1936 World Wide Gum Set (V355)

‘It’s In The Details’
Title | V355 World Wide Gum |
Year | 1936 |
Size | 2 3/8″ x 2 7/8″ |
Images | Black and White |
Type | Canadian |
Number in Set |
135 |
1936 V355 World Wide Gum Overview
For the third time in four years, the World Wide Gum Company mirrored the American Goudey company in the production of a baseball card set. But unlike the 1933 and 1934 issues, the 1936 issues were distinctly different.
Created by the World Wide Gum Company, the 1936 V355 set is close to the 1936 Goudey issues in terms of look. Both are black and white and the cards are about the same size. But there are significant differences, too.
The Goudey cards contained replica signatures of the players on the front and the backs were actually part of a game. The World Wide Gum cards didn’t have any such autograph (instead, they only had the player’s name and card number inside of a box) and backs were standard biographies (in both English and French).
For the first time, the World Wide Gum set is much larger, too. The 1936 Goudey release consisted of only 25 cards while the World Wide Gum cards had a whopping 135 in their set. It was the largest World Wide Gum set, in fact, of the three that mirrored Goudey issues in 1933, 1934, and 1936.
The cards are nearly impossible to find in high grade as PSA has not assigned any cards a 9 or 10 grade (and only ten cards have received straight PSA 8s).
Joe DiMaggio Rookie Card
There are several noteworthy cards but, without a doubt, the key is the rookie card of the legendary Joe DiMaggio.
Simply put, DiMaggio’s card in this set is one of the most important gum issues of all time. And while he has other rookies in some premium sets, his World Wide Gum card is easily his most desirable card. Even in low-grade condition, it is a very expensive card because of its rarity and prestige. The card, even in bad shape, generally sells for more than $10,000.
The fact is, that it is one of the most valuable pre-war cards out there. Even in lower-grade condition, it’s a five-figure card. A PSA 2, for example, sold in a Heritage Auction in 2017 for more than $13,000. A PSA 3 sold on eBay in 2018 for over $20,000.
Here’s a closer look at the DiMaggio card and its overall importance.
Card No. 135 Philip Weintraub
Collectors pursuing this set should note the rarity of the final card, No. 135 Philip Weintraub. The Weintraub card is considered to be shortprinted and is usually quite expensive, selling for hundreds of dollars even in low grade condition.
The card is so rare that when 1936 World Wide Gum sets are advertised for sale, they are often done so without the Weintraub.
1936 V355 World Wide Gum Checklist
- Jimmy Dykes
- Paul Waner
- Cy Blanton
- Sam Leslie
- Johnny Vergez
- Arky Vaughan
- Bill Terry
- Joe Moore
- Gus Mancuso
- Fred Marberry
- George Selkirk
- Spud Davis
- Chuck Klein
- Fred Fitzsimmons
- Bill Delancey
- Billy Herman
- George Davis
- Rip Collins
- Dizzy Dean
- Roy Parmalee
- Victor Sorrell
- Harry Danning
- Hal Schumacher
- Cy Perkins
- Leo Durocher
- Glenn Myatt
- Bob Seeds
- Jimmy Ripple
- Al Schacht
- Pete Fox
- Del Baker
- Flea Clifton
- Tom Bridges
- Bill Dickey
- Wally Berger
- Slick Castelman
- Dick Bartell
- Red Rolfe
- Waite Hoyt
- Wes Ferrell
- Hank Greenberg
- Charlie Gehringer
- Goose Goslin
- Schoolboy Rowe
- Mickey Cochrane
- Joe Cronin
- Jimmie Foxx
- Jerry Walker
- Charlie Gelbert
- Roy Hayworth
- Joe DiMaggio
- Billy Rogell
- Joe McCarty
- Phil Cavaretta
- Kiki Culyer
- Lefty Gomez
- Gabby Hartnett
- Johnny Marcum
- Burgess Whitehead
- Whitey Whitehall
- Bucky Walters
- Luke Sewell
- Joe Kuhel
- Lou Finney
- Fred Lindstrom
- Paul Derringer
- Steve O’Neil
- Mule Haas
- Freck Owen
- Wild Bill Hallahan
- Bill Urbanski
- Dan Taylor
- Heinie Manush
- Jo Jo White
- Ducky Medwick
- Joe Vosmik
- Al Simmons
- Shag Shaughnessy
- Harry Smythe
- Benny Tate
- Billy Rhiel
- Lauri Myllykangas
- Ben Sankey
- Crip Poli
- Jim Bottomley
- William Clark
- Ossie Bluege
- Lefty Grove
- Charlie Grimm
- Ben Chapman
- Frank Crosetti
- John Pomorski
- Jesse Haines
- Chick Hafey
- Tony Piet
- Lou Gehrig
- Bill Jurges
- Smead Jolley
- Jimmy Wilson
- Lon Warneke
- Lefty Tamulis
- Charlie Ruffing
- Earl Grace
- Rox Lawson
- Stan Hack
- Augie Galan
- Frankie Frisch
- Bill McKechnie
- Bill Lee
- Connie Mack
- Frank Reiber
- Zeke Bonura
- Luke Appling
- Monte Pearson
- Bob O’Farrell
- Marvin Duke
- Paul Florence
- John Berley
- Tom Oliver
- Norman Kies
- Hal King
- Tom Abernathy
- Phil Hensick
- Rah Schalk
- Paul Dunlap
- Benny Bates
- George Puccinelli
- Stevie Stevenson
- Rabbit Maranville
- Bucky Harris
- Al Lopez
- Buddy Myer
- Cliff Bolton
- Estel Crabtree
- Philip Weintraub
Follow Pre-War Cards on Twitter and also be sure to like our page on Facebook.