Before Pacific there was a 1975 Phoenix Giants Team Set

When I think about Pacific cards I typically think about the Ken Griffey Jr. candy bar from 1989, Nolan Ryan sets from the early 1990's, or a variety of innovative, yet under appreciated brands from the mid to late 1990's. 

Mike Cramer was responsible for the Pacific brand and he just wrote a book about his life and his company, Pacific. The book is called Cramer's Choice. It's available on Amazon. You can buy it by clicking here. (This is an affiliate link, so if you click and buy it, I will get a small commission)

I've listened to several podcasts where they have interviewed Cramer and have been fascinated by his story. One of the things that he shared and it is discussed in the book is the first set of cards he ever produced.

It was a 1975 minor league team set for the Phoenix Giants. Cramer lived in Phoenix at the time and he approached the team and created a set sponsored by Circle K; the gas station and convince store. It's a 26 cards set that is pretty basic by today's standards, but it got Cramer's foot in the door and it also allowed him to advertise a collectors club here in Arizona that he started as he produced a card of himself with information about the Arizona Sports Collectors Association (ASCA).

After hearing about the set, I went on eBay and picked up a set for under $10 shipped.

Here's a look at the set, including the one and only card ever made of Michael Cramer.

Here is the back of the Manager card, former All-Star, Rocky Bridges.

This is the back of one of the player cards. I picked Greg Minton because he had a lengthy MLB career.

Here is the back of the Cramer card.

I need to look into the ASCA and see if it still exists in any form or fashion. Have you ever been a part of a collecting club?