Sunday Fun-Day Fun-Facts

The Goudey Gum Company was an American chewing gum company started in 1919. The company was founded by Enos Gordon Goudey of Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Enos Goudey sold the company in 1932 but he retained an interest as a consultant. On his retirement in 1933, William Wrigley Jr. dubbed him the "penny gum king of America".

Goudey was the first American company to issue baseball cards with each stick of gum. Cards had mainly been available with cigarettes and candy for many years.



Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are prominently featured in the Goudey cards of the 1930s. They were colorful cards with hand drawn portraits of the players. Hall of Famers depicted on the Goudey cards from 1933 to 1941 include Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Dizzy Dean, Mel Ott, Joe Dimaggio, and Hank Greenberg.

In 1933, Goudey produced a 240 card set, also called "Big League Chewing Gum". These cards were the first baseball cards featuring bubble gum in each pack. The 1933 Goudey set is considered one of the "Big Three" classic baseball card sets, along with the T206 and 1952 Topps sets.

One of the rarest baseball cards is card #106 from the 1933 Goudey set. It was not originally issued with the set. Collectors that sent letters to the Goudey Gum Company complaining about the lack of a #106 card received it in the mail. In 1934, Goudey issued card #106 for the 1933 set with retired player Nap Lajoie. It is known as one of the "Big Three" baseball cards along with the Honus Wagner and Eddie Plank cards from the T206 set.

In 1938, Goudey produced a 48 card set, also known as the "Heads-Up" set. The cards were numbered from 241 to 288, making it look as if Goudey was trying to extend the 1933 Goudey set. The first 24 cards in the set depicts pictures of players heads attached to a cartoonish body in baseball action.



Similar cards as the 1933 and 1934 Goudey sets were also released in Canada by World Wide Gum Co., of Quebec. They are sometimes known as Canadian Goudey sets. The 1933 World Wide Gum set was released with two different backs, one with both French and English, and the other with only English.

Most of the Goudey unreleased cards, printing plates, and company archives were thrown away in the 1960s, although some were sold to collectors.

Goudey baseball card sets
1933 Goudey R319
1933 Sports Kings R338
1933 World Wide Gum V353
1934 Goudey R320
1934 Goudey Premiums R390-1
1934 World Wide Gum V354
1935 Goudey 4-in-1 R321
1935 Goudey Premiums R390-2
1936 Goudey Wide Pens R314
1936 Goudey R322
1936 World Wide Gum V355
1938 Goudey "Heads-Up" R323
1939 Goudey Premiums R303
1939 World Wide Gum V351
1941 Goudey R324

Hobby News - The Saturday Edition

MLB Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Against Upper Deck

Upper Deck, which last week agreed to pay millions to Japanese video game publisher Konami to settle a dispute over counterfeit "Yu-Gi-Oh" cards, is now being sued by Major League Baseball. On Monday, Major League Baseball Properties, the league's licensing division, filed a federal lawsuit against Upper Deck which accuses the company of trademark infringement and illegally selling cards that feature official team logos and uniforms. The complaint also notes that Upper Deck owes MLB $2.4 million.



In August, MLB granted Topps an exclusive, long-term license to produce baseball cards. The agreement gave Topps a monopoly on baseball and ended Upper Deck's 22-year relationship with MLB. In related news, Panini has become the exclusive producer of basketball cards and Upper Deck is reaching the end of its' five-year exclusive NHL license this season.

In a defiant move, Upper Deck responded by re-signing its licensing agreement with the MLB Players Association, a deal that provides rights to sell cards with players' images and likenesses. Upper Deck recently unveiled two new sets of cards for the 2009 season that do not have team names or logos printed on the borders of the cards but do include pictures of players in MLB uniforms. For example, Boston Red Sox's first baseman Kevin Youkilis' card shows him wearing the Boston jersey and helmet but the card identifies his team only as "Boston." In The Game, an NHL card manufacturer, creates sets without an NHL license however it follows the rules by not including logos and full team names.



