How old was the oldest gum that you ever ate from a pack of cards?

NeilDowney · June 17, 2006 10:56AM

Hi Guys, A strange question came up at the Davalillo's party this afternoon. It went like this : what was the oldest gum that you have ever eaten after just opening the pack of cards? My answer was that in 2002 at a show, my son Eric and I ate gum from a freshly opened pack of 1975 Topps baseball cards. The gum was 27 years old. Needly to say, it was nasty and crumbled in my mouth. We just wanted to say that we ate gum that was over 25 years old. What's your story? Neil

onlyanumber · June 17, 2006 11:06AM

I ate a piece of gum and part of a Greg Pruitt card it was stuck to from 1974 football back in February. My wife dared me.

GOODLIEU · June 17, 2006 11:08AM

Hi Neil,
Great meeting you and your son today. I tell you what you do have guts opening this thread it could get weird. Anyway I posted a message on the Jim's Open House thread in regard to our visit and feel free to jump on it to give your own impressions. Take care and good luck with your sets
Art

NeilDowney · June 17, 2006 11:13AM

Hi GOODLIEU, I told you I was going to post this thread this afternoon. I think that it will be fun to know other people's stories. I just posted on the Jim's house thread. You did a great job expressing how incredible his collection was. I just added a few thoughts of my own. Neil

Davalillo · June 17, 2006 12:11PM

Neil,

I just caught the tail end of that conversation but I heard the Rabbi say that he chewed the gum from a 1961 pack--funny.

Jim

Griffins · June 17, 2006 12:15PM

About 6 months ago I ate the gum from a '62 pack I opened.
The only antidote was 4 oz. of Macallan.

Cincykid8123 · June 17, 2006 12:31PM

Last month, my three year old son was insistant on eating the gum from a 1986 pack. He just wouldn't listen and stuck it in his mouth! He chalked it up as a father knows best life lesson!

GeoffEighinger · June 17, 2006 1:26PM

1988 Topps football last year I had a piece just for kicks. A few weeks later (another box), my female friend had one cos she didn't know any better. Haha boy was she pissed.

itzagoner · June 17, 2006 1:46PM

1965 Topps Baseball....Vintage, sweet aroma, lingering after-taste....they should make Fear Factor contestants eat old Topps Gum, they would prefer to eat the pig bladders

80sJunkie · June 17, 2006 5:01PM

Oh finally some one else as sick as me. I love giving my nieces and nephews old gum when i rip open packs . needless to say it only works once then they never trust you to give them gum again. Last month while ripping open some 80 topps boxes i got my 11 year old son to try a piece. I'll never forget the look on his face. So of course last week while his friend was over i was opening a box of 78 topps and he begged for me to let him give his friend a piece. Once again another victim I think the 78's the oldest I've watched someone try. Its a terrible thing to do but its so much fun to see the look on there face.

EB31 · June 17, 2006 5:30PM

83 Topps....turned to powder...nasty

gmoneystyles · June 17, 2006 5:48PM

1986 topps (7) in 2005. It wouldnt coagulate. Maybe a doctor or scientist on the boards could explain why?

LWMM · June 17, 2006 9:07PM

84 Topps Baseball, crumbled in my mouth. yuck (though I've tried worse)

mikeschmidt · June 17, 2006 10:09PM

I ate a piece from 1952 - but describing it anymore as 'gum' is perhaps a bit of a misnomer

NeilDowney · June 17, 2006 10:44PM

Hi Guys, I think that it is a father's job to feed their kid a piece of gum that is 20+ years old just to see the look on their face. I'd like to think that you can't really get sick eating old gum but it is a right of passage for any collector of cards. It should be a rule that if you collect the set, you have to eat the gum at least once. Anyone have a mint condition 1956 Topps gum piece for sale? Yea mikeschmidt, what year did you eat the 1952 Topps gum? That's the oldest so far. Has anyone ever saved the gum from a vintage pack as a personal collectable? Perhaps in the future, PSA will start to grade the gum too. I wonder what qualifiers will be invented for gum grading? I know that this thread is off topic but it seems like a fun thread to most. Keep the stories coming, Neil

Toad · June 17, 2006 10:51PM

I usually correct people when they say I "ate" some gum. I would look at such an idiot and say, you CHEW gum, you don't eat it! However, I know from first-hand experience that old topps gum is not something that is able to withstand much chewing. It all disintegrates rather quickly and before you know it, it's travelling down your throat.

montanafan · June 18, 2006 8:12AM

i have a giant box of brittle, antique gum (full sticks, pre 1990's only) that i've saved from countless box rips... should i just throw it out? i definitely don't want it to end up in re-wrapped packs so i'm hesitant to put it on ebay.. wasn't sure if there were gum collectors or what... anyone?

FB · June 18, 2006 8:26AM

I tried to chew several pieces from some 72 OPC baseball packs. It dissolved when it hit my tongue, so there really wasn't much chewing. Just a lot of nasty aftertaste.

Frank

NeilDowney · June 18, 2006 8:39AM

Hi Frank, I have an unopened pack of 1972 Topps cards that I was thinking of ripping just to get the gum. It would increase my gum record from 27 years to 34 years. I'll have to think about it some more. Neil

metalmike20 · June 18, 2006 10:55AM

I ate a piece from a 1966 philly pack a few years ago. A one word description- DISGUSTING, it melted in my mouth, maybe more like crumbled. The gum sucked but at least the pack yielded a psa-8 worthy Jim Brown!

