Tag Archives: caramel

AMERICAN CARAMEL BASEBALL CARDS

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The late 19th century was the golden age of caramel candy in America. Popular caramel brands like Oh Henry! and Baby Ruth bars became staples in corner stores and general stores across the country. As these caramel brands grew in popularity, they began experimenting with creative marketing strategies to attract new customers. One such strategy involved including small collectible cards inside caramel packages featuring famous baseball players.

The Cracker Jack company is generally credited with producing the first American caramel candy with enclosed baseball cards in the 1890s. Cracker Jack’s caramel-coated popcorn was already a popular snack, but including small cardboard cards with images of baseball stars helped generate even more interest. Early Cracker Jack cards usually featured individual player portraits with basic stats or facts printed on the back. Collecting full sets of cards became a fun pastime for many young candy lovers.

Other major caramel brands soon followed Cracker Jack’s lead. The American Caramel Company began packaging cards with Oh Henry! bars in 1910, featuring colorful illustrated images on thicker stock paper. Around the same time, the Curtiss Candy Company launched its famous Baby Ruth candy bar and included baseball cards as a promotional incentive. Both Oh Henry! and Baby Ruth cards tended to have more elaborate designs compared to simpler Cracker Jack cards of the era.

The golden age of caramel baseball cards lasted from the 1890s through the 1920s. During this period, caramel brands experimented with different card designs, sizes, and production methods. Some even featured full-color lithographed cards printed on high quality card stock. Players represented on the cards ranged from contemporary major leaguers to past legends of the game. Collecting full sets became a popular hobby for many American children, especially among boys.

In the 1920s, the growing popularity of bubble gum led many candy companies to switch from caramels to gum as their primary product. Brands like Cracker Jack and Oh Henry transitioned to including baseball cards in gum packs instead of caramels. Meanwhile, the rise of dedicated sport card companies like American Caramel Company and Goudey Gum Company in the 1930s signaled the end of caramels as the primary baseball card distribution method.

Despite their short lifespan, early 20th century caramel baseball cards played an important role in the development of modern sports collecting. They helped introduce baseball card collecting to generations of American youth during baseball’s golden age. Many early caramel cards from Cracker Jack, Oh Henry, and Baby Ruth are now highly sought after by vintage baseball memorabilia collectors. Prices for some of the rarest examples from the 1890s and early 1900s can exceed $10,000 today.

While caramels themselves are no longer the vehicle for baseball cards, their legacy lives on. The tradition of including sports cards in snacks and confections to market to young fans was pioneered by brands like Cracker Jack. Many modern sports card companies still take inspiration from the colorful illustrated designs of early 20th century caramel issues. The caramel baseball card era helped establish card collecting as a popular American pastime that still thrives over a century later. Though their run was brief, caramel cards played an outsized role in the rich history of baseball memorabilia and our national pastime.

1922 AMERICAN CARAMEL BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1922 American Caramel baseball card collection is among the most storied and economically significant sports card sets ever produced. Issued nearly 100 years ago, these small trading cards embedded in caramel wrappers helped kickstart modern sports collecting as a hobby.

Printed in 1922 by the defunct American Caramel Company, the cards featured images of major league baseball players on the front and short biographies on the back. While seemingly mundane at the time, these cards would later take on outsized cultural and financial importance. Only a fraction of the original printing survives today in collectible condition, making individual 1922 cards tremendously valuable to fans and investors.

Some key context – the early 1920s was a pivotal moment in the evolution of modern baseball. The sport’s popularity had exploded in the prior decade following the end of World War I. Major league attendance figures doubled between 1910-1920 as baseball truly embedded itself at the heart of American popular culture. Sports card manufacturers like American Caramel spotted an opportunity to capitalize on this newfound fandom.

Their 1922 set included 540 total cards issued in series spanning both the American and National Leagues at the time. Roughly 50 cards featured non-playing personalities like league presidents and commissioners as well. Players represented included future Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson still in their prime. The cards were randomly inserted one per pack into sticks of caramel sold primarily in candy stores across the US and Canada.

Unlike earlier tobacco card inserts which usually numbered in the thousands, historians estimate American Caramel’s print run for the 1922 baseball cards was astronomical – likely somewhere in the tens if not hundreds of millions. Only a tiny fraction survived the ensuing decades intact due to the fragile and perishable nature of their packaging. The caramel would quickly go stale after purchase while the moisture proved problematic for long-term card storage and preservation.

