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Giants Football Cards |

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The Early Years Football began with the colleges and so did football cards. Many would say the first set of professional football cards was issued in 1935 by the National Chicle Company. Several future Giants were included in multi-sport sets issued in the 1920s for their college football play, and some professional football players, including future Giant Ken Strong, were part of a multi-sport set issued in 1930 by the Rogers and Peet Clothing Company. In 1933 the Goudey Gum Company inserted a multi-sport set, "Sports Kings" into Gum packs. Jim Thorpe was in this set, although his play for the 1925 Giants is not mentioned on the card.
Benny Friedman 1926 Spalding Sports Company		Walter Koppish 1926 Spalding Sports Company
Chris Cagle 1928 W560		Ken Strong 1928 W560
Ken Strong 1930 Rogers and Peet		Jim Thorpe 1933 Goudey Gum

In 1933 the Diamond Match Company used professional football players to sell matchbooks – two for a penny. A number of contemporary football Giants were included in that set. Other Diamond Matchbooks that featured Giants were put out in 1934 and 1935.Some samples are below.
Jack McBride 1933 Diamond Match	Bill Owen 1933 Diamond Match	Hap Moran 1933 Diamond Match
Cecil Tex Irvin 1934 Diamond Match	Steve Owen 1934 Diamond Match	Mel Hein 1934 Diamond Match
Ray Flaherty 1934 Diamond Match	Ken Strong 1934 Diamond Match	Harry Newman 1934 Diamond Match
Morris Red Badgro 1934 Diamond Match	Dale Burnett 1934 Diamond Match	Len Grant 1934 Diamond Match

In 1935 the National Chicle Company inserted "Football Stars" cards into their chewing gum packages. Five New York Giants were in that set. Also, if you took 20 Football Stars gum wrappers back to the store, you could redeem them for prints from the "Gridiron Photo Collection," now called Chicle R 311 photo premiums - the 1934 Championship Giants and Harry Newman were included in the set.

Bo Moldenda 1935 National Chicle	Ken Strong 1935 National Chicle	Tom Potsy Jones 1935 National Chicle
Dale Burnett 1935 National Chicle		John Del Isola 1935 National Chicle
1934 Giants Championship Team 1935 National Chicle R 311 Photo Premium		Harry Newman 1935 National Chicle R 311 Photo Premium

Also in 1935 Wheaties had a number of football themed cards printed on the back of their cereal boxes. The focus was on all-time college stars and coaches, and two men who had played for the Giants were featured - It is an indication of the versatility of the players of that era that Cagle, who was famous for running, is shown passing and Friedman, who was famous for passing, is shown kicking.

Chris Cagle 1935 Wheaties Fancy Frames

Benny Friedman 1935 Wheaties Fancy Frames