‘77 Burger King Lou Pinella card

[MrMet]

So I just finished the book, The Bronx Zoo, by Sparky Lyle and Peter Golenbock, and they dropped this interesting piece of baseball card knowledge. Apparently, back then, Pinella was Steinbrenner’s sons (and he doesn’t say which one) idol. “...Burger King put out a set of baseball cards with the pictures of the Yankees players on them, they forgot to include Pinella, and George called them up, reamed their a$$, and made them print a special Pinella card to add to the set.”

@dano7, do you have one?

 

[tkd7]

 

[nevermore]

I've heard good things about the book. Never got around to reading it. Have you seen the Bronx is Burning on ESPN?

Yes, I only came to know of the Piniella last year or so. I picked up one soon after, just need to find the rest of the Burger King set now.

I previously thought the Burger King cards were identical to the Topps releases but there are variations aside from numbering. This article mentions the Piniella too, but I didn't know the back story behind why it was added.

1977 Burger King Yankees Cards Kicked Off Four-Year Promotion

The 1977 Topps Burger King Yankees baseball card set led to an expanded promotion in future years. It included updated photos... and a late-season addition.

www.sportscollectorsdaily.com

tkd7 - nice card! Mine's is way off center.

 

[mrmopar]

I read it years ago, probably when I was in middle school. Lots of funny stuff in there. I still clearly recall the story about Sparky Lyle and the birthday cake!

 

[tkd7]

It was nice to get a real Reggie Jackson card in the BK set, not the airbrush version from the regular set.

 

[MrMet]

I've heard good things about the book. Never got around to reading it. Have you seen the Bronx is Burning on ESPN?

Yes, I only came to know of the Piniella last year or so. I picked up one soon after, just need to find the rest of the Burger King set now.

I previously thought the Burger King cards were identical to the Topps releases but there are variations aside from numbering. This article mentions the Piniella too, but I didn't know the back story behind why it was added.

1977 Burger King Yankees Cards Kicked Off Four-Year Promotion

The 1977 Topps Burger King Yankees baseball card set led to an expanded promotion in future years. It included updated photos... and a late-season addition.

www.sportscollectorsdaily.com

tkd7 - nice card! Mine's is way off center.

The book was good, very enjoyable, if you don’t mind a lot of bitching. Never seen the Bronx is Burning tho.

another interesting story I found is that Lyle used to help his dad with roofing when he was younger. His dad started getting upset because he kept going down for water breaks and was losing over an hour a day going up and down. His dad’s solution...start chewing tobacco. Different times man...

 

[dano7]

So I just finished the book, The Bronx Zoo, by Sparky Lyle and Peter Golenbock, and they dropped this interesting piece of baseball card knowledge. Apparently, back then, Pinella was Steinbrenner’s sons (and he doesn’t say which one) idol. “...Burger King put out a set of baseball cards with the pictures of the Yankees players on them, they forgot to include Pinella, and George called them up, reamed their a$$, and made them print a special Pinella card to add to the set.”

@dano7, do you have one?

I will have to check later today and get back to you.....probably a card I need!!!

 

[dano7]

Don't EVEN have the '77 BK set........now I have to spend money!!!

 

[MrMet]

Don't EVEN have the '77 BK set........now I have to spend money!!!

Haha, sorry buddy, thought you’d enjoy the background to the story tho