As such, unopened examples in pristine Near Mint condition have become among the most coveted items in the modern collectibles market. In 2007, a single Babe Ruth card from the set sold at auction for over $275,000, setting records that still stand. Other star players routinely fetch five and six figures as well. Even more common players can sell for thousands due to the set’s sheer historical significance and limited surviving population.

Grading and authentication has also played a major role in the value of 1922 cards. Services like PSA and SGC meticulously examine each available card for creases, stains or other flaws indicative of the nearly century-long journey from candy package to today’s display case. The tiniest imperfections can dent an card’s price substantially. Receiving the highest available grade of PSA GEM MT 10 is practically unheard of for cards of this age and easily adds six zeroes to the bottom line.

While the vast majority perished untold decades ago, those 1922 American Caramel cards that do remain continue to fascinate collectors with their connection to the early growth of baseball’s popularity in America. Nearly every fan and investor dreams of discovering a pristine example still buried in an old attic, promising an instant seven-figure payday. Their limited availability only enhances the romance surrounding them as the initial kernel from which today’s multibillion-dollar trading card industry blossomed in astonishing fashion. Unlikely heroes 100 years later, this inexpensive lark from a candy company are now part of the national sports memorabilia fabric.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 CARAMEL

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The 1909 T206 Caramel baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the entire history of baseball cards. Issued by the American Caramel Company as a promotional insert in their caramel products, the 1909 T206 set is highly sought after by collectors due to its historic significance as well as the impressive roster of future Hall of Famers that are featured. With the set now over 110 years old, finding high quality examples in top grades is extremely difficult. As a result, the prices that 1909 T206 cards command at auction continue to rise significantly year over year.

The 1909 T206 set consists of 524 total cards issued over multiple series. The most common players can be found in the 50-100 range while true “common” examples are considered to be anything under $500 in Near Mint condition. Even those more affordable players spike dramatically in higher grades. The true stars and highlights of the set are the legendary players that have stood the test of time such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, and Walter Johnson among many others. In top grades of NM-MT 8 or above, these elite T206 cards can sell for hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars.

One of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold is the famed “Wagner” card, featuring Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner. Considered the most rare and desirable card in the entire T206 set, the Wagner has consistently set record prices at auction. In 2007, one example sold for $2.8 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a single baseball card. Other examples have sold for over $1 million as well. The rarity and condition of the Wagner make it the undisputed king of the entire set as only 50-200 are believed to exist today.

Another hugely valuable card is the 1909 T206 Ty Cobb. As one of the first true superstars of the game alongside Wagner, Cobb’s aggressive playing style made him a fan favorite. High grade Cobb examples in the PSA 8-10 range can sell for $150,000-$300,000. The 1909 T206 Walter Johnson is also an incredibly rare HOFer, with PSA 8s bringing $100,000+. Cy Young, considered the greatest pitcher of the early 20th century, can reach $50,000+ in top condition as well.

Moving beyond the true elite, there are also many other Hall of Famers and notables that make the 1909 T206 set highly collectible. Cards featuring Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie, Ed Walsh, and Christy Mathewson are all worth five figures or more when professionally graded and preserved in high grades of NM-MT 8 or above. Even more affordable though still valuable are cards like Sherry Magee, Jack Chesbro, and Doc White which can be acquired for $1,000-$5,000 in top condition.

For collectors looking to start exploring the 1909 T206 set at affordable price points, there are also many options still available in lower grades. Most common players that appear in the 50-100 range like Roger Bresnahan and Heinie Zimmerman can be found for $100-500 in Poor-Good grades. Condition sensitive stars like Cobb, Mathewson, and Johnson start to become accessible again in the $1,000-$3,000 range in grades of Good-VG.

The 1909 T206 set remains one of the most iconic issues in the entire hobby due to the star power and historical significance of the players featured. Even after over 110 years, the condition of the surviving examples continues to drive prices to new heights. For collectors, acquiring any card from this hallowed set is a true highlight and the high grades of the most valuable names will remain the domain of only the most serious of vintage enthusiasts. As one of the first widely distributed sets, the 1909 T206 Caramel cards started the baseball card collecting phenomenon that still thrives today.

