Big League Chew facts for kids
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Outta' Here Original variety Big League Chew
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| Owner | Ford Gum |
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| Introduced | May 1980 |
| Previous owners | Wrigley Company |
| Tagline | "The Hall of Fame Bubble Gum" |
Big League Chew is a famous American bubble gum brand. It was made to look like chewing tobacco. This gum offers a fun and healthier choice for baseball players. It comes in a pouch with shredded gum, just like tobacco.
The gum was created by Rob Nelson, a left-handed pitcher. He played for the Portland Mavericks baseball team. Todd Field, who was the team's bat boy, also helped create it. Todd later became a well-known filmmaker.
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How Big League Chew Started
The idea for Big League Chew came from baseball players. Many players in the 1970s used chewing tobacco. Rob Nelson and Todd Field wanted to offer a safer alternative. They thought bubble gum could be a fun substitute.
Another Maverick player, Jim Bouton, helped share the idea. Jim was a former All-Star for the New York Yankees. He presented the gum idea to the Wrigley Company. Wrigley was a big gum company and owned the Chicago Cubs.
Big League Chew first came out in May 1980. It was the usual pink color, like other popular bubble gums. The packaging has a cartoon style. Artist Bill Mayer designed the original look. The pouches come in bright colors like neon green for sour apple and bright purple for grape.
The first samples of the shredded gum were made in a funny way. They ran sheets of bubble gum through an office paper shredder!
Early Challenges and Changes
Todd Field, who helped create the gum, was not part of the final deal. The deal was made with the Wrigley Company. Todd later became a famous actor and director.
Some people found Big League Chew controversial. This was because it looked so much like chewing tobacco. The creators wanted to offer a healthier choice. But some worried that the gum's look might encourage real tobacco use.
Who Makes Big League Chew Now
Today, Ford Gum & Machine Company makes Big League Chew. They produce it in Akron, New York, in the U.S. Ford Gum took over from Wrigley at the end of 2010. Before that, the gum was made in Mexico.
In April 2023, Rob Nelson shared exciting news. Over one billion pouches of Big League Chew have been sold worldwide! That's a lot of gum!
Big League Chew and Baseball
Big League Chew is very popular in the world of baseball. It is the official bubble gum of the Baseball Hall of Fame. This means it has a special connection to baseball history.
In 2023, Big League Chew also partnered with USA Baseball. This shows its strong link to the sport.
The gum's first advertising slogan was "You're in the big leagues when you're into Big League Chew!" This slogan was used in the 1980s and is still featured today. Now, it also calls itself "The Hall of Fame Bubble Gum." This highlights its official link with the Baseball Hall of Fame.
See also
