1933 DeLong Gum (R333)

The DeLong Gum Baseball Cards (R333) would be a great set for anyone looking to assemble a vintage collection.

Produced by the Boston-based DeLong Gum Co., the 1933 DeLong Gum Baseball Card Set (R333) comprises 24 cards. As one of the earliest examples of cards packaged with chewing gum, it remained the sole offering from this specific company. A notable advantage of this series is the absence of Babe Ruth. Each card measures 2” by 3”, featuring a black-and-white portrait of a player set against a vivid, brightly colored backdrop of a stadium. This striking contrast between the monochromatic images and the vibrant backgrounds gave the set a distinctive appearance. Bold lettering at the bottom identifies each player and their respective team.

The text on the back was penned by Austen Lake and featured gameplay advice intended for young collectors. Because Lake also authored the sports tips for the 1934 Diamond Stars series, some speculate that National Chicle acquired DeLong. The company was founded by Harold C. DeLong, a former Goudey employee who ventured out to establish his own rival gum card business in hopes of achieving success during the 1930s. Within this 24-card assembly, 15 players are members of the Hall of Fame.

Chicago Cubs 1933 DeLong Gum Checklist

Number	Player
8	Kiki Cuyler
15	Riggs Stephenson
16	Lon Warneke
1933 DeLong White Sox
2	Al Simmons
18	Jimmie Dykes

White Sox:

1972 Topps Cloth Stickers + Topps Candy Lids Test Issue

Resembling 1972 Topps issues, these "test" cards are distinguished by their cloth sticker material. Every piece in the collection measures 2 1/2" by 3 1/2". These specific items originate from a third series that failed to see a formal public release, and the reverse side of each sticker is completely blank.

Of all the Chicago players, only Johnny Callison was utilized in this series.

Chicago Cubs 1972 Topps Cloth Stickers Checklist

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Number of Cards

1972 Topps Candy has 55 lids, which had 2 HOF Cub players.

Size of Lids

Lids are 1 7/8" Diameter

Basic Features

This second collection features photographs of baseball players located on the underside of the lids of 1-ounce bubble gum tubs. It was regarded as a test set and is quite difficult to find. For some strange reason, Topps airbrushed all logos from the portrait images, and the lids lack borders and are unnumbered. The names, positions, and teams are printed on the bottom.

1966 Topps Punchboards Test Issue

1966 Topps Punchboards (R414-42-unc)

Measuring 2 1/2" x 4 11/16", the scarce 1966 Punchboards set consists of 15 cards delivered in two-card panels. These panels feature small black-and-white portraits positioned in the upper left and lower right corners. A dashed, lightly scored line runs through the center, allowing players to easily split the panels. Once divided, each card prominently displays the player's name to the right of their image, with their position and league listed directly underneath. While the upper section of the card is set against a white backdrop, the bottom section contains 35 yellow baseballs on a colored field designed to be punched out during gameplay. These background colors denote the league, with blue representing the NL and red the AL, meaning every panel includes one player from each league.

Chicago Cubs 1966 Topps Punchboards Checklist

1969 Topps Test Issue (R414-57-D) and (R414-54)

1969 Topps 4-1 Mini-Stickers (R414-57-D)

Topps 4-1 Mini-Stickers includes a total of 25 cards, featuring 4 players from the Cubs and 3 from the Sox. The size of the Stickers are 2-1/2" by 3-1/2". Featuring four miniature versions of the standard 1969 Topps singles, this impressive set highlighted athletes exclusively from the regular 1969 Topps second series. For five cents, collectors could purchase packs of three, with each pack containing 12 mini stickers and a piece of gum. Indeed, finding them in an undamaged state is quite uncommon. These lacked numbers and were designed for children to peel away and adhere to any surface.