AMERICAN CARAMEL COMPANY BASEBALL CARDS

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The American Caramel Company was a confectionery manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that produced caramels and other candies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to their candy business, American Caramel Company had a brief but notable side venture into producing collectible baseball cards from around 1909 to 1911.

During the early 1900s, inserting trading cards into candy products was a popular marketing gimmick used by several candy makers to help sell their goods to children. American Caramel saw this as an opportunity to promote both their candy and America’s pastime of baseball. They began including single baseball cards randomly packed inside their caramel and other candy boxes, with the cards depicting photos and stats of popular major league players from that era.

It’s estimated that American Caramel Company inserted around 2,500 different baseball cards spanning the 1909-1911 seasons into their candy products. The cards featured many of the game’s biggest stars at the time like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Honus Wagner. What makes the American Caramel cards particularly notable is they represent some of the earliest examples of modern-style baseball cards with individual player photos on them, as opposed to team cards which were more common in the 19th century.

While the exact printing process is unknown, it’s believed American Caramel had the cards lithographed in color, most featuring vibrant hues of blue, red, yellow and green. The fronts of the cards depicted a central player photo surrounded by borders of different designs. Stat lines with the player’s team, position, batting average and other stats were printed on the backs. Gum company/tobacco brands had begun inserting baseball cards as incentives a few years prior, but the American Caramel issues were among the first baseball cards inserted by a candy company.

Despite their relatively short run of only a couple seasons, the American Caramel baseball cards have become quite coveted by collectors today due to their rarity, historical significance as early individual player cards, and the high-quality color lithographs used. Only a small fraction of the estimated 2,500 different cards printed are known to still even exist in collectors’ hands today, with many having surely been discarded or destroyed over the past century since their original distribution. Their scarcity has made high-grade specimens of stars like Wagner, Cobb and Johnson among the most valuable baseball cards in the hobby.

In the years since they were included in candy boxes, the American Caramel Company baseball cards have passed through many hands and have been dispersed across the country. Only occasional finds of pristine, previously undiscovered examples still turn up in attics, basements or old collections today. Serious collectors continue searching estate sales and antique stores hoping for a chance find of these elusive early 20th century issues. Grading and authentication services also remain vigilant for any American Caramel cards that may surface after years out of the public view.

While short-lived as a baseball card producer, the American Caramel Company left an indelible mark on the collecting world. Their beautifully crafted lithographed issues helped pioneer the modern baseball card format focused on individual players and their stats. For their historical significance alone, the American Caramel cards remain highly regarded over a century after their small production run. Only a small fraction are known to have survived to the present, making each newly discovered mint example an exciting find for the hobby. The allure of these early 20th century candy store baseball cards continues undiminished for dedicated collectors seeking a connection to the earliest days of the sport.

1921 AMERICAN CARAMEL BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1921 American Caramel company baseball card insert is one of the rarest and most sought after collectibles in the sports card industry. Nestled inside small caramel candy packs sold across the United States in 1921, these crudely-printed cardboard inserts featured individual photos of major league baseball players and became one of the first mainstream baseball card releases in modern history. Only a small number have survived to the present day in collectible condition, making them highly valuable among vintage card collectors.

The American Caramel Company was founded in Ohio in 1911 and grew to become one of the largest caramel candy makers in America during the early 20th century. In 1921, company executives came up with the innovative idea of including small cardboard picture cards of famous baseball players inside their popular Bull’s Eye Flat Caramels candy packs. Each pack contained 5-10 pieces of caramel wrapped in colorful printed foil and one card tucked semi-randomly inside displaying a photo and sometimes basic stats of a big league star.

It’s estimated the company printed around 5,000 total examples featuring over 50 different players spanning both the American and National Leagues. Some of the biggest names included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Rogers Hornsby. The photos used were simple headshots taken from the players’ regular baseball studio portrait sessions, with basic text below identifying their team and position. Printing quality was low due to mass production technology of the time period.

Many factors contributed to the scarcity and high value of the 1921 American Caramel cards today. First, they were inserts added as a novelty promotion with no collector base existing at the time. Kids in the 1920s likely ate the candy and discarded the cards. Survivability was low as they were made of thin cardboard and subjected to moisture and damage over 100 years. Second, the Great Depression devastated the candy industry and the American Caramel Company itself went out of business in 1922 before they could issue follow-up series.

