Why isn't Lou Gehrig in 1935 Goudey?

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Posted By: Andy Cook

Any theories? thanks, Andy

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Posted By: peter chao

Andy,

T-206 came out during a 3 year period. I'm starting to think that one year didn't become the standard for card companies until much later. So when Goudey had Lou Gehrig as their "spokesman" in 1934 they probably thought that was enough of Lou for a while. So, Goudey decided it wasn't necessary for Lou to be in the 1935 set.

Peter

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Posted By: Bob Donaldson

I think it's the same reason Ruth isn't in the 34 Goudey. They wanted kids to keep searching for a Gehrig card.

Bob

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Posted By: dennis

imo fading sales due to the depression hit goudey hard in 1934.the novelty of gum cards had worn off. the 2nd series is loaded with less than great names and printed in much lower quanities.we really don't know how many cards goudey planned in 1934. perhaps ruth was planned to spur sales in later series but the reality was sales were so low that goudey just gave up at 96 cards. just my thoughts. seems to me that the same thing occured at the nat. chicle gum comp. (diamond stars) were we do know 240 cards were planned and only 96 again were printed (not counting the 2nd prints #97-108) with no gehrig or ruth. i think by 1935 goudey was not inclined to pay gerhig as the 34 series had 2 and just maybe these 34's were still sitting on store shelfs.

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Posted By: peter chao

Bob,

Do you seriously think that Goudey would purposely withhold Lou Gehrig from the 1935 Goudey set in order to lure kids into buying more. I doubt that their marketing dept. was that sophisticated. It's more likely that Goudey was just struggling to survive (because of the depression) and simply threw together a set.

Peter

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Posted By: MVSNYC

i actually think Bob had a great thought here...don't under estimate marketing dept's from the early 20th century...they were actually brilliant...

besides, if they were struggling, and just needed to "throw" a set together, wouldn't The Iron Horse be included in that short run?


Gehrig's numbers from 1934:

579-AB 210-H 49-HR 165-RBI .363/.465/.706

...oh yeah, he won the triple crown too...

just food for thought...

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Posted By: Bob D

"Do you seriously think that Goudey would purposely withhold Lou Gehrig from the 1935 Goudey set in order to lure kids into buying more. I doubt that their marketing dept. was that sophisticated."

Yes I do. Just look what they did in 1933, not issuing a #106 for that very same purpose.