(LOT 6)
Spectacular 1933 Sport Kings Un-Opened "Multi-Card" Wax Pack (GAI Near-Mint 7) – Possible Subjects include Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Bobby Jones, Jim Thorpe & Knute Rockne!
The late 1920's and early 1930's will forever stand as one of the most tumultuous times in American history. With a Nation plagued by an excruciating depression, an infinite-like number of families struggled to simply put food on their tables, and this "dark-period" clearly ravaged millions of Americans who desperately sought any possible "light at the end of the tunnel". Fortunately, that glimmer of hope surfaced in 1933 when former New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the 42nd president of the United States. President Roosevelt's innovative economic policies would eventually pull the country out of this severe depression, paving the way for eventual economic growth. Ironically, that same 1933 calendar year, one of the most celebrated baseball card companies would "throw their hat into the ring" by manufacturing several mainstream bubble gum-card sets in an effort to raise seriously needed revenue during this poverty-stricken time.

The Goudey Gum Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts would ultimately release two separate sports card sets, one being a colossal 240-baseball card issue while the other compilation was dubbed "Sport Kings" and included 48 prestigious athletes from various sports. Due to the depression, save the 1932 U.S. Caramel set, it had been a significant amount of time since the last "mainstream" sports card sets had been made available to the public. Obviously, America's young fan base was now enthralled by the notion that they could take their precious pennies and scamper to their local "mom & pop" candy stores to purchase at least a single wax pack. Regarding the 48-subject Sport Kings gathering, some of its renowned heroes included the incomparable George Herman "Babe Ruth" (ironically the set's #1 subject), the immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb, legendary golfer Bobby Jones, the world's arguable greatest athlete Jim Thorpe and Notre Dame's iconic gridiron coach Knute Rockne, just to mention a few.

It has been an extensive 88 years since that landmark Sport Kings set was released back in 1933, and we at Memory Lane are now proud to present one of the most fascinating mementos from that iconic compilation. This ultra-scarce 1933 Sport Kings "multi-card" pack has somehow managed to remain in its original factory issued sealed wax wrapper state! Miraculous to say the least, the Global Authentication Inc./GAI (renowned for their wax pack expertise) has graded this keepsake a Near-Mint 7, and of special note, this particular pack was submitted to GAI for grading at the highly noted 2003 Hollywood Park show where it was graded in the presence of prominent pack expert Paul Wright (it has also been recently authenticated by the hobby's foremost unopened wax pack/box authenticator Steve Hart as a genuine 1933 Sport Kings wax pack). The imposing red and yellow striped wrapper including black silhouettes of multi-sport athletes and an extremely bold "SPORT KINGS GUM" caption is in outstanding condition, somehow managing to defy father-time by retaining virtually all of its original rich hues.

No glaring surface flaws are evident, and the critical flipside factory seals are completely intact. The GAI Near-Mint 7 "flip" includes the following critical information: "AUTHENTIC-UNOPENED; 1933 Sport Kings Multi – WAX PACK", and the gum is situated at the bottom of the pack. Just the notion of this timeless heirloom possibly containing some of the world's greatest sport stars such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb immediately captures one's imagination, with this museum worthy masterpiece somehow eluding the eager hands of a captivated young boy who would have certainly tore open its elaborate wrapper to determine what sport heroes he could add to his cardboard collection. Assuming its new fortunate owner continues to retain this wax pack in its unopened state, we will never know what stars reside in this permanently sealed marvel. Yet as any unopened wax pack enthusiast will surely attest to, it is the simple concept of the "possible" immortals residing within the confines of the sealed wrapper that ultimately captivates their unquenchable collecting thirst!

(*) It should be noted that Steve Hart, the hobby's foremost authenticator of unopened wax (packs & boxes), has extensively reviewed this '33 Sport Kings wax pack and confirmed its un-opened status.

MIN BID $10,000
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