In the following decades of the 1900s, the hobby of sports card collecting grew enormously with the advent of modern glossy cardboard issues from Topps, Fleer, and others in the 1950s. Collectors began searching estate sales and antique shops for earlier specimens, discovering the American Caramel baseball cards in occasionally in pristine preserved condition enclosed in candy packs from 1921. Grading services like PSA and SGC began certifying their authenticity and high grades further amplified values.

Today a PSA Gem Mint 10 graded example of Babe Ruth’s 1921 American Caramel card is valued at over $250,000 US dollars, making it one of the most elite and expensive vintage sports cards in the world. Even poorly graded but authentic specimens still command prices in the thousands. The extreme scarcity combined with historical significance as some of the earliest modern baseball cards ever produced have turned these nostalgic candy inserts into true trophies for dedicated old-time collection hobbyists. Though initial print runs were high by antique standards, less than 200 are accounted for today in collections, cemeteries, and institutions after a century of surviving the ravages of time. Coins and stamps are more plentiful from this same era. The lasting cultural impact and prestige associated with starring players like Ruth have insured the 1921 American Caramel baseball cards a prime placement in the record books of Americana collectibles.

Tucked away in caramel candy over a century ago was the humble beginning of the booming modern sports memorabilia business. Against all odds, a small percentage of these fragile cardboard promotions from a bygone company have endured to represent the first stirrings of what is now a multi-billion dollar worldwide industry. Their survival is a testament to both craftsmanship of the early 20th century print trade and also perseverance of devoted collectors who sought to preserve artifacts of baseball’s earliest golden era. Even after 100 years, the allure of names like Babe Ruth immortalized on these rare cards continues to captivate both casual fans and serious investors alike.

1932 US CARAMEL BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1932 US Caramel baseball cards are one of the rarest and most sought after sets in the history of baseball cards. Produced by the Ott-Litho Company in Baltimore, Maryland and inserted into caramel packs sold mainly in Baltimore and Washington D.C., the 1932 set only featured 67 total players. Due to the limited distribution area and the fact many of the cards were destroyed by the sticky caramel, very few of the original cards have survived to the present day. Only two complete sets are known still intact today.

The Ott-Litho Company was founded in 1890 and primarily produced lithographed labels, wrappers, boxes, and other packaging materials. In the early 1930s, they began inserting small lithographed baseball cards into their caramel packs as a promotional item to help boost sales. The 1932 set featured 67 players, including legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Al Simmons on the front. The cards were approximately 2 1/4 inches by 1 3/4 inches in size, printed lithographically, and contained no statistics or personal information on the back. Given the time period, all the players featured were stars of the previous decade of the 1920s.

While the exact print run is unknown, experts believe only a couple hundred sets may have been produced at most. The limited distribution to the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area meant few people outside that region ever had a chance encounter one. The cards’ small size and flimsy material meant they were prone to damage from the sticky caramel. Most people at the time likely didn’t place value on such a minor promotion insert and the vast majority were destroyed. Surviving high grade copies from the set are exceedingly rare today.

By the late 1930s, the demand for baseball cards had grown into a large nationwide market. Topps Chewing Gum and Goudey Gum Company led the way in modern mass produced baseball card sets inserted into bubblegum. The Ott-Litho 1932 caramel issue would remain relatively obscure for decades. It wasn’t until the 1950s–1960s that serious adult collectors began searching through oldattics, basements and shops trying to piece together early 20th century tobacco, candy, etc. baseball card sets.

Two complete sets of the 1932 Ott-Litho caramels were discovered intact in the 1950s. One set changed hands a few times before landing in the collection of Texas oilman and legendary card collector Ray Nemec in the 1960s. The other set was found sealed in the original manila storage envelope at a Baltimore flea market in the 1970s. From there it entered the collection of Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. Both sets would go on to set record prices when sold at auction decades later.

In recent decades, the 1932 set has taken on mythical proportions due its extreme rarity and historical significance. In addition to the two complete sets, only about 25-30 loose Near Mint cards are known today according to the latest population report. The set has been the jewel of many great collections and broken several individual price records at auction over the years. A mint Babe Ruth from the set sold for $179,000 in 1996. In recent memory, a Near Mint Lou Gehrig traded hands for over $400,000 in 2016.

