Product Highlight: 1986 Big League Chew Home Run Legends

Growing up in the 1980s I bet you can remember when Big League Chew hit the streets.  Big League Chew is unlike any bubble gum that fans had seen before. Packaged in a foil pouch, and the gum itself is shredded to resemble chewing tobacco.  Big League Chew is the brainchild of Portland Mavericks pitcher Rob Nelson. The idea was pitched to the Wrigley Company by MLB All-Star pitcher Jim Bouton. Fans were introduced to it in May of 1980, and it has been in production ever since.

In 2010 the Wrigley Company sold the rights to Big League Chew to Ford Gum. Various gum flavors and packaging styles have been added over the years. I’ve always enjoyed the artwork featured on their packages.

Gum chewers in 1986 were greeted with a baseball card inside their pouches of Big League Chew.  The entire set consists of only (12) cards.  Pouches each had one card and/or you could send away through a mail-in offer for a complete set.  Many of the cards found in the pouches were damaged through the packing process. All of the players in the set are members of the 500 Career Home Run Club.  The year on the card indicates when that player made it into the club.

Interesting fact. During the mid-1980s Ford Gum was owned by Leaf. Yes, the same Leaf that makes cards. If Ford Gum would’ve had the rights to make Big League Chew back then these cards would have the Leaf name on them.

Card of the Day: Bryce Harper 2022 Topps Series 1 Home Field Advantage #3

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – Official Trailer

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – Official Teaser Trailer

2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks Hits A Home Run With Collectors

As a member of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club I was able to purchase (3) boxes of the new online-exclusive 2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks for $55/box.  The design pays tribute to 1993 Topps Finest which introduced collectors to the Refractor.

Not only is the design a nod to the original set, this new version also consists of (199) cards and contains (1) refractor per box.  With that being said, most people ripping find at least (2) refractors on average.  Parallels include Base Refractors, Gold Refractors #’ed/50, Black Refractors #’ed/25, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Even though the Base Refractors aren’t serial numbered, its speculated that no more than (50) copies exist for each card.

Opening a single box doesn’t guarantee an autograph.  Autographs fall about 1:6 boxes.  Base Autograph parallels include Base Refractor #’ed/20, Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Base All-Stars Autographs are #’ed/20, and have parallels which include Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.

Andre Dawson, Ivan Rodriguez, John Smoltz, Mark McGwire, and Roberto Alomar each have original Autograph Buybacks #’ed/20 or less.

Inserts come in the form of All-Stars Jumbo Box Toppers.

(18) packs come in a single box.

Pack Odds

Base Parallels:

• Refractor (1:18)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/50 (1:18)
• Black Refractor #’ed/25 (1:36)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:176)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:880)

Autograph Parallels:

• Refractor #’ed/20 (1:296)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/15 (1:381)
• Orange Refractor #’ed/10 (1:573)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:1,138)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:5,765)

The odds of finding an Autograph Buyback is (1:2,260).

Given that the odds of pulling a non-autographed Superfractor are (1:880) packs should tell you how limited this product actually is.  Normally that number is in the thousands.

This was a no-brainer buy for me.  Where else are you guaranteed (2) cards #’ed/50 or less for the price of $55/box?  The answer is nowhere.

Nostalgic design.  Colorful, low-numbered parallels.  On-card autographs.  It doesn’t surprise me that these boxes are selling for hundreds on the secondary market.  Nobody knows what the ceiling will be for these boxes.

Spider-Man: Far From Home | Official Trailer

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME – Official Teaser Trailer

Card of the Day: Mike Piazza 1997 Pinnacle Home/Away #5

Card of the Day: Mark McGwire 1998 Topps Gold Label Home Run Race #HR2

Bring Home Jamie Cooper’s Yankees Dream Scene Today

Ok Yankees fans.  I’ve got some great news for you.  Jamie Cooper’s Yankees Dream Scene can now be yours to own.  Starting on Monday, November 17, 2014 Jamie Cooper will have Yankees Dream Scene lithographs for sale.  Each lithograph is printed on 300 gsm quality art stock, measures 26″ x 28″, and comes with a certificate explaining all the hidden details within the scene.  Jamie Cooper will also sign each lithograph too.  The cost is $125.00 plus $25.00 S&H for a single lithograph.  If you’re interested in purchasing one of these Yankees Dream Scene lithographs, please contact Jamie Cooper at: jamie@jcap.com.au 

This would make an excellent gift for that ultimate Yankees fan!!!

Legendary Auctions sold the original Yankees Dream Scene in August, 2013 for over $20,000.00 during the National Sports Collectors Convention.  Jamie Cooper’s work is incredibly well done, and you can spend hours analyzing all the little details he puts into his work.  He really does his research.  Phillies fans know his work from the Phillies Dream Scene that is now hanging in the “Diamond Club” at Citizens Bank Park.  Lithographs for the Phillies Dream Scene are also available.