The mystery of the missing 1934 Cubs

[ThomasL]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Maybe P.K. Wrigley was flexing his relatively new control over Cubs ownership and did not want the team logo or name affiliated with products sold by rival gum companies.

This was my first thought as well. Image rights held by Wrigley Corp and not wanting to other companies to use their images

[BobC]

Or could it be that Wrigley wanted more compensation than others, so the card companies called his bluff and didn't include his team and players, until he relented because he realized he didn't want them all excluded from being shown like all the other teams/players in the leagues?

Or is it possible Wrigley may have been looking into possibly issuing cards with their own gum products, and didn't agree till after they shot down that idea?

[ecRich]

Wrigley was in the gum business. so maybe they didn't want to help N. Chicle who sold gum also.

[king11]

The 1933 Tattoo Orbit cards were a Wrigley release, so perhaps that might have been a factor in some way?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by king11

The 1933 Tattoo Orbit cards were a Wrigley release, so perhaps that might have been a factor in some way?

Did not know that. Definitely could have played into the mystery somehow.

[Misunderestimated]

Cubs are also excluded from the 1939 Playball and 1948 Bowman sets...

[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by Misunderestimated

Cubs are also excluded from the 1939 Playball and 1948 Bowman sets...

Not only that but 1940 Play Ball has no Cubs (active) players, just retired greats and a coach. And 1941 has no Cubs at all.


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[BobC]

Originally Posted by Misunderestimated

Cubs are also excluded from the 1939 Playball and 1948 Bowman sets...

Did not realize that either, that is even more mystifying.

There was another somewhat recent thread discussing the true origins of the W711 team issued cards of the Cincinnati Reds in 1938, 1939, and 1940. And one of the posters was local and had a team contact that was involved in the Red's history that he called to get some additional info about those team issues. Anyone in the Chicago area want to try calling the team to see if anyone there might have any info or historical data on why the Cubs may not have been part of those sets? Probably best coming from a local fan. What's the worst they can do, just say no, right?

[FrankWakefield]

I've not ever noticed the absence of the Cubs... interesting observation, Jason.

It seems like Wrigley didn't want images of his players and the team logos used to make money for those issuing companies. BUT, it could be that National Chicle, Goudy, and Butterfinger didn't want to be distributing cards that got people more interested in a Wrigley product, ie The Chicago Cubs. I think the former is much more likely, though.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by ecRich

Wrigley was in the gum business. so maybe they didn't want to help N. Chicle who sold gum also.

Right, but then maybe realized they'd sell without Cubs anyway, so why loose out on promotion of your team/players otherwise.