The 1933 Big League Chew baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the early 20th century. Issued as a promotional item by the Big League Chew bubble gum company, the 1933 set is highly sought after by collectors due to its rarity, historical significance, and the star power of many of the players featured in the set.
Big League Chew was one of the earliest companies to include baseball cards as an incentive to purchase their gum product. Prior to 1933, most baseball cards were issued by tobacco companies as premiums in cigarette packs. Seeing the popularity of these early tobacco issues, the makers of Big League Chew decided to follow suit and produce their own baseball card set to help boost gum sales.
The 1933 Big League Chew set contains a total of 96 cards featuring players from the American and National Leagues. Some of the biggest stars of the day that are featured include Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Lou Gehrig, and Dizzy Dean. Each card measures approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches and features a black and white player photo with stats and career highlights on the reverse.
What makes the 1933 Big League Chew set so rare and valuable is the extremely low print run compared to other issues from that time period. It’s estimated that only around 500 complete sets were ever produced by the gum company. Very few of those sets have survived intact until today due to the fragile nature of the thin cardboard used and the likelihood of cards being damaged from heavy use over the decades.
Another factor that has driven collector demand is the tremendous star power featured in the set. Being from 1933, the cards capture many future Hall of Famers and all-time greats at the peak of their careers or just before. Babe Ruth had just led the AL in home runs in 1932 with 41 while Lou Gehrig was coming off a season where he hit .349 with 49 home runs and 168 RBI’s. Lefty Grove was in his prime with the A’s and Jimmie Foxx was about to have three straight 50+ home run seasons from 1932-1934.
In terms of rarity and condition, high grade 1933 Big League Chew cards are comparable to the most valuable early tobacco issues in the hobby like the 1909-11 T206 set. A PSA/DNA EX-MT 5 Babe Ruth from the 1933 set recently sold at auction for over $250,000. Other star cards in top condition can fetch five figures as well. Even poorly centered or damaged examples still trade hands for thousands due to their amazing history and place in the development of modern baseball memorabilia collecting.
For collectors looking to assemble this iconic set, it’s an extremely challenging and expensive endeavor. Outside of the mega-rich, very few hobbyists will ever own a complete near-mint 1933 Big League Chew collection. Acquiring even a single high grade card of a favorite player is a major trophy piece for any vintage baseball card enthusiast. Examples can be found mixed in with other vintage lots on eBay or through specialty dealers that deal in ultra-high-end material.
In the decades since they were issued as a promotional item by Big League Chew, the 1933 baseball cards have taken on a legendary status. They were some of the first gum/candy-related issues ever made and captured the sport’s biggest names during one of its most exciting eras. For condition, rarity, and the historical players featured, the 1933 set remains one of the crown jewels of early 20th century sports card production nearly 90 years later. While a complete collection may be out of reach for most, owning even a single card is a true highlight for any baseball memorabilia or card collecting collection.
