Which card company was the first to put gum in the packs?

Answer 1

Gum and candy companies were issuing Baseball cards in the early 1900's. I don't know for sure the name of the first company that included cards with sales of gum, but some of the companies include American Caramel, Croft, and John H Dockman & sons who did issue a set of cards with their gum around 1906 -1907. One card from a set of 50 came with a purchase of their "Baseball Gum". Goudey is given credit as the first company in 1933 to include gum with baseball cards.

Starting as the Topps gum company in 1938, the Brooklyn, NY based, Topps Gum was eventually replaced by Bazooka Bubble Gum in 1947 and is now one of America's most recognized products. Topps added trading cards in 1950 to try and enhance gum sales. That year, Hopalong Cassidy and Frank Buck "Bring 'em Back Alive" cards were issued. The following year the first baseball cards were published (Red Backs, and Blue Backs game cards.) In 1952 the First set was issued with the famed Mickey Mantle Rookie Card, and a Stick of Gum! Topps received numerous complaints from collectors that the gum was either staining the cards, or creating an impression in them, sacrificing their "mint" condition. The gum was eliminated in 1991. The Topps company has recently brought back the gum!