The two new card sets are at the center of MLB's complaint. They allege that Upper Deck's conduct is "reflective of a pattern of utter disrespect for the contractual and intellectual property rights of those from whom it licenses valuable trademarks."

For Upper Deck, the suit is the latest in a string of legal and management setbacks. In the Konami case mentioned above, one Upper Deck executive testified that she witnessed CEO Richard McWilliams shred counterfeit cards in his office. That settlement came on the heels of a separate dispute with Topps, which sued Upper Deck last year for stealing its card designs. Topps claimed that designs for some of Upper Deck's 2009 cards were virtually identical to cards Topps produced in the '70s.

It's not the first time MLB has sued a card company for improperly using official logos. In the past decade, MLB filed claims against Donruss and Pacific, both of which put official MLB marks on cards after their agreements had expired. Ironically, Topps has been in Upper Deck's current position in the past. During the '70s, Topps had a licensing deal with the pro football players' union to make cards, but did not have an agreement with the NFL. As a result, its cards for several years featured no NFL marks and obscured logos on uniforms and helmets.

In The Game VIP Club

In past newsletters, In The Game advised collectors to hold on to their ITG box tops and now they are unveiling the reason why with the new ITG-VIP Club. In order to qualify you will need to accumulate 100 ITG-VIP points. ITG-VIP points are gained by opening qualifying ITG products and sending in the box tops. Each ITG-VIP Club Member will receive a special ITG-VIP number that can be used for discounts on purchases in the ITG Online Store and special priority for limited edition products to be offered in the ITG Online Store.



In addition, each ITG-VIP member will receive a special ITG-VIP Game-Used Memorabilia card, only available through this program. Each ITG-VIP Memorabilia card will be numbered out of twenty. ITG-VIP memberships will last for 12 months and each time you renew, you will receive a new ITG-VIP Game-Used Memorabilia card.

Here is the points breakdown on how you can gather your 100 points:

25 pts. - All Ultimate Memorabilia Box Tops (not pack box tops)
25 pts. - All Superlative Box Tops (inner pack tops -not book top)
10 pts. - 1972 The Year In Hockey
10 pts. - 2009-10 Heroes and Prospects and Between The Pipes
5 pts. - 2008-09 Heroes and Prospects and Between The Pipes
2 pts. - 2007-08 Heroes and Prospects and Between The Pipes
2 pts. - 2007 O Canada

Once you have accumulated 100 points, send your box tops along with your Name, Address, Phone Number and email address to:

In The Game, Inc.
VIP Program
135 West Beaver Creek Road Box #604
Richmond Hill, ON, L4B 4R7, Canada

Many In The Game products are available from Canada Card World.

2009-10 NHL Calder Trophy Race

As the Olympics break approaches, five players have emerged as the best rookies of the 2009-10 NHL season. In no specific order, John Tavares, Jimmy Howard, Matt Duchene, James Van Riemsdyk, and Tyler Myers have been at the top of the rookie class. Some players have played well in spurts and other players were either too old (Antti Niemi) or too hurt (Semyon Varlamov). With approximately 25 games left in the season, it is time for one of these players to put the exclamation point on the season and take what is rightfully theirs.

John Tavares



Tavares was the 1st overall draft pick in 2009 and the odds-on favourite to win the trophy. He started strong but the long season seems to be wearing him down. The lack of depth on the Islanders isn't helping either.

Jimmy Howard



Jimmy Howard was supposed to be the back-up to Chris Osgood this season. His play after October cemented him as the Red Wings #1 goaltender and this late-bloomer seems to be the real deal.

Matt Duchene



Duchene wasn't even the best rookie on his team in October and November but steady play and a super burst in December put this favourite of Don Cherry into the spotlight.

James Van Riemsdyk



Slow and steady, James Van Riemsdyk has played a solid all-around game. A lack of big minutes behind such proven stars and Carter, Richards, and Hartnell has hurt his chances for the big prize.

