1977-78 Citgo Boston Celtics Basketball Card Set and Checklist

1977-78 Citgo Boston Celtics Specs

Year: 1977-78

Title: Celtics Citgo

Size: 8-1/2″ x 11″

Number in Set: 17

1977-78 Citgo Boston Celtics Overview

Citgo Gas sponsored this 17-card set. The fronts each feature full-bleed glossy color action picture, other than Kermit Washington, who has a portrait shot, which means he could have been a late addition, and that makes sense since on December 27, 1977, Washington was traded to the Celtics from the Lakers after an infamous fight.

The backs of these large-format photos are packed with information, including player vitals, a career summary, and statistics.

Historical basketball card reference books all share that card 5 (Which I think is the Cowens variation with Havlicek and Rowe) has a chart titled “Celtics vs. NBA Opponents Over the Years” printed on the back. Also, the same references say card 6 (probably the third Cowens variation) has the Celtics’ 1977-78 roster printed on the back. But I haven’t been able to track down a picture of either.

The photos are unnumbered.

1977-78 Citgo Boston Celtics Fred Saunders

1977-78 Citgo Boston Celtics Sales And Possible Distribution Method

I haven’t been able to track down any sales information related to this set, but currently (late November 2023) on eBay a Sidney Wicks card is available for $5, a Fred Saunders for $5, and a lot of Bing/Satcom/Boswell for $20.

Another collector is offering a sealed 4-pack for $49 with Havlicek showing on the front. In the item’s description, the seller shared that he had opened a pack before that had Maxwell showing on the front, but that pack did not include a Havlicek card. However, the included photos are a little confusing or misleading, there is a photo of the sealed 4-pack (front and back pictured below) but he also has a photo of the front and back of a Saunders card, along with one of the Cowens variations and another of Maxwell. Either way, a 4-pack Cello in an envelope seems like a plausible way for these cards to have been distributed.