Best Value Babe Ruth Card under $2K?
 

hey guys i'm looking to spend around $1K maybe a bit more and would like to buy a Babe Ruth card. I know some of his early cards are a bit out of reach. But if you had from $1K to $2k to spend on any Ruth, any suggestions for one that should be able to maintain/increase value over time?

35 Goudeys are relatively cheap. Kashin. W517 maybe.

My favorite is the Sanella Ruth cards.:D

Can't go wrong with exhibits

I agree. You can get a nice looking Exhibit from his peak playing days with the Yankees for under $2K.

Gotta say, I really like Babe Ruth exhibits

I would go with the Shonen Kulubu.

Agree. +1

I agree. Beautiful visual.

I like the fact that the Exhibits were released during his playing days.

But are the Exhibits essentially post cards? Pardon my ignorance--just a bit newish to vintage collecting.

I assume that's why these are underpriced relative to the rest of the 'traditional' cards on the market?

I've never seen one of those...do you have a scan?

Thanks

Sanella. For $100-125, how can you go wrong with a Playing Days Ruth?

I feel that they are more of an "oversized" card than an actual PC. That said, variation of his exhibits have gone up rapidly in recent years. I think that they will double price wise (in decent condition) in the next 3-5 years. While they may not be considered "traditional" today, I believe that rare and early HOF postcards and exhibit types are becoming much more mainstream throughout the hobby.

1933 Goudey is an iconic set, and you have four Ruth poses to choose from.

They are not. Most are blank-backed and were dispensed from vending machines. Historically, they have been underpriced: I think due to size. That is no longer the case. The Gehrig RC is well over $50K.

Getting back to the OP, I would suggest going after a 1927 or 1928. You should be able to find one in decent shape in your budget. The 1921 is nice too. The PC back portrait is actually my favorite Ruth:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...uth%20port.jpg

I think each of these can be had within your budget range:

pick an exhibit you like! I like a bunch of them!!!

The 1934 Goudey Premium (R309-1) Babe Ruth is one option.

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Galler...remiums-R309-1

It has the photo used for 3 of the 4 Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, and it can be relatively affordable with a decent-looking front if you don’t mind some marks on the back and/or a partial/missing easel.

1928 Babe Ruth Candy Co
 

Great image. Can be had for under $2k if interested

Lots of great cards already mentioned. I also like the 1933 Sport Kings Ruth.

I'd go with a 33 goudey 144 in the 1.5-2 range personally. I'm not a big fan of post cards, or post card sized cards. The 144 is one of the best looking cards ever made in my opinion, and is part of one of the most popular sets ever made.

For some reason, I enjoy the W515 strip set Ruth cards. They would be in your price range for sure.

Low grade 21 Exhibits. Best pose of any Ruth card in my opinion.

agree!!!!!

exhibits!

+1

this

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9I...A=w451-h767-no

There are so many great looking Ruth cards. I'd say just pick one whose image that you really like and purchase that one which is within your budget. If you like the image, a lot of other folks will probably like it also. For keeping it's value and perhaps appreciating, I'd pick a card with nice eye appeal and a higher grade and those tend to do better value-wise.

+1

of all the $500 or less ruth cards...I definitely prefer the shonen.

hmmm
 

I know that it's debatable since his name isn't on the card, but a great value Ruth to me is the Churchman Ruth. Usually under $200 for a really nice example.

that's an interesting one, never saw it before. looks like they used the image from the 1928 shonen Ruth card

Any decent-looking Ruth you can buy for under 2k is bound to have some “drawbacks,” for lack of a better term. Be it that it doesn’t have his name on it, or it is a strip card or an over-sized card. The important thing is finding the image you most like and deciding which “drawback” you can live with. It’s no secret that I love oversized cards (exhibits and PCs). I think the exhibits Ruths, particularly the ‘21, the ‘25 Exhibits Champions, and the ‘27-‘29 pose are beautiful and undervalued with tons of growth-potential. For the record, I do not own any Ruth Exhibits.

Yes they did, and it clearly is Ruth, even though he isn't mentioned on the card.

My votes for the $1000 to 2000 range would be decent looking but technically lower grade 1933 Goudeys or his Sport Kings card.

A bargain basement option not mentioned yet is his Bulgaria card. Sure it has a suited Schmeling beside Babe, and the text is in German on back, but it is a cool photo of Babe in uniform, and even has some of his teammates on the dugout bench in the background. I think these cards go in decent condition around $100-150.

Brian

Goudey all day long, IMO.

I think the 1921 Exhibit Ruth all day long. First, it’s a great pose, and rare, as there are few Ruth cards of him fielding. Second, it’s from 1921 - earlier Ruth days and very early Yankee. This card has gotten more pricey lately- and I think it only goes up from here- but you can still get a nice looking example for around $2k if you look (and negotiate) hard. Well worth the money IMO

This^^. If you're willing to spend up to $2k why go with anything other than a goudey? There's a nice one in BST for around that price right now.

I find this somewhat amusing...as I've always gravitated to the obscure and less common...I avoided goudey ruths for a long time...have owned 3 of the 4 poses minus the orange batting. In my collection the goudeys are expendable as they are common while my tougher ruths stay put!!!

i regret not having picked up one of these when they were cheap...but back then I was resistant towards oversized cards.

it'd be really tough to find a decent copy for 2K these days.

LOTG has a beautiful one with just a bit of paperloss on the back (blank back, who cares).

Don't know if it stays under 2k but these kind of cards can be absolute bargains vs technical high grade.

Ruth

You can also go the more unique postcard route... have something cool that no one else does...

Ruth pc

I get it that the four Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set are iconic, but cards that common never excite me. For $2,000, I would rather have a low-grade Ruth montage from the E121 set. That card is such a cool image(s) and is from the prime of Ruth's career.

Blue Bird Ruth
 

I would go with a low grade Blue Bird Ruth. Great image on an oversized "card."

I'm surprised the 1934 Goudey premium of Ruth isn't more popular. I think it's at least as nice as any of the other bargain Ruths, and it's one of his classic poses. I believe it's the same image as several of the '33 Goudeys. This one sold for just under $500 ...

Eddie and Ryan: I agree with you guys 100%
Chris: I agree that that the Goudey Premium is very attractive and undervalued
James: the Bluebird is awesome, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it go cheap.

That is a great looking card. Congrats.

I am going to set my collecting sights on that card.

Now pitching, no, I mean batting for the New York Yankees...
 

The really rare cards are the ones that show the Babe pitching and batting simultaneously, like this Schapira Ruth

Brian

Hi Chris,

This is one of my favorite Ruths and I would definitely consider this one in this scenario.

Lots of great Ruth cards for under 2k...This is in a BVG holder now....

http://luckeycards.com/pf52frojoyruth.jpg