Another Wacky Question: Cub Heads

Sethro

How come the Cubs team cards from 1976 to 1981 only show the Cubs' heads instead of a team portrait?

If anyone knows this it would answer a question I have had for about 30 years.

mcolney1

I always wondered that too, but I have no explanation.

thenavarro

Perhaps Topps' photographer those years, in charge of the Chicago area, could only be present and take pictures during a particular time of the day, and since all Cubs home games used to be played during the day, perhaps during this time, then he/she could not get a full team picture because they were always playing. Wouldn't account for off days though

I always liked getting the Cubs team cards as a kid because of the different look from the others. Great question you posed.


Mike

SDSportsFan

Normally, each team would have a team photo taken late each season, to give out to season ticket holders, players, media, etc.....

Topps used these photos the following year for the team photo cards.

I believe the reason for the Cubs cards being composed of "disembodied heads", is due to them being I believe, the only team that didn't have a team photo taken the preceding season.

Steve

Sethro

If the Cubs didn't have a team picture sent out the year before, why not take a team portrait in Spring Training? All the pictures on cards back them seem to be taken in Spring Training; Would it have been that difficult to get the team together for a pic? Maybe. I don't know.

I do like those cards myself, though. Always liked getting them, and I recently went through a cello box from 1981 and got the Cubs team card and it took me back!

Any other theories?

HeritageAddict

At the time the Cubs could not afford actual players so they had a Hollywood mask maker make masks for them, as they had not picked out their players from the local softball beer leagues yet and/or had not decided who would wear each mask an actual team photo was not available at the time the photographs were taken.

itzagoner

did anyone notice the massive beer bellies of these former Cubs?

of course not. they weren't depicted on the team cards, because some of us may have had a tough time telling the players from the coaches.

mccardguy1

The Cubs would sell these types of team photos at Wrigley every year and every year I would buy one when I was a kid. I thought it was pretty cool to see these team photos on cards each year. The only thing I could think of was that Topps would get the photos from the teams and the Cubs would send a copy of these souvenir photos instead of the real deal.

mlbfan2

Oddly, in the 1975 Topps set, the Cubs team card was a normal team photo, but the White Sox team card had the floating heads!

bman90278

<< <i>At the time the Cubs could not afford actual players so they had a Hollywood mask maker make masks for them, as they had not picked out their players from the local softball beer leagues yet and/or had not decided who would wear each mask an actual team photo was not available at the time the photographs were taken. >>



I like that reply, I will go a step farther.

I read recently where Topps had stated the Cubs teams weren't good enough to have their entire bodies on the team picture.

I'm sorry Cubs fans, I couldn't resist.

brian

KatsCards

<< <i>

<< <i>At the time the Cubs could not afford actual players so they had a Hollywood mask maker make masks for them, as they had not picked out their players from the local softball beer leagues yet and/or had not decided who would wear each mask an actual team photo was not available at the time the photographs were taken. >>



I like that reply, I will go a step farther.

I read recently where Topps had stated the Cubs teams weren't good enough to have their entire bodies on the team picture.

I'm sorry Cubs fans, I couldn't resist.

brian >>



Now that theory could give some credence to the KC Royals team card from 2007 (?)--No team on it whatsoever!