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davidcyclebackIt sounds like an error when printing, where they put the sheet through the printer the wrong way. I'm not an expert on Goudeys, but you see these wrong backs or upside down backs in 1950s and later Topps cards.
Errors are generally put into two main categories: design errors/variations and printing errors/variations. The design is where there is mispelled name or change in pose that came from the design of the card. The printing errors/variations include miscut cards, wrong backs and ink problems. All other things equivelant (rarity, etc), the design error will usually be more expensive. However, some printing errors, such as T206 ghost prints, can have a premium over the regular card.
I don't know how the Ruth card will be valued, but as it is Ruth, there may be a premium. A Cal Ripken or Stan Musial or Michael Jordan specialist may and often does pay extra for errors and oddities, because he may be going for the compete collection. Whereas the normal collector may not find it particularly worthwhile. For printing boo boos, the key often is what the specialist will pay for it, rather than what the average collector will pay-- because those can be different numbers.