1934 R72 Schutter-Johnson "I'm Going To Be" set

Complete Checklist, Baseball Player Spotlight & The #4 Short Print Mystery

The 1934 R72 Schutter-Johnson “I’m Going to Be” set is one of the most creative — and quietly mysterious — pre-war gum card issues of the 1930s.

Released during the heart of the Great Depression, this colorful 25-card series captured childhood ambition in cardboard form. Each card boldly declared a future profession:

“I’m Going to Be…”

From entertainers and athletes to law enforcement and laborers, the set reflects the dreams of American youth in 1934 — a time when optimism mattered more than ever.

But beyond its artistic charm, the set carries a long-standing hobby rumor involving redemption prizes and a potentially short-printed card.

Let’s break it down.

About the 1934 R72 Schutter-Johnson Issue

• Year: 1934

• Issuer: Schutter-Johnson Candy Company

• ACC Designation: R72

• Card Size: Approx. 2¼" x 3¼"

• Total Cards: 25

• Distribution: Candy/gum packs
  
  

Unlike major sports releases of the era, R72 wasn’t built around celebrity athletes. Instead, it focused on aspiration — each card depicting a child dressed as their hoped-for profession.

The artwork is bold, colorful, and distinctly 1930s in style, with clean borders and simple occupational titling.

Complete 1934 R72 Checklist

1. Clown

2. Wrestler

3. Animal Trainer

4. Strong Man

5. Swimmer

6. Radio Broadcaster

7. Pirate

8. Auto Racer

9. Jockey

10. Athlete

11. Movie Star

12. Cowboy

13. Fireman

14. Policeman

15. Gold Miner

16. Aviator

17. Magician

18. Detective

19. Baseball Player

20. Locomotive Engineer

21. Boxer

22. Speed Cop (motorcycle officer)

23. Sailor

24. Drum Major

25. Hunter
    
    

The diversity of professions makes this one of the more charming non-sport issues of the pre-war period.

The Baseball Player Card (#19): A Pre-War Crossover Gem

Card #19, “Baseball Player,” is (likely) the 2nd most important card in the set.

In 1934, baseball was America’s game. While major gum sets were producing stars and Hall of Famers, Schutter-Johnson tapped into youth imagination — portraying a boy in uniform envisioning himself as the next big leaguer.

For collectors focused on 1930s baseball history, this card offers:

• Pre-war vintage status

• Affordable entry compared to star player cards

• Strong visual appeal

• Cross-category demand

It’s one of the best “theme crossover” cards of the era.

The #4 Strong Man Short Print & Redemption Rumor

Here’s where things get interesting.

For years, collectors have circulated a theory that Card #4 — “Strong Man” — was intentionally short printed or damaged during production.

The reasoning?

The set may have been tied to a redemption promotion.

Rumor suggests that children who completed the entire 25-card set could redeem it for a prize — often described as a baseball glove, wrist watch or roller skates.

If a company wanted to limit prize payouts, one method would be to:

• Print fewer copies of a specific card

• Allow one card to be more damage-prone (or "Void" a card)

• Quietly create a bottleneck in completion
  
  

Card #4 sits early in the checklist and is frequently discussed as the potential scarcity card.

While hard documentation is limited, anecdotal hobby evidence includes:

• Difficulty locating clean examples of #4

• Longtime collectors recalling incomplete childhood sets

• Slight population discrepancies in graded examples

Whether fully confirmed or not, the rumor adds real intrigue — and narrative value — to the Strong Man card.

Redemption-driven scarcity has shaped other pre-war sets. It would not be unprecedented.

So what happened? Allegedly (?) the card was inentionally short-printed to reduce the number of full-set redemption prizes Schutter-Johnson would have to give out. Because of this, most collectors consider this set complete having the 24 cards (due to the rarity/non-existence of Strongman, card #4)

Why the R72 Set Is Undervalued

Despite its age and charm, the set remains under the radar because:

• It lacks major sports stars

• It doesn’t have registry competition driving hype

• Documentation is sparse

Yet it offers:

• True pre-war pedigree (1934)

• Vibrant Depression-era artwork

• Baseball crossover appeal (#19)

• A compelling redemption short-print rumor (#4)

• Manageable 25-card completion goal
  
  

For collectors who value history and scarcity over mainstream hype, it checks serious boxes.

Who Should Be Paying Attention?

Pre-War Collectors
A legitimate 1934 gum issue with strong design.

Baseball Enthusiasts
The Baseball Player card provides 1930s baseball imagery without star-level pricing.

Occupational Collectors
Fireman, Policeman, Aviator, Detective — strong thematic depth.

Redemption & Promo Historians
If the #4 Strong Man theory gains more evidence, this set could attract renewed interest.

Final Thoughts

The 1934 R72 Schutter-Johnson “I’m Going to Be” set captures something rare in the hobby:

Ambition.

In a time of economic hardship, children opened candy packs and imagined becoming athletes, heroes, entertainers, and explorers.

Nearly a century later, those dreams remain preserved in cardboard — along with a possible short print mystery that still sparks discussion.

Between the baseball crossover appeal of #19 and the intrigue surrounding #4 Strong Man, this small 25-card issue may be far more significant than most collectors realize.

Quiet sets often hold the strongest stories.

And this one has both history — and mystery.

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