Big League Chewing Gum was first introduced in the late 1970s as a novelty product designed to emulate the experience of chewing tobacco like major league baseball players. The gum came packaged in a flexible foil pouch designed to look like a tobacco pouch. To help promote the new gum product, the company included baseball cards in their gum packs that featured photos of current MLB players from that season.
While the gum and packaging were meant as a fun novelty, the inclusion of baseball cards helped Big League Chewing Gum gain mainstream popularity. Collecting sports cards had really taken off in the 1970s following the boom started by the iconic 1969 Topps baseball card set. Kids saw Big League Chewing Gum as an affordable way to build their baseball card collections with current stars while also enjoying a chewing gum novelty.
The first Big League Chewing Gum cards came in the 1978 and 1979 series. These early sets featured simpler designs with a single player photo on a basic cardboard stock card. Stars of the day like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan appeared. While the designs were basic, these early Big League Chewing Gum cards are highly sought after by vintage baseball card collectors today due to their scarcity and status as some of the first ever licensed gum card issues. In near mint condition, a full set of the 1978 cards could sell for over $1,000. Individual key cards like a Reggie Jackson can reach $100 or more.
In the 1980s, Big League Chewing Gum truly hit its stride as the premier licensed baseball card to be found in packs of chewing gum. The sets grew larger each year and featured sharper color photography and more innovative card designs. Stats and career highlights were included on the backs. The gum company also started varying the size and shape of cards between issues, with oddball “traded” size cards and taller rack packs becoming a fun novelty. This helped kept the collecting experience fresh each new season.
One of the most iconic Big League Chewing Gum releases was the 1987 set. Featuring sharp horizontal card designs with a clean red, white, and blue color scheme, the ’87s became one of the most visually appealing gum card releases ever. Rated by collectors as one of the best overall designs, key cards from the ’87 Big League set like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith can reach over $50 today in top condition. A full 1987 set in near mint could be valued around $500-600.
Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, Big League Chewing Gum continued to be a staple in the world of baseball cards. Sets grew to include over 400 cards featuring current players, managers, and even umpires. Parallel “traded” and “rack pack” inserts added to the chase. As the 1990s progressed, the sports card market began to collapse following overproduction in the late 80s. Gum sales also declined. By the mid-90s, Big League Chewing Gum cards were discontinued.
Their legacy and collecting popularity continued to grow. The early sets from the late 70s/early 80s are among the most valuable vintage issues. 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1991 are considered some of the most iconic designs that are highly sought after by collectors. In the modern market, a complete set from these peak Big League years can bring $1,000+ depending on condition. Key rookie cards also retain strong value.
An underrated but iconic Big League Chewing Gum release is the 1992 “Gum Busters” design, one of the final issues. Featuring horizontal “smashed gum” designs, these innovative cards captured the nostalgia of the product and are highly collectible today. Even late 80s/early 90s commons can reach $5-10 each.
While no longer produced, Big League Chewing Gum baseball cards remain a beloved niche in the wider world of sports collecting. Their fun, innovative designs captured the spirit of both baseball cards and chewing gum collectibles. For vintage collectors, a complete Big League Chewing Gum set is a true prize to find in preserved condition. Even in the modern market, key cards and designs continue to retain value as a unique slice of the vintage sports card boom era.
