Gehrig "Lou's Hit" Ice Cream Wrapper (?)

[Snapolit1]

Took a flyer on this, as I've never ever seen one before. Hoping it is actually Gehrig and not Lou Smith or Lou Jones.

Has anyone ever seen any info on one of these before? Any info would be appreciated. I've identified one partial one sold at a prior auction but no real info.

[OldOriole]

The only one I can recall seeing was in a Huggins & Scott auction this past summer and it's probably the one you are referring to, since it was a partial wrapper.

Here's what they had about it in the description:

c.1930s Lou’s Hit “The Wonder Ice Cream Bar” partial wrapper measuring approximately 3-1/2 x 3-1/2”, printed with “Mfd by Rusetos & Company” and visible graphics of a batter and hands holding a bat, appears to be quite rare, possibly a regional New York area product tied to Lou Gehrig.

Hope this helps.

[Snapolit1]

Yep, that all I found. Thanks.

[gnaz01]

The wrapper states the company is in Chicago, doubtful its Gehrig....IMO

[sb1]

I found one small classified in a Chicago paper 1932 that mentioned Lou's Hit Ice cream, nothing else, just a bit closer date.

[Snapolit1]

Thanks.

[steve B]

Just had a quick look at the Chicago rosters for 31 and 32.

Cubs didn't have Lous either year, unless it was an odd nickname.
The White Sox had a couple maybes, none all that solid.

Lu Blue - played both years. Maybe slightly changed to avoid having to pay him?
Lew Fonseca - Both years, but player/manager in 32 and not many games.
Lou Garland - only pitched 7 games in 31 and had no hits.

The team was pretty awful those years, maybe there was some special hit worth celebrating, but it seems unlikely. (Lew Fonsecas 1000the hit? That would be pretty odd. )

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by steve B

Just had a quick look at the Chicago rosters for 31 and 32.

Cubs didn't have Lous either year, unless it was an odd nickname.
The White Sox had a couple maybes, none all that solid.

Lu Blue - played both years. Maybe slightly changed to avoid having to pay him?
Lew Fonseca - Both years, but player/manager in 32 and not many games.
Lou Garland - only pitched 7 games in 31 and had no hits.

The team was pretty awful those years, maybe there was some special hit worth celebrating, but it seems unlikely. (Lew Fonsecas 1000the hit? That would be pretty odd. )

And just because the ice Cream was made in Chicago doesn't mean it couldn't possibly be a specialty item for the NY market.

Thanks very much guys for the digging.

[JollyElm]

If you look at it from a marketing perspective, it's quite possible (if not probable) that 'Lou' was no one in particular, just a name they decided to use for the product. And by coupling it with 'hit' and the lefty batter baseball graphic on the package, they were purposefully trying to infer to the buying public that this was, in fact, a Lou Gehrig endorsed ice cream.

Similarly, the makers of the Baby Ruth candy bar claimed it was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth, but that was just a laughable argument to avoid paying fees to the Sultan of Swat. Cleveland had been out of office for nearly a quarter of a century by that time and Babe Ruth was becoming a huge star. As they say nowadays, do the math on that one.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

If you look at it from a marketing perspective, it's quite possible (if not probable) that 'Lou' was no one in particular, just a name they decided to use for the product. And by coupling it with 'hit' and the lefty batter baseball graphic on the package, they were purposefully trying to infer to the buying public that this was, in fact, a Lou Gehrig endorsed ice cream.

Similarly, the makers of the Baby Ruth candy bar claimed it was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth, but that was just a laughable argument to avoid paying fees to the Sultan of Swat. Cleveland had been out of office for nearly a quarter of a century by that time and Babe Ruth was becoming a huge star. As they say nowadays, do the math on that one.

Agreed. I’m with this thought.

[Snapolit1]

Yep, definitely a possibility. If it was an officially sponsored product think I'd be able to find something on.

[Butch7999]

Some bizarre backstory on Mr Rusetos from a 1913 Chicago paper, here:
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...02/ed-2/seq-3/

Site's a bit slow to load, but the story's at the right on page 3 if you're patient.
Fascinating content all through that obscure periodical, in fact...

[sb1]

I think it was a play on using Gehrig's name in Chicago without fear of any repercussions. and yes if you google the Rusetos name in Chicago they have a storied past well into the 1930's they were making headlines.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by sb1

I think it was a play on using Gehrig's name in Chicago without fear of any repercussions. and yes if you google the Rusetos name in Chicago they have a storied past well into the 1930's they were making headlines.

Cool stuff indeed.

[roarfrom34]

Don't forget that Eleanor Gehrig was from Chicago and her father I believe had a background in the concession business (just a thought)