Today, a complete 1932 Ott-Litho Caramel baseball card set in top condition would be valued well over $1 million according to industry insiders. Single cards in unsurpassed Mint condition could potentially achieve seven figure valuations as well. While never the most visually impressive set design, its charm lies in the allure of being the earliest known baseball card insert promotion. Scarcity and history have elevated the 1932 issue to the pinnacle of rarity and desirability among collectors today. Nearly 90 years later, these flimsy lithographed cards still fascinate with their profound link to the early 20th century national pastime.

PHILADELPHIA CARAMEL BASEBALL CARDS

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Philadelphia Caramel was a brand of caramel candy manufactured by the James O. McKinney & Company in Philadelphia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company is most famous for including baseball trading cards in some of its caramel packs from 1909 to 1911. These early baseball cards helped popularize the sport and marked a collectible craze that continues to this day.

The McKinney Company produced a wide variety of caramels from their factory founded in Philadelphia in 1890. They became one of the leading caramel makers in America. By the early 1900s, the company sought ways to boost sales and keep up with competitors who were starting to include premiums, or small toys/novelty items, inside candy wrappers or packages.

In 1909, the company’s executives decided to try including illustrated trading cards featuring popular baseball players inside select boxes or packs of McKinney caramels. Collecting photos of famous people was a trendy hobby during the early 20th century, and baseball was rising in popularity across the United States. The company chose baseball cards as they felt the sport perfectly aligned with their “kid-friendly” market for the caramels.

The exact first year Philadelphia Caramel produced baseball cards is debated, but most experts agree it began either in 1909 or sometime late in 1908. The cards were small, measuring approximately 1 5/8 inches by 2 5/8 inches. They featured color illustrations of individual major league players from the National League and American League on the front. On the back, each card included the player’s photograph as well as basic stats.

Some key details about the Philadelphia Caramel baseball cards include:

The front portraits were lithographed in color while the backs featured real photo images. This differed from modern cardboard trading cards.

An estimated 101 total cards were produced across the three years, featuring stars like Cy Young, Napoleon Lajoie, and Honus Wagner. Fewer than 25 examples survive today.

Distribution was limited and random, as the cards were inserted into factory-sealed caramel packs without any regulated checklist. This makes unopened packs extraordinarily rare finds today.

Later series from 1910-1911 saw improvements in photo quality and included minor league players too, expanding the checklist beyond just the majors.

When first released, the cards were meant purely as candy premiums – novel collectibles to entice kids into buying more caramels. Word soon spread among the young people receiving them that the cards could also be traded. This led to the early informal beginnings of what would develop into organized baseball card collecting and trading.

The success of Philadelphia Caramel’s experiment inspired other candy-makers to follow suit. In the next few years, similar premium cards appeared packaged with products like Pinsch Cigarettes, Passauer Bier pretzels and Elk brands cigars. These early promotions helped cement baseball cards as a mainstream collectible item.

Meanwhile, the McKinney Company continued producing its Philadelphia Caramel line of candies and cards through 1911. Competition was increasing significantly in the caramel industry at this time. In 1912, the company was sold to its main rival, the Stark Candy Company of Missouri. Stark continued providing popular caramel products to consumers but ended all inclusion of baseball cards after acquiring McKinney’s factories and brands.

The colorful and pioneering Philadelphia Caramel baseball cards of 1909-1911 remain among the most coveted and iconic in the entire collecting hobby today. Prices for high-grade unmunched specimens in collectible condition currently climb into the six-figure range. While short-lived as a candy premium, these cardboard promotions marked the true beginning of organized baseball card collecting still followed passionately over 100 years later. The McKinney company’s unique idea to include baseball players as incentives helped fuel both baseball’s rise to national popularity and the sports memorabilia business into the huge industry it is now recognized as worldwide.

Philadelphia Caramel baseball cards were an innovative marketing ploy that unexpectedly sparked collecting mania. They started the tradition of including sports cards as candy and cigarette bonuses that exploded in the 1950s. As one of the first sets ever released, these colorful lithographed cards featuring stars from the deadball era attained legendary status among enthusiasts. Even over a century after their small-batch production, the allure of finding an intact Philadelphia Caramel pack from 1909-1911 continues to excite imaginations and fuel the modern baseball card collecting culture.