Big League Chew is a brand of bubble gum primarily known for its shredded texture that resembles chewing tobacco. Since its introduction in the late 1970s, Big League Chew has developed a loyal following among both baseball players and fans alike. What many may not realize is that in the early 1980s, Big League Chew began including collectible baseball cards inside select packages. These unique collector cards helped fuel the popularity of both Big League Chew gum and baseball card collecting during the peak era of the hobby.

In 1981, Big League Chew saw an opportunity to capitalize on the booming baseball card craze that was sweeping the nation. Everyday, kids could be found trading, sorting, and admiring their vast baseball card collections. The average pack of cards only included about 10-12 cards and retailed for around $0.50. Big League Chew decided to take their product to the next level by including an entire sheet of 20 baseball cards inside specially marked 5-stick packs of gum for $1. This offered nearly double the cards of a traditional pack at only a slightly higher price-point.

The inaugural 1981 Big League Chew baseball cards featured a mixture of current major leaguers as well as legends from baseball history. Some of the more notable names included on the first series of cards were Hank Aaron, Tom Seaver, and Nolan Ryan. The fronts of the cards displayed individual player photos while the backs contained stats and career highlights. Each card was roughly the size of a standard trading card, but with a unique glossy finish and yellow, red, and white color scheme that distinctly identified them as Big League Chew issues.

The inclusion of baseball cards proved to be a huge success that helped skyrocket Big League Chew gum to new popularity heights. For kids, it was a no-brainer to purchase the gum specifically to collect the enclosed cards. Meanwhile, the cards themselves took on a life of their own in the trading card game. Their scarcity and “retro” look made them highly coveted among collectors. Today, a complete 1981 Big League Chew set in mint condition can fetch over $100 due to their limited original print run.

Big League Chew would continue to issue new baseball card inserts for several years. The 1982 and 1983 sets followed a similar format to the initial 1981 cards. In 1984 Big League Chew made some changes by shifting to a larger postcard size and moving away from retired players to solely feature current major leaguers. Notable rookie cards from the 1984 set include Dave Stieb of the Blue Jays and Dwight Gooden of the Mets. In total, the 1984 Big League Chew issue included over 150 cards split across three series.

The final Big League Chew baseball card insert came in 1985. This set showcased another 150+ cards but reverted back to the original smaller trading card size of earlier years. By 1986, the baseball card bubble had officially burst due to overproduction. In response, Big League Chew made the decision to discontinue including cards to focus solely on gum sales. While the company would release commemorative and throwback sets in later decades, the 1981-1985 Big League Chew issues remain the only true factory sets produced during the golden era of the hobby.

Even decades later, the Big League Chew baseball cards of the early 1980s continue to be fan favorites. Their nostalgic designs and association with America’s pastime make them a cherished part of history for those who grew up collecting during that time period. The fact they were included in bubble gum packages added an extra element of surprise and excitement compared to traditional wax packs. Today, complete Big League Chew sets in top-rated condition can sell for thousands of dollars, a true testament to their enduring popularity among the collecting community. For many, finding that elusive rookie card or personal favorite player inside a stick of Big League Chew is a cherished memory that will never be forgotten.

Big League Chew is a brand of shredded bubble gum designed to resemble chewing tobacco. It was invented by Rob Nelson in 1976 as a safer alternative for young baseball players who wanted to mimic the habits of their heroes in the major leagues. Along with the gum, Nelson began including collectible baseball cards in each pack as a fun incentive. These early cards became highly popular with kids and helped turn Big League Chew into a mainstream success. Over four decades later, the brand and its baseball cards remain iconic symbols of America’s pastime.

In the late 1970s, baseball card collecting was booming in popularity among children across the United States. Companies like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss were pumping out new sets each year featuring the biggest stars of MLB. However, Nelson noticed that many of the young collectors were more interested in chewing and spitting, as they saw their idols doing in the dugout between innings. He came up with the idea of shredded bubble gum that could be bunched up and tossed like chewing tobacco. Each pack of Big League Chew contained this unique gum alongside a randomly inserted baseball card from that current season.

Those early cards were produced by different manufacturers under license from Nelson. The designs were basic but captured kids’ imaginations. They featured colorful player photos on the front with stats on the back, just like the mainstream sets of the time. Top players from the late 70s like Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose, and Nolan Ryan began appearing in kids’ Big League Chew packs. As the gum’s popularity grew, Nelson was able to sign licensing deals with the MLB Players Association, allowing for even more accurate and exciting cards to be included.

In the 1980s, Big League Chew baseball cards truly took off. Nelson had built relationships with the major card producers and was using their photographs and designs within the size and shape constraints of including them in gum packs. Sets from 1983, 1984, and 1985 are considered the most coveted by collectors today. Rosters were loaded with soon-to-be Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Ryne Sandberg. The simpler yet fun retro designs have maintained their nostalgic appeal. During this decade, Big League Chew had firmly cemented itself as an integral part of the baseball card collecting hobby for children.

The 1990s saw Big League Chew reach the height of its popularity. With baseball’s resurgence following the 1994 player’s strike and influx of young stars like Ken Griffey Jr., the brand was everywhere. Its cards reflected the excitement of that era with flashier designs and oddball parallels like ’93 Finest, ’94 Collector’s Choice, and ’95 Select. Players who came of age collecting these sets have especially fond memories of peeling back the gum wrapper and seeing who might be hiding inside. The inserts also got more creative with retired legends, prospects, and oddballs. The over-production of traditional card sets was starting to saturate the market.