Mike

ToppsCo1lector · June 18, 2006 11:10AM

The oldest I have was I believe from 1990. Nothing like you guys, but again I haven't even busted any packs from way back then. I bought a few boxes of 90 Bowman and actually chewed way more than one piece but that didn't improve it at all. That was last year so 15 years old is my current mark.

1960toppsguy · June 18, 2006 11:15AM

25 year old, I would hope . . .

joemaggio · June 18, 2006 12:02PM

I've got a piece of 1972 Topps gum in front of me right now. If anybody wants to try it, just send me your address and it's yours!

NeilDowney · June 18, 2006 12:16PM

Hi Joe, I'll take it! Then I don't have to open the 1972 Topps pack I have just to get the gum. Yummy----I can't wait for it to crumble to dust. Neil

joemaggio · June 18, 2006 1:02PM

I'll send it with your cards in a few weeks!

RipublicaninMass · June 19, 2006 3:41AM

<< I ate a piece from 1952 - but describing it anymore as 'gum' is perhaps a bit of a misnomer >>

I promised Lothar I would split the gum form a 52 pack. Now just to get the 52 pack worth opening. I used to think a GAI pack would be ok...ummm do I have to wait for PSA??

edited: The GAI pack might not even still have the original gum!!

mercurynut · June 21, 2006 6:59AM

9 years old.

80sJunkie · July 4, 2006 12:58AM

I'm cracking open a 72 opechee box any one want the gum?

Griffins · July 4, 2006 2:13AM

I won a lot of '51 Topps in Mastro and it comes with a piece of candy from the pack. If anyone is feeling especially brave pm me.

Ripken · July 4, 2006 2:31AM

If anyone is really brave..and ready to be semi-famous, I'd love to get some good quality video of someone opening a pack of cards that's at least 35 years old....displaying the contents and then...yes, devouring the gum. I'll put it up on my new web site (still a work in progress). SportsCollectorsDaily.com

80sJunkie · July 4, 2006 5:28AM

Im about to open a box of 72's thats 34 years old my son said for 10 bucks he would put 5 pieces in his mouth and let me video tape it is that soud good enough for you ripken.

usmc1986 · July 4, 2006 10:21AM

Tried a piece from 1983 Topps Football a few months ago...not very good.

Ripken · July 4, 2006 11:32AM

Junkie,

You've got a deal..but he doesn't need to put all 5 in..I don't want him to get sick. Just a couple..and he's gotta try and swallow 'em.

Make sure the video is good quality..maybe done outside? Try to use your camcorder as an editor (focus while the record button is off).

All I need is video of a couple of packs being opened and the gum. Turn your PM on...or e-mail me through the web site
Sports Collectors Daily

zef204 · July 4, 2006 2:50PM

I have a box of 1977 Topps Mexican FB. I opened one of the boxes I had and the gum was green as were many of the cards. If anyone will take pictures of them eating the gum, I'll gladly mail you a 1977 Mexican FB pack.

On a side note, I ripped Topps Heritage FB box a few years ago. I don't know what year as I don't really collect modern, but the cards were the '57 design. Anywho, I put the gum whichi is all individually packaged in our pen/gum drawer in the kitchen. Low and behold my wife finished the gum and asked me where I got it so she could get more. She went right out and bought me another hobby box after I told here where it came from.

lostdart58 · July 4, 2006 9:57PM

A pen and gum draw????

perkdog · July 4, 2006 10:02PM

I have popped a piece in my mouth that was at least over 10 years old and it just turned to a mess, no way it would get to chewing form. Great thread and stories.

bri2327 · July 4, 2006 11:32PM

Considering the luck I have had in the past year with older packs I'd be better off eating the cards then the gum

zef204 · July 5, 2006 1:01AM

<< A pen and gum draw???? >>

It's actually got more than that in there but had I said "gum drawer" I felt I would have taken some heat.

mikeschmidt · July 5, 2006 2:42AM

<< I won a lot of '51 Topps in Mastro and it comes with a piece of candy from the pack. If anyone is feeling especially brave pm me. >>

Anthony: I would happily eat it - but think it would be funnier if it was with an audience. Perhaps when I finally meet you live...?

Griffins · July 5, 2006 3:38AM

Marc-
The National is in 3 weeks, I"ll bring the '51 Candy, a video camera, and your choice of chaser- scotch or tequilla. Unless you're more of a wine spritzer guy

tkd7 · July 5, 2006 4:14AM

<< I won a lot of '51 Topps in Mastro and it comes with a piece of candy from the pack. If anyone is feeling especially brave pm me. >>

I saw that pack! The gum looks brown!

Nice pickup by the way (the cards, not the gum)

Griffins · July 5, 2006 4:15AM

I"m pretty sure it's caramel. Does that make '51 Topps E Cards?
Got the package today, it's nasty, toxic stuff. This is going to be a great video!

mikeschmidt · July 5, 2006 4:17AM

<< Marc-
The National is in 3 weeks, I"ll bring the '51 Candy, a video camera, and your choice of chaser- scotch or tequilla. Unless you're more of a wine spritzer guy

>>

Anthony - that's the rub, I'm not going to be going to the National this year. But perhaps some more time 'aging' won't hurt the process any, will it?

But, yes, alcohol must be involved

zippy · July 8, 2006 1:32AM

Around 1987 I sold a 1960 Topps wax pack to a coin dealer, I was set up at a coin show selling cards.....he found a whitey ford card & was so excited decided to chew the gum, I was praying he didn't get sick & sue me.....
p.s I sold 22 other vintage wax packs & not 1 person found any Hof'ers....not one from 22 packs of pre 70 baseball cards

How old was the oldest gum that you ever ate from a pack of cards?

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