Happy 50th anniversary to 1975-76 SSPC set (most famous "outlaw"/collector's issue set)

Estil · October 5, 2025 8:04AM

Anyone remember and/or have the 1975-76 SSPC set? It is without a doubt the most famous of all "outlaw" or collector's issue (made without licenses) sets. It's also famous for not having any front design, like 1953 Bowman color. And wait till you hear who wrote the backs of the cards, and was just 16 at the time!

https://baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/SSPC
https://baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/1976_SSPC

BaltimoreYankee · October 5, 2025 12:35PM

I used to have that set. At some point, I pulled all the HOFers and stars and dumped the rest of the set. Later, I sold the group of HOFers that had value but had Greg Luzinski sign this card (the last one I own from the set, I think) at Bull's Barbecue in citizen's Bank Park. A beautiful card and a nice signature!

Ironmanfan · October 5, 2025 1:31PM

I did buy a set perhaps 20-25 years ago, but one of the problems it had were the rumors that it had been re-printed. I love the Luzinski signed card however there were (or are) a few players that refuse to sign their card from the set b/c they weren't compensated.

IMF

BBBrkrr · October 5, 2025 6:55PM

Always loved the photos in that set.

Estil · October 6, 2025 5:49AM

@Ironmanfan said:
I did buy a set perhaps 20-25 years ago, but one of the problems it had were the rumors that it had been re-printed. I love the Luzinski signed card however there were (or are) a few players that refuse to sign their card from the set b/c they weren't compensated.

IMF

I'm surprised there weren't players who refused to get their pic taken for this set. Unless the photographer fibbed and said the licenses were pending or something. And that is indeed why hobby publications back in the day strongly discouraged collecting these outlaw sets (as I like to call them) as, like you said, they could just print up some more whenever they wanted. In theory at least.

BaltimoreYankee · October 6, 2025 8:09AM

@Ironmanfan said:
I love the Luzinski signed card however there were (or are) a few players that refuse to sign their card from the set b/c they weren't compensated.

I didn't know about that. I would have been surprised at the refusal. He signed that card and also a 1975 Topps style archives card that day I went to Citizens Bank Park.

countdouglas · October 7, 2025 3:32AM

I own a complete set of these. My favorite card in the set.
.

Ironmanfan · October 7, 2025 4:54AM

@BaltimoreYankee said:

@Ironmanfan said:
I love the Luzinski signed card however there were (or are) a few players that refuse to sign their card from the set b/c they weren't compensated.

I didn't know about that. I would have been surprised at the refusal. He signed that card and also a 1975 Topps style archives card that day I went to Citizens Bank Park.

>

Luzinski was never part of that list of players

IMF

Ironmanfan · October 7, 2025 5:01AM

IMF

Estil · October 8, 2025 12:23AM

@Ironmanfan said:

IMF

The writing on the other side is your letter you wrote to him right?

Ironmanfan · October 8, 2025 5:32AM

@Estil said:

@Ironmanfan said:

IMF

The writing on the other side is your letter you wrote to him right?

no, this is a photo from another hobby board

IMF

georgebailey2 · October 8, 2025 8:24PM

@Estil said:
And wait till you hear who wrote the backs of the cards, and was just 16 at the time!

>

Crazy!

Ironmanfan · October 9, 2025 7:41AM

@georgebailey2 said:

@Estil said:
And wait till you hear who wrote the backs of the cards, and was just 16 at the time!

>

Crazy!

I believe Olbermann's name appears on the back of the last card of the set

IMF

waxman2745 · October 9, 2025 12:13PM

I always wondered if there were any double printed cards in this set, given that the set contains an "odd" number of cards (630 is not divisible by the typical Topps sheet of 132).

countdouglas · October 9, 2025 12:38PM

@waxman2745 said:
I always wondered if there were any double printed cards in this set, given that the set contains an "odd" number of cards (630 is not divisible by the typical Topps sheet of 132).

I've seen uncut sheets on eBay. They were each printed with 90 cards on them.

waxman2745 · October 9, 2025 1:06PM

@countdouglas said:

@waxman2745 said:
I always wondered if there were any double printed cards in this set, given that the set contains an "odd" number of cards (630 is not divisible by the typical Topps sheet of 132).

