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Goudey

Goudey is the Boston gum company behind the 1933 Babe Ruth card and some of the most collected pre-war baseball sets.

1933–1962 United States Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sports cardsBaseballFootball
Image gallery (6) Pre-grade a card
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C738
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C738

Goudey at a glance

Goudey is the Boston gum company behind the 1933 Babe Ruth card and some of the most collected pre-war baseball sets.

Full history, sources and grading notes below. Last verified · Published · Confidence: Medium

Company history

The 1933 breakthrough[1][2]

Goudey was a Boston chewing-gum company that began issuing baseball cards in 1933. The set combined a large colour portrait with a statistical back and a chewable product, and it included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and other stars of the era. The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards are among the most recognisable pre-war cards in the hobby.

Later designs and the end of the line[1][2]

Goudey followed with the 1934 set, the distinctive 1938 “Heads-Up” design and several non-sport issues. Production was interrupted by wartime paper and labour restrictions, and the company left the card market in the early 1940s. Its pre-war output remains a benchmark for colour, stock and centring in vintage grading.

Timeline

Dated milestones with a source for each event. Hover a marker for the short label; the list below carries the detail.

Goudey timeline
Goudey timelineDated milestones in the history of Goudey.1933: First baseball setFirst baseball set19331934: Second flagshipSecond flagship19341938: Heads-UpHeads-Up19381941: Card production endsCard production ends1941
View timeline events
YearEventDetail
1933First baseball setGoudey issues its landmark 1933 baseball set, including Babe Ruth.
1934Second flagshipThe 1934 Goudey set introduces a new design and a deep star checklist.
1938Heads-UpGoudey’s 1938 “Heads-Up” cards use a distinctive oversized portrait design.
1941Card production endsWartime restrictions and changing priorities end Goudey’s card line.
  1. 1933
    First baseball set[1]

    Goudey issues its landmark 1933 baseball set, including Babe Ruth.

  2. 1934
    Second flagship[1]

    The 1934 Goudey set introduces a new design and a deep star checklist.

  3. 1938
    Heads-Up[2]

    Goudey’s 1938 “Heads-Up” cards use a distinctive oversized portrait design.

  4. 1941
    Card production ends[1]

    Wartime restrictions and changing priorities end Goudey’s card line.

Brand identity

Image archive

Local, provenance-recorded images. Captions and source credits are part of the record; a missing section is shown as an explicit gap rather than filled with a placeholder.

Card fronts & backs

Open the full gallery →
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C738
Card fronts · 1933Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C738eBay listing image
1933 GOUDEY #61 MAX BISHOP BASEBALL CARD C784
Card fronts · 19331933 GOUDEY #61 MAX BISHOP BASEBALL CARD C784eBay listing image
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737 — reverse.
Card backs · 1933Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737 — reverse.eBay listing image
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737 — reverse.
Card backs · 1933Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737 — reverse.eBay listing image
Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737
Card fronts · 1933Goudey 1933 Goudey Big League Gus Mancuso #41 Giants Baseball Card. C737eBay listing image

Notable sets

Notable sets
YearSetWhy it mattersSource
19331933 Goudey BaseballThe foundational Goudey set and home of the Babe Ruth cards.[1]
19381938 Goudey Heads-UpA distinctive oversized portrait design that is instantly recognisable.[2]

Grading notes

How this manufacturer's stock, cutting and production method affect the four grading pillars.

Stock and brittleness[2]

1930s Goudey stock is thick and brittle; edge chips and corner flakes are common and weigh heavily on the grade.

Centring[1]

Pre-war cutting was imprecise. A 60/40 card is strong for the issue, and badly off-centre examples are normal.

How to identify Goudey cards

1933-1941[1]

The Goudey name and Boston address appear on the back; the 1933 set has a distinctive portrait-and-stat layout.

1938 Heads-Up[1]

The oversized portrait and “Heads-Up” branding are unique to the 1938 issue.

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Frequently asked questions

When did Goudey start making cards?

Goudey began issuing cards in 1933.

Who owns Goudey now?

Goudey is defunct; its brand assets have changed hands over time.

What is Goudey known for?

Goudey is the Boston gum company behind the 1933 Babe Ruth card and some of the most collected pre-war baseball sets.

Sources & methodology

Every factual claim in the profile is tied to the numbered sources below. Translated sources are tagged with their original language. Media provenance is recorded per image; images are stored locally and credited to their source.

  1. Wikipedia: Goudey (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  2. PSA CardFacts: 1933 Goudey (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)

Unverified or incomplete

  • Text-first draft; media, design evolution and people/place sections are pending.

Cite this profile

PreGradeCards Research. “Goudey.” Card Manufacturers Directory. Last verified 2026-11-07. https://pregradecards.com/manufacturers/goudey

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