bell/ Willie Stargell/ Gene Tenace
Inside – Manny Sanguillen/ Greg Luzinski

7) Baseball Outside- Tom Seaver/ Craig Nettles/ Jon Matlack
Inside – Manny Trillo/ Sixto Lezcano

8) Baseball Outside- Jorge Orta/ Vida Blue/ John Montefusco
Inside – Pete Rose/ Carlton Fisk

9) Baseball Outside- Thurman Munson/ Steve Garvey/ Joe Rudi
Inside – Jose Cardenal/ Jim Spencer

10) Softball Outside- Sal Bando/ Jeff Burroughs/ Bob Watson
Inside – Jim Hunter/ Gary Matthews

11) Softball Outside- Luis Tiant/ Cesar Cedeno/ Jerry Koosman
Inside – Butch Wynegar/ Bill North

12) Softball Outside- George Bett/ Dave Cash/ Ray Burris
Inside – John Candelaria/ Ron LeFlore

13) Bat/ Ball Andy Messersmith/ Al Oliver

14) Bat/ Ball Chris Chambliss/ Gaylord Perry

15) Bat/ Ball Dennis Eckersley/ Bill Buckner

16) Bat/ Ball Reggie Jackson/ Tug McGraw

17) Bat/ Ball Rollie Fingers/ George Foster

18) Bat/ Ball Steve Carlton/ Reggie Smith

19) Bat/ Ball Nolan Ryan/ Ron Cey


Unidentified Packaging
Johnny Bench
Bobby Bonds
Rod Carew
Don Gullett
Al Hrabosky
Randy Jones
Ed Kranepool
Bake McBride
Hal McRae
Joe Morgan
Jim Palmer
Steve Rogers
Rusty Stab
Carl Yastrzemski

sschauer513

Here's a possible variation for you seems discs were on the display box also.

Here's a Picture from Heritage Auction September 26, 2004 their description

CARL YASTRZEMSKI SIGNED WIFFLE BAT AND WIFFLE BALLS. How much fun the Wiffle games were... and this bat and unused box of 1 dozen Wiffle balls in their original boxes bring back those memories. The wiffle bat is personally signed by Carl Yastrzemski and his boxed ball is one of the dozen wiffle balls inside with Carl's likeness on the cover of the carton also. This is the junior size wiffle ball set. The box is in overall excellent condition with some foxing and just a little bend on the die cut circle. Yaz, Steve Garvey, Mark Fidrych, Lou Brock and Thurman Munson likenesses on the carton.

darkhorse9

I'm not counting the display boxes in the checklist because they are blank backed and clearly meant for display and not part of the set. There are a couple of different versions of the display boxes.

So, I'm still looking to place the missing 14

divecchia

<< <i>I'm not counting the display boxes in the checklist because they are blank backed and clearly meant for display and not part of the set. There are a couple of different versions of the display boxes.

So, I'm still looking to place the missing 14 >>



The Bat/Ball combo are blank back also. At least the Ryan/Cey one that I have is. So I'm not sure if those would count either.

Donato

darkhorse9

<< <i>

The Bat/Ball combo are blank back also. At least the Ryan/Cey one that I have is. So I'm not sure if those would count either.

Donato >>




A-ha! This does make it more interesting. Just what was MSA intending here? I still hold that the display boxes should not be part of the checklist since display boxes are not intended for public sale. Therefore they wuld hold a different status. The bat/ball sleeves are part of the purchased product so they would have to fit in, wouldn't they?

But that does make the bat/ball sleeves now suspect.

sschauer513

<< <i>

<< <i>

The Bat/Ball combo are blank back also. At least the Ryan/Cey one that I have is. So I'm not sure if those would count either.

Donato >>




A-ha! This does make it more interesting. Just what was MSA intending here? I still hold that the display boxes should not be part of the checklist since display boxes are not intended for public sale. Therefore they would hold a different status. The bat/ball sleeves are part of the purchased product so they would have to fit in, wouldn't they?

But that does make the bat/ball sleeves now suspect. >>



I'd still consider the Bat/Ball combo part of the set that's the only way the 88 number is ever going to work. The display boxes are just a interesting sidenote but would be interested to see or hear who's on the other packaging as in the picture they are different color than the regular and a solid line not dashed. But I agree never meant to be sold so not part of the official set. But the Bats were meant to be sold so they should be included but noted as blank backed and should be impossible to find unfolded unless it comes off a uncut sheet. Wonder how PSA would grade one as the creases are built into them?

divecchia

<< <i>Wonder how PSA would grade one as the creases are built into them? >>



I don't know for sure, but if I had to guess, I would think they would downgrade them for the folds as they do for the 1973 Candy Lids which came folded.

Donato

darkhorse9

<< <i> The display boxes are just a interesting sidenote but would be interested to see or hear who's on the other packaging as in the picture they are different color than the regular and a solid line not dashed. >>




I have eight blank back cards. They are different than the ones pictured on the box above so I suspect there are several variations. Mine are:

Box 1
Rod Carew
Jim Palmer
Mike Schmidt
Frank Tanana

Box 2
Greg Luzinski
Joe Morgan
Jim Rice
Tom Seaver

I cut them all from the original boxes years ago. None of mine have the crease so I suspect I dismissed those cards from my collection at the time. That would mean there were five on each display box as well.

The display box cards all have yellow panels and much poorer quality photos of the players. Of course they also have brown blank backs.

sschauer513

This auction popped up on eBay wiffle looks interesting in the fact has the 78 display box which shows collect all 88 but the boxes from 77 with discs.

Also this auction is interesting I asked them if the box has any other players but they haven't responded seems odd if it did they wouldn't mention it.

Any insight on these 2 oddities?

divecchia

Link to first auction.

Link to second auction.

Donato

mass

Hello
I just purchased what I was told is
a 1977 wiffle box.
Outside reads:Garland, Perez, Tanana
Inside reads: Rice & Hisle
I collect Jim Rice cards.
I'm trying to figure out if this is actually 1977.
The discs read 1976.
I have the 1976 Wiffle Disc (Jim Rice) It has yellow borders and reads 1976.
The box I just purchased (Jim Rice has pink borders and reads 1976).
Please let me know what you think.
Also, I have seen checklists that state there is a 1978 Jim Rice wiffle Ball disc.
I apprecaite any info you have.
I did not go through this entire thread yet.
Some of you may have already answered my questions.
Thanks
Chris M

sschauer513

Here's a contribution to the checklist Ebay Auction

Bat box with Joe Morgan and Hal McRae

divecchia

<< <i>Here's a contribution to the checklist Ebay Auction

Bat box with Joe Morgan and Hal McRae

>>



Stephen...

Great catch on that auction. There is two more that are now identified as coming with the bat and ball.

Thanks...Donato

sschauer513

Here's one more addition Ebay Auction

Unused Bench / Palmer Bat and Ball Combo