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.
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
Clown
Wrestler
Animal Trainer
Strong Man
Swimmer
Radio Broadcaster
Pirate
Auto Racer
Jockey
Athlete
Movie Star
Cowboy
Fireman
Policeman
Gold Miner
Aviator
Magician
Detective
Baseball Player
Locomotive Engineer
Boxer
Speed Cop (motorcycle officer)
Sailor
Drum Major
Hunter
The diversity of professions makes this one of the more charming non-sport issues of the pre-war period.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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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