I've seen uncut sheets on eBay. They were each printed with 90 cards on them.

Makes perfect sense now. Thank you countdouglas.

Estil · October 10, 2025 9:13AM

@countdouglas said:

@waxman2745 said:
I always wondered if there were any double printed cards in this set, given that the set contains an "odd" number of cards (630 is not divisible by the typical Topps sheet of 132).

I've seen uncut sheets on eBay. They were each printed with 90 cards on them.

Well! I guess an outlaw card set/company is in NO position to be casting stones at anyone who snuck out uncut sheets from the factory!

JoeBanzai · October 11, 2025 8:37PM

Only card in Killebrew Master set showing him in a Royals uniform. 😞

Estil · October 12, 2025 8:13AM

@JoeBanzai said:
Only card in Killebrew Master set showing him in a Royals uniform. 😞

Cody Lambert: No way! You hit more home runs than Mickey Mantle AND Reggie Jackson! And they gave that dude a candy bar! And you having to wait till your FOURTH ballot to get into the HOF when Mickey and Reggie easily got in on the first ballot is totally bogus!

JoeBanzai · October 12, 2025 12:24PM

@Estil said:

@JoeBanzai said:
Only card in Killebrew Master set showing him in a Royals uniform. 😞

Cody Lambert: No way! You hit more home runs than Mickey Mantle AND Reggie Jackson! And they gave that dude a candy bar! And you having to wait till your FOURTH ballot to get into the HOF when Mickey and Reggie easily got in on the first ballot is totally bogus!

I couldn't agree more!

During the 1960's Killebrew hit more home runs than any other player, including the home run king Henry Aaron.

Estil · October 12, 2025 1:41PM

@JoeBanzai said:

During the 1960's Killebrew hit more home runs than any other player, including the home run king Henry Aaron.

Interesting fun fact from Harmon's 1992 Triple Play card: He never hit 50 home runs in a season but did hit 49 taters in a season...twice! (1964 & 1969)

Even more surprising is that Duke Snider didn't get into the HOF until the eleventh ballot!

JoeBanzai · October 12, 2025 6:12PM

@Estil said:

@JoeBanzai said:

During the 1960's Killebrew hit more home runs than any other player, including the home run king Henry Aaron.

Interesting fun fact from Harmon's 1992 Triple Play card: He never hit 50 home runs in a season but did hit 49 taters in a season...twice! (1964 & 1969)

Even more surprising is that Duke Snider didn't get into the HOF until the eleventh ballot!

Yes. I think it took awhile for Dimaggio too.

Another interesting Killebrew fact;
During his prime, when getting 500 or more at bats, he never hit less than 39 HR or drove in less than 96 runs.

If healthy, he NEVER had a bad year.

I can do this all day. 😉

gonzer · October 13, 2025 4:20AM

There is also a controversial Ryan/Hunter card where Nolan's name is misspelled 'NOLAND'. Not all sets have it.

Estil · October 13, 2025 8:31AM

@gonzer said:
There is also a controversial Ryan/Hunter card where Nolan's name is misspelled 'NOLAND'. Not all sets have it.

You mean controversial as in also unlicensed or for a different reason?

Estil · October 13, 2025 8:32AM

@JoeBanzai said:

Yes. I think it took awhile for Dimaggio too.

I don't think they exactly had the modern five year rule though. As a matter of fact, after 1936's "Original Five", no one else got in "on the first ballot" (as we know the term today) until 1962 with Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson!

gonzer · October 13, 2025 8:53AM

@Estil said:

@gonzer said:
There is also a controversial Ryan/Hunter card where Nolan's name is misspelled 'NOLAND'. Not all sets have it.

You mean controversial as in also unlicensed or for a different reason?

Hard to say. I have an original set purchased back in the 80's where the card is spelled correctly. In the early 90's Ryan collectors became aware of sets containing the error card. How it came to be is unknown. Donato may have some insight as he has a much broader database.

Happy 50th anniversary to 1975-76 SSPC set (most famous "outlaw"/collector's issue set)

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