My first Ruth! (let's see yours)

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Ever since I got in to vintage card collecting a few years ago, I've been wanting to add an authentic Ruth from his playing days. I felt like my card collection wouldn't be complete without at least one card of the Babe. The problem is that my card budget doesn't really allow me to purchase $1000+ baseball cards.

So after researching "bargain Ruth" options (Sanella, Kashin, Fro Joy), I was thrilled to recently find this well loved 1935 Goudey for a reasonable price.

And since my FAVORITE Ruth card is the 1933 Goudey 181 (green Ruth) it's a nice bonus that this card uses the same image.

Maybe someday I'll save up enough for the 1933, but until then, I'm perfectly happy with this one. I mean it's a Goudey gum card of the Babe! No doubt loved by whatever kid pulled it from a pack in 1935 and tacked it to his bulletin board, wall, bed post, whatever (yeah, it has tack hole right in the middle of the card, but since it's a 4 in 1, it's still technically on the border, right )

Yeah, it's pretty beat up....but it's real, and it's awesome. Instantly one of my favorite cards in my collection.

So let's see pictures and hear the story of your first authentic Ruth card. Are they nice looking investments, beat up "collector grade" like this one, or something in between?

Ruth.JPG

[RCMcKenzie]

Nice going. Here's one in collector grade...

[AGuinness]

Congrats, John! It's a great card!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Nice going. Here's one in collector grade...

That’s an awesome card in ANY grade!

[todeen]

Congrats! I don't have a card yet, but I have the '34 Butterfinger.

[prestigecollectibles]

My father bought this for me in 1980 when I was 13. I think he paid $85.

[scooter729]

Always remember the first - congrats!

This was mine - the $1,900 price tag in 2007 was nearly enough to bankrupt me but I made it work, and am very happy I did!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by prestigecollectibles

My father bought this for me in 1980 when I was 13. I think he paid $85.

That's cool that you get to combine your memory of getting your first Ruth card with a memory of your father.

I have good memories of my dad taking me to card shows as a kid (unfortunately for me most of the cards dad bought me were in the 1987 Topps range )

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by todeen

Congrats! I don't have a card yet, but I have the '34 Butterfinger.

The Butterfinger was also on my research list too. I like the image they used for that one.

[invest]

Cool thread and stories.

I got my first and (still only) Ruth years ago!! I had always wanted one for as long as I could remember but the price was always out of reach. Fast forward into adulthood and I sold my business and had some disposable income.

The price tag was still high (not crazy high like the prices are today, but still expensive for me). I went back and forth on whether to get it, I had pretty much talked myself out of getting the card when my wife stepped in and convinced me to get it. I am glad she did!!!! Its one of my favorite cards in my collection and now my son has grown to appreciate it more then me!!!

When Tim Carroll made a baseball card cut up version, I had to have!!! I wanted to be able to appreciate the card everyday when I see it hanging in my sons room!!!

Troy

[Jcosta19]

Great pick up and thread!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[nebboy]

My 1st Ruth

[realbigfatdog]

The only two that I own. The Goudey has a 70% skinned back, but it's a playing days Babe! I got the Leaf about two years ago raw for $200. Even with the hole punches, I thought it was a steal! As a Yankees collector, I treasure these.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[packs]

I bought this card on eBay about 10 years ago. I was in graduate school and used the first stipend check they paid me for my TA work to buy it. You almost never see the WWG cards come up and I thought I got a pretty good deal for $500:

My one and only Babe Ruth was lucky to pick this one up for $20.00 in the early 1980's

[LincolnVT]

Congrats! Can't go wrong with a Ruth card!

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

Ever since I got in to vintage card collecting a few years ago, I've been wanting to add an authentic Ruth from his playing days. I felt like my card collection wouldn't be complete without at least one card of the Babe. The problem is that my card budget doesn't really allow me to purchase $1000+ baseball cards.

So after researching "bargain Ruth" options (Sanella, Kashin, Fro Joy), I was thrilled to recently find this well loved 1935 Goudey for a reasonable price.

And since my FAVORITE Ruth card is the 1933 Goudey 181 (green Ruth) it's a nice bonus that this card uses the same image.

Maybe someday I'll save up enough for the 1933, but until then, I'm perfectly happy with this one. I mean it's a Goudey gum card of the Babe! No doubt loved by whatever kid pulled it from a pack in 1935 and tacked it to his bulletin board, wall, bed post, whatever (yeah, it has tack hole right in the middle of the card, but since it's a 4 in 1, it's still technically on the border, right )

Yeah, it's pretty beat up....but it's real, and it's awesome. Instantly one of my favorite cards in my collection.

So let's see pictures and hear the story of your first authentic Ruth card. Are they nice looking investments, beat up "collector grade" like this one, or something in between?

Attachment 372933

[qed2190]

here is one of mine

[bnorth]

Here is/was my only playing days Ruth.

Wish I still had it, was stupid and donated it and several other cards to a museum before I knew how they worked.

[EvilKing00]

Congrats! I love Ruth cards !

2473EE5D-8525-42FF-9F96-E9E7A7242EE7.jpg

[ruth-gehrig]

My only Ruth card, his best pose in my opinion

[qed2190]

here are a few more

[glchen]

Great cards here! The Schutter Johnson is the oldest Ruth card that I still have, and the Rittenhouse is my most recent purchase. I really like the Universal Toy that BabyRuth also has. It took me forever to pick up my copy!

[dabigyankeeman]

I have many Ruth cards, but this one is so unique it might be my favorite although most of the others are better looking.

[t206fanatic]

Got into the Ruth game only recently after watching from the sidelines for many years- here's the three I own, the Goudey #144 being my first.

[OldOriole]

You don't see to many Koester's....

[JeremyW]

Originally Posted by t206fanatic

Got into the Ruth game only recently after watching from the sidelines for many years- here's the three I own, the Goudey #144 being my first.

That's not a bad start.