High end Koufax rookie vs low grade Ruth

[maximus35]

Hey guys, I wanted everyone’s opinion on what they would rather own long term....Sandy Koufax rookie graded PSA 8.5 or a Babe Ruth 1917 Collins McCarthy either graded PSA or SGC 1 or authentic (whatever a comparable price would be somewhere between $32,000-40,000). I guess my point is would you guys rather own a high grade vintage card of one of the most famous pitchers of all time or a low grade pre war of the GOAT?

[Orioles1954]

Ruth

[Rhotchkiss]

No question, Ruth in a 1.

But do not buy big boy cards like that in an A. I would rather have the Koufax than the Ruth in an A. I think I’d rather have an itchy rash than spend money on a Ruth an A (obviously exaggerating for effect)

[Huysmans]

That's like asking if I'd sooner have a like-new, low mileage Ford Pinto.... or a completely destroyed and beat up Ferrari F40...

I'll take the Ferrari every time.

[sterlingfox]

Ruth!

[puckpaul]

What is the pop on the koufax? I think there are a few or more 9’s around. For such a high printed card, i think if its not in the top handful of grades then that is a risky price. Itis risky either way. I say neither, both are just too expensive and lots of downside risk to those prices. If that risk is neglibible to you and you love the cards, buy them both.

[rats60]

I would shoot for a strong 1 or 1.5 in the Ruth. I agree with staying away from an authentic or a trashed 1. Otherwise, the Koufax is a card worth owning, although in that price range there are several other cards that I would rather have unless you already have an extensive collection.

[bbcard1]

If you were looking at a high-grade pitcher in the upper echelon rookie from the 50s, I might be more inclined to lean toward a Gibson. If you were leaning toward a 1955 rookie card, I might be more inclined to go with a Clemente. The problem with Koufax (I bought a 4.5 this year myself for my collection, so I'm not talking it down) is that there's a ton of them out there. As one of the other posters say, all 1s are not created equal. I'd probably go for the Ruth myself, but I would want a decent eye appeal.

[x2drich2000]

I would go with the Ruth, but I would actually strongly consider an A depending on the reason and especially the eye appeal. I would much rather have a card with a slight trim and nice image than one that is trashed. At $40k I think you are going to struggle to find one without significant issues. For reference, earlier this year REA sold a PSA 1 (MK) for $36k which had creases, surface issues, and writing on the front. Going up to a PSA 1.5, HA sold one this year for $72k, which is way outside the budget mentioned.

DJ

[ullmandds]

RUTH all day every day...I wouldn't even put a koufax rookie in the same solar system!

[orly57]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

RUTH all day every day...I wouldn't even put a koufax rookie in the same solar system!

+1

Ryan, Im not a fan of “A” cards either, but a Ruth rookie is one of the few exceptions I could probably live with. I don’t know that I would actually BUY an A Ruth, but the hypothetical asks which you prefer to own (I wouldn’t buy an ultra high grade Koufax either). High grades don’t really blow me away; yesterday’s 8 is today’s 6.5, but a Ruth rookie is a Ruth rookie. Obviously I would need to see the card before making this decision, since there are so many different reasons why a card could be labeled “authentic.” But if it presents fairly well, I would prefer the authentic Ruth, and it isn’t particularly close.

[quitcrab]

Condition, condition, condition...go with Sandy !

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

RUTH all day every day...I wouldn't even put a koufax rookie in the same solar system!

Agreed. There are plenty of cards in that range I would put well ahead of a high-grade Koufax rookie.


That Koufax rookie is only worth what it is because of someone's opinion on its looks/condition. If something were to happen and a corner were to get dinged somehow in the slab, or the slab were to break, you're risking a huge loss on your investment. Whereas the Ruth and many other cards like the Ruth are held up by the subject and the scarcity of that subject, which is a much sturdier foundation for your investment.