As the late 90s rolled around, the bubble had begun to burst for the collectibles industry. Both Big League Chew cards and the mainstream ones faced an abundance of product and subsequent fall in resale values. The brand tried to innovate with new sizes, flavors, and even baseball-shaped pieces of gum. The collectibles aspect was deemphasized. After the turn of the century, Big League Chew cards entered more of a nostalgia phase. While still included randomly in gum packs sold in hobby shops and ballparks, the primary focus was on the chewing experience over card value.

Today, Big League Chew endures as an iconic baseball brand, even if the cards hold less significance to modern collectors. Vintage 80s and 90s sets can still fetch premium prices online from enthusiasts longing for their childhood. Meanwhile, younger fans enjoy the retro packaging and novelty of randomly finding a shiny new card among the shredded gum. After more than 40 years, Rob Nelson’s simple idea of replicating players’ chew has become ingrained in baseball’s culture and memories for millions of Americans. Whether collecting or chewing, Big League Chew continues fueling our national pastime.

Big League Chew bubble gum is a brand of shredded bubble gum designed to resemble chewing tobacco. It was created by Rob Nelson in the late 1970s as a safer alternative for children who wanted to emulate professional baseball players. In addition to the bubble gum product, Big League Chew also produced collectible baseball cards from 1979 to 1981 as a way to promote the brand and make the experience more fun and interactive for kids. These unique cards featured professional baseball players from the time period alongside fun baseball trivia and facts on the back. Though production ended over 40 years ago, Big League Chew baseball cards remain a nostalgic piece of memorabilia that are highly sought after by collectors today.

Big League Chew bubble gum was first test marketed in Minnesota in 1976 before gaining widespread popularity and distribution across the United States in subsequent years. The product came in distinctive foil pouches that resembled tobacco pouches, with the shredded gum resembling strands of chewing tobacco. This allowed kids to realistically pretend they were their favorite baseball players chewing in the dugout or on the field. To further enhance this experience and make collecting Big League Chew more of an activity, the company began including limited edition baseball cards inside random packages of gum from 1979-1981.

Over the three year production period, an estimated 15-20 million Big League Chew baseball cards were printed and inserted into gum packages. The cards featured colorful front-facing photos of MLB baseball stars from the late 1970s and early 1980s like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Steve Garvey, and Nolan Ryan. Fun facts about the players’ careers and stats were printed on the backs. Many cards also included baseball trivia or questions to further engage kids. Examples include “How many pitches does Nolan Ryan throw in one inning?” or “How many career grand slams does Reggie Jackson have?”.

Beyond promoting Big League Chew, these unique vintage cards also helped grow children’s interest in America’s pastime during an era when baseball’s popularity was at an all-time high. Kids enjoyed learning about their favorite players while chewing gum and pretending to be in the dugout. The relatively short print run from 1979-1981 also makes Big League Chew cards quite scarce and desirable for collectors today. In the early 1980s, many cards were thrown away after being chewed or simply discarded with used gum packaging. But those that survived in good condition have increased greatly in value. Today, a complete set could fetch over $1,000 depending on condition, with key individual cards selling for hundreds of dollars each.

Some of the most coveted and valuable Big League Chew baseball cards include rookies, stars of the era, and players who went on to the Hall of Fame. A 1979 Nolan Ryan card in near mint condition recently sold for $425. A 1980 Mike Schmidt rookie card realized $320. Rookie cards are always highly sought, such as a 1979 Cal Ripken Jr. that sold for $280 and a 1981 Fernando Valenzuela that brought $210. Star power also increases value, like a 1981 Reggie Jackson card reaching $185 and a 1980 Steve Garvey going for $150. Even more common players can have value, with a 1979 Dave Parker selling for $70 and a 1980 Keith Hernandez at $55.

The scarcity and nostalgia surrounding Big League Chew cards makes them an intriguing niche in the vast world of baseball memorabilia collecting. While production ended over 40 years ago, the brand and these unique vintage cards still resonate deeply with those who enjoyed them as kids in the late 1970s and early 80s. Collectors today appreciate them as a fun glimpse into the past when baseball captured America’s imagination and kids enjoyed mimicking their heroes by chewing Big League Chew gum and learning about the sport through included baseball cards. Whether chasing key rookies, stars of the era, or building a complete set, Big League Chew cards remain a beloved and historically significant collectible for those passionate about the intersection of baseball cards and nostalgia from this special period in time.

In conclusion, Big League Chew bubble gum baseball cards were a creative limited-run promotional item from 1979-1981 that successfully married a child-friendly chewing gum with the hobby of baseball card collecting. By including fun, colorful cards of MLB stars inside gum packages, the company engaged kids’ interest in America’s pastime while they enjoyed pretending to be ballplayers. Though production ended over 40 years ago, these unique vintage cards retain a strong nostalgic appeal and have grown greatly in value as a niche collectible. Today they provide baseball and memorabilia enthusiasts a special connection to the beloved era when Big League Chew gum and the included baseball cards captured children’s imaginations.