The 1936 S&S Game baseball card set is one of the most coveted and valuable issues from the early 20th century. Produced by the S&S Chewing Gum Company, the 1936 set marked a turning point in the fledgling hobby of baseball card collecting and remains a highly sought after collection for enthusiasts today.
The 1936 S&S set featured players from the American and National Leagues and was inserted in packs of S&S Gum. Unlike modern baseball cards which focus primarily on photography, the 1936 S&S cards utilized simple line drawings to depict each player. A total of 84 cards were issued, with each card measuring approximately 2 1/4 inches by 1 3/4 inches. The front of each card featured the player’s name and team, along with the S&S Gum logo at the bottom. On the back, each card included the player’s position as well as a brief biography.
While baseball cards had been produced sporadically since the late 1880s, the 1936 S&S issue is largely credited with helping to popularize the hobby of collecting cards and spurring the baseball card industry’s golden age during the post-World War II era. Prior sets from the 1930s were often found mangled and worn in the packs of gum due to the fragile paper stock used. The 1936 S&S cards utilized a thicker and higher quality cardboard that allowed the cards to withstand the rigors of being inserted and chewed with sticks of gum. This helped preserve the images and information featured on the cards at a time when the hobby was just starting to take hold nationwide.
The 1936 S&S set is also notable for featuring some of the biggest stars of that era, including Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Carl Hubbell, and Dizzy Dean. Gehrig’s 1936 S&S card in particular is one of the key rookie cards from the set, as it captures the New York Yankees first baseman early in his legendary career. Other notables included Joe DiMaggio’s first major league card and cards depicting baseball legends Jimmie Foxx and Mel Ott in action. These rookie and early career cards of all-time greats make 1936 S&S some of the most desirable issues for collectors today.
In terms of rarity, the 1936 S&S set had several short prints and scarce players that are notoriously difficult to find in high grade. Cards of Red Ruffing, Earl Averill, and Joe DiMaggio are among the most valuable, often grading out at a PSA/BGS Mint 9 or Gem Mint 10 and demanding five-figure price tags or more. The Lou Gehrig card is also exceptionally rare in top condition given his iconic status in baseball history. Even well-centered, attractive examples of Gehrig in the PSA 7-8 range can sell for thousands.
A complete set of 1936 S&S Game cards in top-graded condition would be worth a small fortune today. While individual cards can reach astronomical sums, most collectors are content to cherry pick desirable short prints and stars to highlight in their collections. The 1936 S&S issue played a pivotal role in sparking baseball card mania and its classic designs, which captured iconic players of the time, remain hugely popular with vintage enthusiasts. The set’s importance, coupled with the rarity of finding cards in high grade after 80+ years, solidifies 1936 S&S as one of the true crown jewels of early 20th century sports collecting.
The 1936 S&S Game baseball card set was a true pioneer issue that helped launch the baseball card hobby. Featuring many future Hall of Famers and stars in their early careers, the set provides a glimpse into baseball’s golden age. While finding individual keys and stars from the 84-card set in top condition is extremely difficult, the historical and aesthetic value of 1936 S&S ensures it will remain one of the most coveted and valuable vintage card issues for dedicated collectors. Its importance in the development of the modern baseball card industry further cements the 1936 S&S set as one of the true icons of early sports card production and collecting.