CHUCK PARIS'
1935 Goudey "4-in-1" PAGE

Specifications - SIZE: 2 3/8 X 2 7/8" FRONT: Color painting. BACK: Black-and white photograph. DISTRIBUTION: Nationally, one card in 1 cent packages with bubblegum. History - The format of Goudey's third major baseball card set was a departure from anything that had been done before, and it set the stage for many similar test issues from Topps in later years. Each of the '35 Goudeys, known as "4-in-1s" to collectors,features four differant players' pictures on the card front. The pictures are surrounded and separated by a red (occasionally blue) border. All of the players on any given card are members of the same team. The pictures are generally the same ones used on the 1933 and 1934 Goudey sets, in reduced size and set against a plain background. The players last name and team nick-name appear in his one-quarter of the card. Card backs are one-fourth of a large "puzzle" that could be assembled by gathering six or twelve cards of the same "Picture" number. Beside the puzzle photo on the back of the card, each card had a number identifying "Picture__ Card __". There were nine differant back puzzles. Each of the puzzles that featured montages of players on the Tigers, the Senators and the Indians required 12 cards numbered A-L to complete. Each of the puzzles that featured portraits of single players-- Chuck Klein, Frank Frisch, Mickey Cochrane, Joe Cronin, Jimmy Foxx, and Al Simmons--required six cards, A-F to complete. In all, a complet set of '35 Goudeys by back/front combination would contain 114 cards. Most collectors, however, do not collect the set that way (if they collect it at all), preferring to assemble just one of each of the 36 differant card fronts. The cards with blue borders are scarce, but they are not necessary to complete a set. Complete Book of Collectible Baseball Cards 1987

I was looking for a pre-war set to start on and decided on the 1935 Goudey because of its size (36 cards). The puzzle backs make it more challenging than that if you want to get into that aspect. This page is devoted to the 1935 Goudey "Four-in One" and should provide the collector with a valuable reference (he says quite presumptuously).

I completed the set on 2/10/03 when a Babe Ruth arrived from Bob Donaldson as part of a large trade for about 85 T206s. Below is a wantlist of the cards I need to complete the puzzle backs. 

The two digit puzzle backs refer to the rarer version, while the single digits are the more common. The puzzles are...  

1. or 11. Detroit Tigers ............. Puzzle Complete !!
2. or 12. Chuck Klein ............... I need only back A
3. or 13. Frankie Frisch............. I need only back A (Simmons/Cochrane)
4. or 14. Mickey Cochrane........ Puzzle Complete !!
5. or 15. Joe Cronin.................. Puzzle Complete !!
6. or 16. Jimmy Foxx................ I need backs A & B
7. or 17. Al Simmons................ I need backs C & D
8. only Cleveland Indians........... I need backs F, I & K
9. only Washington Senators...... I need only back B (Hayes/Lyons)

My complete wantlists ........