1936 R344 Rabbit Maranville ‘How To’ Set and Checklist

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	R344 Rabbit Maranville ‘How To’
Year	1936
Size	3″ x 3 3/4″
Images	Brown Ink
Type	Candy/Gum
Number in Set	20

R344 Rabbit Maranville ‘How To’ Overview

The 1936 R344 Rabbit Maranville ‘How To’ set is a series of instructional booklets with tips from the player about many different baseball-related topics. The front featured a cartoon image as well as the topic (i.e. How to Throw, How to Run Bases, etc.). The set was produced by National Chicle in the thick of the 1930s gum card era.

Maranville, a Hall of Famer, was one of baseball’s well-known figures at the time of publication. He is touted as a ‘Famous Baseball Star’ on the front of this series that came right after a 23-year major league career with several clubs, including the Braves, Pirates, Cubs, Robins (Dodgers), and Cardinals. Maranville was a modest offensive talent but was a highly-regarded player and a defensive standout. Five times, he finished in the top ten of voting for Most Valuable Player, including a third-place finish in 1913 and a second-place finish the following year in 1914.

The insides of the booklets provided instruction on the topic in question and the back was a continuation of that. Backs also advertised that the booklets were distributed with National Chicle’s Batter Up Gum products.

The backs also stated that there were many other Maranville booklets giving ‘inside secrets’ from Maranville in his 23 years of Major League baseball. A portrait sketch of Maranville was also printed on the reverse.

In all, there are 20 booklets in the set. When folded, each booklet measures approximately 3″ wide x 3 3/4″ tall. The booklets had a total of four panels (front cover, two inside panels, back panel). They appear to have been distributed unfolded as a line is printed in the middle with instructions to fold at that locations.

All printing in the booklet is done in a brownish/maroon color. Books were produced in 1936, the year after Maranville had retired as a player.

The booklets are not necessarily rare. However, you do not see them that often, usually starting around $20-$40 each.