Chicago Cubs-Sox 1967 Topps Test 4-1 Mini-Stickers Checklist

Player

Glenn Beckert

Bill Hands

Leo Durocher

Willie Smith

1969 Topps Test 4-1 Mini-Stickers White Sox

Don Pavletich

Wilbur Wood

Bob Christian

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1969 Topps Test Super (R414-54)

Topps Super Test issue includes a total of 66 cards, featuring 3 players from the Cubs and 3 from the Sox. The size of the cards are 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". Derived from the vibrant, high-gloss photographs adorning the card fronts, the set earned the name "Supers." While typical cards displayed the player's team and name on the front, these versions featured rounded corners similar to those of playing cards. Furthermore, the only text on the face of the card was a reproduced signature. On the reverse, a basic box contained the usual team and player details, with a card number positioned at the base. Evidence suggests this test release was limited solely to the New York City region.

Chicago Cubs-Sox 1969 Topps Test Super Checklist

Number	Player
37	Fergie Jenkins
38	Ron Santo
39	Billy Williams
1969 Topps Test Super White Sox
10	Luis Aparicio
11	Pete Ward
12	Joe Horlen

1923-24 Exhibits (W461)

Between 1921 and 1928, seven distinct sets were released, each featuring subtle variations that enable collectors to distinguish between them, despite the fact that ESCO (Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago) did not include any year on the cards.

Number of Cards

This ESCO set features a total of 58 cards, including 3 players from the Cubs.

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are 3 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Basic Features

Monochrome player portraits characterize the 1923-24 Exhibit card set. While the athletes' names are presented in a cursive script, their team names appear in italicized block lettering. Beyond the team affiliation, each card lists the player's position and league. To ensure legibility, the text color shifts between black for lighter backgrounds and white for darker ones. Furthermore, these cards lack numbering.

Chicago Cubs 1923-24 Exhibit Supply Company Checklist

Player

Gabby Hartnett

Cliff Heathcote

Tony Kaufmann

1971 Topps Super Cubs Checklist + White Sox Blue

Distributed in ten-cent three-card packs, the 1971 Topps Super Baseball collection features 63 cards measuring 3-1/8" by 5-1/4". These oversized cards, which appeared for only two years, were characterized by rounded corners and borderless, posed color images of players accompanied by facsimile signatures. The reverses consist of an expanded version of the standard 1971 Topps design, detailing biographical information, statistics, a small photograph, and the card number, all printed on the heaviest stock the company had ever utilized.

Included in this collection were four distinct wrappers, each featuring enticing deals on the reverse side, such as the renowned "whale tooth"—which, in reality, was not one.

Chicago Cubs 1971 Topps Tattoo Checklist

Number	Player
35	Ron Santo
42	Fergie Jenkins
50	Glenn Beckert
1971 Topps Super White Sox
47	Bill Melton

Did you see that the Sox were wearing Cubs blue back in '71? It looked great.

1923 Maple Crispette (V117)

Consisting of 30 individual cards, measuring 1-3/8” by 2-1/4”. These were released by the Montreal-based Maple Crispette Candy Company, a firm recognized for manufacturing marshmallows, various popcorn products, and other confectionery. Every card showcases a black-and-white player portrait enclosed in a black frame, with the athlete's name and card number positioned below the image, all set within a heavy white border. The reverse side displays a bat, ball, and glove design alongside the company's branding and a promotion allowing collectors to exchange 30 baseball cards for one of these sports items.

Chicago Cubs 1923 Maple Crispette Checklist

Number	Player
16	Arnold Statz

Collectible sets from this historical period largely do not align with contemporary Topps collecting standards, which emphasize parallels, short prints, and insert cards. Consequently, most collectors show minimal interest in cards exceeding one hundred years in age. Notable exceptions exist within tobacco card sets, which maintain considerable popularity, along with select gum card releases. Nevertheless, these posts featuring vintage cards serve an important purpose for emerging and aspiring enthusiasts, offering comprehensive insight into the diverse history of baseball's most iconic franchise and stadium. As time progresses and circumstances evolve, the longevity of these archival blogs remains uncertain.