Question: what Babe Ruth's are "affordable"?

[Pythonfactory]

Hi all. I'm sure that a similar thread has been created at some point but I cannot find it. Besides the Sanella's, what Babe Ruth's are affordable (i.e., <$200) for the average collector? I'd prefer that they be actual baseball cards but other types of cards work too.

As always, thanks for your insight!

[drc]

M114 Baseball Magazine Premium. Though that's more a print/mini poster than a card.

[Bicem]

good question... 1929 Shonen postcard and Churchman card come to mind.

[Leon]

You have to be really careful buying them but Fro Joy and Babe Ruth Candy can both be had, in nice but lower condition, for $300 or less, if you are patient. These are a little higher grade but the aesthetics would be similar...

[frankbmd]

1932 Bulgaria Sport Tobacco (c Schmeling) .... A twofer

[leaflover]

The 1961 Fleer set has a "Babe" in it. Nice looking card with a "Bio" back.
The SMR in NRMT-MT is $215. Probably can be found for less.

[ethicsprof]

it's a premium but I love the quaker oats Ruth that I got from fkw many moons ago. I'm certain you can find one for 'round 200.
all the best,
barry

[Pythonfactory]

Thanks everyone. That 1932 Bulgaria looks like the best candidate since it is clearly depicts the babe (unlike the sanella), can be purchased for under 100, and is contemporary. The fact that has the quirk of being a foreign card is another bonus.

[Matthew H]

1935 goudey

[ullmandds]

Condition was a little rough... but doesn't get much cheaper than this!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121042774587...84.m1423.l2649

[t206blogcom]

W512 Ruth strip card

[Blitzu]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-Swell-S...item2ebe953ad1

One of my favorite Ruth's I own and tells a great story on the back. Priced well too. And no, this is not my eBay account

[T206Collector]

I have the pair from the W515-2 strip card set from 1923. They were pretty cheap, all things considered.

[Brian Van Horn]

1931 Ray-O-Print. Now the autheniticity, like the Fro Joy has to be investigated on a card by card basis.

[GregMitch34]

Love the Shonen's, especially if you like Japanese art. Could, maybe even should, be framed for wall.

[h2oya311]

The 1921 Schapira Ruth portrait can also be found for around 200 and is not too shabby. It is a strip card, however, and it sounds like you want a photo card of the babe.

It's kinda ridiculous, but I have a vintage Ruth that I got for under $15, which came from a damaged Goudey flip book. Obviously, this is a filler until I win the lottery to buy a 1914 Baltimore news.

[rainier2004]

1929 Kashin - oversized but its a card

[poorlydrawncat]

Not sure why no one has mentioned the 1948 Leaf. Ruth's last card before he died and definitely his most haunting portrait IMO. Relatively affordable in lesser condition too...

[sandmountainslim]

I have been curious as to why the 1949 Leaf and 1961 Fleer Ruth cards always seem to sell for more money than other Babe issues that came after his death. The 1961 Fleer always seems to sell for a ton more than the 1962 Topps Babe Ruth cards and the 1949 card generally sells for prices more equivalent to the cards issued during his playing days even though it was issued some months after his passing. Anyone have any theories on this?

[ullmandds]

boy has this question changed/evolved since this thread was started!!!!!

The only playing day ruth's that can be had these days for less than 1K are:

fro joys
some poor condition strips
some foreign like shonen, german issues
quaker premiums if you can find one
35 goudeys

maybe some really beat to piss others.

I think the leaf ruth is popular is because it's in a popular set. the 61' fleer...who knows!!!

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by sandmountainslim

I have been curious as to why the 1949 Leaf and 1961 Fleer Ruth cards always seem to sell for more money than other Babe issues that came after his death. The 1961 Fleer always seems to sell for a ton more than the 1962 Topps Babe Ruth cards and the 1949 card generally sells for prices more equivalent to the cards issued during his playing days even though it was issued some months after his passing. Anyone have any theories on this?

I think the '49 Leaf card demands a steep premium because it is such a damm beautiful card.

[sandmountainslim]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

boy has this question changed/evolved since this thread was started!!!!!

The only playing day ruth's that can be had these days for less than 1K are:

fro joys
some poor condition strips
some foreign like shonen, german issues
quaker premiums if you can find one
35 goudeys

maybe some really beat to piss others.

I think the leaf ruth is popular is because it's in a popular set. the 61' fleer...who knows!!!

Yeah, I'm noticing the Sanella seems to have doubled in value just in the past 3 or 4 years judging by online sales. I got my 1934 Quaker Premium for $50 but that was about five years ago. It's probably going for a lot more than that now.

[tedzan]

The W560 card.....issued in 1927 (Ruth's magic season)…..is reasonably priced.






And, then there's always this pix of Ruth on the cover of the 1934 BASEBALL Magazine.


As Bill just noted....the 1932 Sanella card of Ruth has been increasing in value in recent years. I pasted my card in the Sanella Sports Album.





TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[ullmandds]

true those ted!!!!

Originally Posted by tedzan

The W560 card.....issued in 1927 (Ruth's magic season)…..is reasonably priced.






And, then there's always this pix of Ruth on the cover of the 1934 BASEBALL Magazine.


As Bill just noted....the 1932 Sanella card of Ruth has been increasing in value in recent years. I pasted my card in the Sanella Sports Album.





TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[drcy]

From a printing historian's expert, the Ruth Senella card is unique in that I believe it is one of the only, if the only, color halft-tone photoengraving baseball card. Most added colors on such cards were added over the halftone printing (technically called 'colored' versus 'color'), but, under the microscope, the halftone printing is the different colors.

[sandmountainslim]

I chose the Quaker photo over an ungraded Sanella when I bought it. My reasoning at the time was the Quaker Oats photo was an American issue and it was a real photographic image where the Sanella was a drawing or Litho. Now I wish I had gotten both since they were under one hundred bucks each.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by sandmountainslim

I chose the Quaker photo over an ungraded Sanella when I bought it. My reasoning at the time was the Quaker Oats photo was an American issue and it was a real photographic image where the Sanella was a drawing or Litho. Now I wish I had gotten both since they were under one hundred bucks each.

good choice...I've never been a huge fan of the sanella!!!!