Tyler Myers



Tyler Myers was supposed to be a project defenseman. His splendid early season play was no fluke and this massive Zdeno Chara clone is a franchise player of epic proportions. Not only is he playing big minutes against the NHL's best but he is putting up amazing offensive numbers for a defenseman as well.

Prediction - Barring a late season charge by one of the other four, this is Tyler Myer's trophy. Who dares steal it away from this hulking defenseman?

Tavares, Van Riemsdyk, Duchene, and Myers all have rookie cards available in most 2009-10 products available at Canada Card World. Jimmy Howard has rookie cards available in many 2005-06 products.

Product Preview - 2009-10 Upper Deck Series Two

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver are coming. Luckily for collectors, so is Upper Deck Series Two Hockey.

Bringing out the new set of Young Guns, Upper Deck Series Two finishes off what Series One started. New this year, Upper Deck's "The Champions" set features some of the best former Olympians and future champions just in time for the Opening Ceremonies.



The regular set will contain players not in Series One as well as players who have switched teams via trade. Not only that, 50 new Young Guns will be added to the checklist including 'The Monster' Jonas Gustavsson. The new insert set 'The Champions' will also feature some which are autographed. This will definitely be a favourite among collectors.

Regular Set:
Regular Cards (200)
Young Guns (50)



Top Inserts:
Acetate Hits: Rookie Breakouts (#/100) & Draft Class (#/10)
The Champions (1 in every 12 packs)
Fab Four Fabrics (#/100)
UD Rookie Materials Patch (#/25)



Typical Box Break Summary:
Six Young Guns RC’s
One Rookie Materials
One UD Game Jersey
Twelve Victory Rookies
Two 'The Champions'

Typical Case Break Summary:
One Die-Cut Acetate card
Draft Class & Rookie Breakouts
One UD Signatures

2009-10 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey will be available in mid-February from Canada Card World.

In The Game and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Vancouver 2010. It will be one of hockey's greatest events. The Olympic Men's Hockey Tournament.

Will the defending champion Team Sweden take the gold again? Can Team Canada return to glory? How will the American youth movement work out? What about the high-powered Team Russia?



In The Game is commemorating this great event with a group of autograph and game-used memorabilia cards. Many of the great players from the 2010 Olympic Games and Olympic Games of years past will be on the checklist.

There are four different card categories:
Autograph cards
Authentic Game-Used Jersey cards
Authentic Game-Used Patch cards
Authentic Game-Used Jersey/Autographed cards.

There will be only ten of each card and they will be sold on a first-come first-serve basis. The only place to find these cards is at the In The Game online store.



Ideal for player collectors and Olympics enthusiasts, don't miss this opportunity to order your favorite player or players as soon as they are available. Remember, orders will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

All cards will go on sale on Friday February 5th, 2010 at the ITG Online Store.

Product Preview - 2009-10 Be A Player Hockey

Offering one autograph card in every pack, 2009-10 Be A Player Hockey truly brings the collectors what they want! And no product delivers signatures like Be A Player! The feeling a card collector gets from pulling an autograph card cannot be beat! With chances at duals, triples, and more, how can you stay away?



Get 1 Autograph Card in Each Pack!
Collect 1 rookie card or rookie redemption card in each Box!
Autographed Rookie Jersey cards!
Rookie Patch cards - #/15!
Find 1 dual signed card in each box on average!
Big Hit in Each Box: Rookie Jersey cards!

Typical Box Break Summary:
1 Dual-Player Signature Card
1 Rookie card or Rookie Redemption
1 Rookie Jersey Card

Typical Case Break Summary:
Five 3-player Signature Cards



Key Inserts:
Be A Player Rookies:
John Tavares, Matt Duchene, James van Riemsdyk, Jonas Gustavsson, Michael Del Zotto, Evander Kane, Colin Wilson, Logan Couture, Victor Hedman, Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn, Michael Grabner, Tyler Bozak, and more.

2009-10 UD Be A Player Hockey will be available in mid-May from Canada Card World.