1934 National Chicle "Batter-Up!" Baseball Wantlist (Updated Feb 14, 2016)

Back in the mid-1930s, National Chicle and Goudey Gum (both Massachusetts-based) competed for dominance in the baseball card market, spreading big-picture sets across multiple years of the Great Depression in an apparent attempt to see which would win by attrition. That "survivor" proved to be Goudey Gum, who acquired a bankrupt National Chicle's assets in 1937. Among them was remaining stock of Batter-Up! Gum cards, this die-cut "set of many colors." (Its #5 is one of my favorites.)

1934 National Chicle Batter-Up! Gum #31, Lefty Grove (all colors)

It's not clear how Goudey dealt with Chicle's various products, but it's doubtful they printed more. Even collectors with deep pockets find Batter-Up hard to complete, given its many scarce high numbers. My current wantlist is heavy with those upper reaches.

1934-36 Batter Up wantlist: See my vintage wantlist for current needs.

Common high numbers cost $10+ each in low grade, so considerable investment lies before me, unless I can pull the trigger on more trades like this one.

OldBaseball.com friend Andy C swapped these Batter-Ups for several Goudey extras, making a rare dent in my high numbers. These particular cards stand out because a previous owner added other names to each player. Augie Galen, for example...

...became Tony York, a cup of coffee player for Chicago in 1944 (career stats). Charlie Gehringer...

...is now Jim Honochick, an obscure 1940s minor leaguer (career stats). Here are their other mentions.

• Bill Deininger, career minor leaguer
• Lyle Grosskreutz, whose obit says he tried out for the pros without sticking
• Babe Picone, who's still alive by Baseball-Reference's reckoning
• Tom Pullig, never reached the majors
• Allan Smith, who might be incorrectly tagged--Al Smith?

It's hard to find rhyme or reason behind most of the name changes, so maybe I'll let the mystery be.

Hall of Thanks

Big thanks to Andy C for his trade! Also props to Peter M, Jim H, Steve R, Bama, and Ed W of OldBaseball.com for earlier additions to my set.

Aug 4: Andy C hit me again with #139 Bill Jurges, who was pencil updated to Norm DeWeese, a 1935-47 outfielder in several minor leagues. Still don't know how to account for the new names, but it's a fun diversion to wonder how they fit together.

Nov 29: Taylor S sent #39 my way! One extra piece of thanksgiving for this week.

Jan 10: HOF Bill Terry arrives from eBay! Took advantage of a post-holiday sale and got him for $18.

May 26: HOF #42 Charlie Gehringer arrives from eBay and knocks my low number list down to 2!

Feb 14, 2016: Finished the low numbers (1-80) with #31 Lefty Grove, fresh from eBay! See my vintage wantlist for remaining high numbers.