Big League Chew

Big League Chew Bubble Gum

Big League Chew - Outta' Here Original

Big League Chew is a brand of bubble gum that is shredded and packaged in an aluminum foil pouch. It was created by Portland Mavericks left-handed pitcher Rob Nelson, and pitched to the Wrigley Company (longtime owners of the Chicago Cubs) by former New York Yankee All-Star Jim Bouton, a Maverick teammate of Nelson's, as a fun alternative to the unhealthy tobacco-chewing habit common among ballplayers in the 1970s. Over 500 million pouches of Big League Chew have been sold since 1980.^{[citation needed]}

Big League Chew was introduced in May 1980, in the traditional pink color already seen in established brands of bubble gum. The cartoony packaging, originally designed by artist Bill Mayer, comes in flashy colors such as neon green and bright purple. LeBron James was reportedly a devoted fan of Big League Chew before signing an endorsement deal with Bubblicious.

In addition to the "Outta Here" Original flavor, it comes in "Ground Ball" Grape, "Wild Pitch" Watermelon, and "Swingin' Sour" Apple flavors. Currently, it is manufactured in the USA by Ford Gum & Machine Company in Akron, NY, after taking over distribution rights from Wrigley and moving production from Mexico at the end of 2010.

In 2011 Big League Chew became the official sponsor of the Seamheads National Podcasting Network at Seamheads.com.

The original advertising slogan throughout the 1980s, which is still featured today, stated, "You're in the big leagues when you're into Big League Chew!"

Notes

^ Elliott Harris, "GUMMED UP // LeBron gets $15 million to endorse Bubblicious," Chicago Sun-Times, February 26, 2004. ^ Fink, James (2010-10-19). Ford Gum bites into Big League Chew. Business First of Buffalo. Retrieved 2010-10-19.

External links

• Carson Cistulli interviews Rob Nelson, co-inventor of Big League Chew
• Discussion with Nelson about the growth and management of Big League Chew
• Ford Gum information page
• Seamheads National Podcasting Network