Bad News Bears - 1977 team set

If you follow this site, it probably won't come as any surprise when I admit I am a big fan of the original Bad News Bears movie. If you have never watched it, you need to find it and watch it from start to finish. The movie is much more than Walter Matthau working with a 10 year old Tatum O'Neal (although I was 10 when it came out, and Tatum was just about the most perfect female I had ever seen). The movie is full of fun, memorable and quotable scenes, a number of time period enhanced politically incorrect situations, and a couple of great lessons for parents and kids. If you have ever been roped into coaching a little league baseball team, the movie will be even more enjoyable. For my money, it is one of the top five best baseball movies ever made.

I was watching the movie (still fun after many dozens of times) on my iPad the other day on a long flight - and I had an idea about making a set of Bad News Bears baseball cards. I decided to use the 1977 Topps template, because the movie was made in 1976. I also searched to see if anyone had already done this, I discovered a couple of Kelly Leak and Amanda Whurlizer cards, but no one (that I could find) made the entire Bears team.

1976 NORTH VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE BEARS (in jersey number order)