While Goudey was the undisputed king of 1930s baseball gum cards, numerous other sets popped up throughout the decade. One of those was the 1933 George C. Miller Candy set and the set contains a rarity that is not known to all collectors. The player in question was Paul 'Ivy' Andrews and one variation of the card in particular is a difficult find. Let's take a closer look at … [Read more...]
Behind the Exhibits: The Multi-Player Cards (Part II)
Exhibit cards are among the more affordable pre-war cards that can be had. While it's true that there are some expensive ones, by comparison, they can often be nice ways to score some bargains of big name players. In the first part of a three-part series, we took a look at the earliest Exhibit cards that were issued. Next up, we'll review the popular 4-on-1 Exhibits. The … [Read more...]
Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones Headline the 1932 Abdulla Sports Records Set
There were a multitude of international sports card tobacco sets issued in the pre-War era. Many of those sets are multi-sport releases featuring all sorts of athletes from around the globe. One of the tougher such issues is the 1932 Abdulla Sport Records set. About the 1932 Abdulla Sport Records Set This German tobacco card issue was released in 1932 by … [Read more...]
Kings Among Kings: The Top 10 Cards From the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Set
When it comes to pre-war multi-sport sets, the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings set is often heralded as the best. The set boasts all kinds of legendary figures but is also known for producing what are often viewed as the first true professional basketball cards. Here's my look at what I consider to be the top ten cards in the set. 10. Howie Morenz A handful of hockey cards are … [Read more...]
Bargains Galore are Found in the 1938 Our National Game Pin Set
With prices on the rise for pre-war sports cards and memorabilia, collectors are always on the lookout for bargains. One of the better buys from that era is found in a unique 1930s set of baseball pins. Here's a closer look at the 1938 Our National Game pins. About the 1938 Our National Game Pins Issued in or around 1938, this interesting set is one of the better bargains … [Read more...]
Sample Cards Spread the Word About the Inaugural 1939 Play Ball Set
While Goudey dominated the baseball card landscape in the 1930s, a new competitor emerged at the end of the decade. Gum, Inc. produced its popular pre-war gum cards from 1939 through 1941. While their run was brief, the cards were extremely important as they were one of the few baseball card sets being produced during World War II. The 1939 set was also significant because, … [Read more...]
1933 Butter Cream Confectionery Set is Different, Scarce
When most collectors think of 1930s baseball cards, thoughts of the popular Goudey sets or others, such as Diamond Stars or DeLong, might come to mind. But the decade also included some very rare sets and one of those is the 1933 Butter Cream Confectionery release. Here's a little more on this unique issue. About the 1933 Butter Cream Confectionery Set In 1933, the Butter … [Read more...]
1935 Detroit Free Press Supplements Put the Detroit Tigers in the News
In the mid 1930s, the Detroit Tigers rode a wave of success in the American League. From 1934 through 1937, the team never finished below second place in the American League and was one of the best teams in all of baseball. That four-year stretch was culminated with successful back to back trips to the World series in 1934 and 1935. In 1934, the Tigers narrowly lost the … [Read more...]
5 Missing Stars from the 1933 DeLong Set
The 1933 DeLong set is one of the more popular issues for pre-war gum card collectors. The 1930s set features a really cool look with mostly black and white pictures of players against colorful backgrounds. If nothing else, they stand apart from other issues because of the aesthetics of the cards. While the Goudey sets were unmistakably king in the 1930s, sets like the 1933 … [Read more...]
Pre-War Cards for $10 or Less? It’s Not as Far-Fetched as it Sounds
Many collectors avoid pre-war cards because of the perceived high costs. While tobacco and caramel cards of stars are often pricey, plenty of bargains are there for the taking. In fact, some of these cards can be bought for as little as $10 or less. Here's a look at some of the more popular affordable pre-war cards that feature real players as opposed to generic … [Read more...]