1933 Goudey #106 Lajoie -Apology Letter ?

[PhillyFan1883]

Gents,

I was curious if there are any letters in existence from 1933/34 when Goudey sent determined collectors the Lajoie card after the collector complained in writing??? Story goes you had to write in to Goudey to get the #106 card that they intentionally skipped to drive sales, but I have never seen the return letter from Goudey. I remember reading most Lajoie cards were sent with a letter and the Lajoie card was paper clipped to the apology letter. Would be curious to see one if anyone knows of an example..

Feel free to message me with any info.
Thank you in advance.

Connor

[vintagechris]

Yeah this would be really cool to see one of those!

[BabyRuth]

Every thread needs a card!!!

[oldeboo]

Awesome question. It would be neat to see a Lajoie as delivered, paper clip and all. I would think some opened up the envelope, checked out the card, then put it back in the envelope to be forgotten about. On the other hand, these cards were mostly requested by serious collectors of the set with a missing hole. When it was received, it was more often that not probably put with rest of the cards to complete the set, then the letter was tossed.

It's interesting that the Lajoie has more PSA 9 examples than any other card in the set. There are several logical reasons for this, but maybe one or two were left in the envelope with the letter.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by BabyRuth

Every thread needs a card!!!

This Lajoie got a few too many paper clips.

[conor912]

Yeah, a letter would be great to see. There was a Lajoie that sold a few years back with a rust stain at the top in the exact shape of a paper clip, which I thought was particularly awesome.

[PhillyFan1883]

All good points guys. I am hoping one or two letters made it, but I think most were tossed you are right Trey..

Connor that is cool about the rust mark of the paper clip. Which grade and auction was that ??

[scgaynor]

I am pretty sure that I remember one in a catalog auctions years ago, I can't remember which auction it was however, but I remember it shedding light on how the cards were obtained by early collectors.

[PhillyFan1883]

Originally Posted by scgaynor

I am pretty sure that I remember one in a catalog auctions years ago, I can't remember which auction it was however, but I remember it shedding light on how the cards were obtained by early collectors.

Scott if you ever figure out which auction that was I was be interested to look it up. Ask around when you get a chance- there has to be a couple out there..

[conor912]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

This Lajoie got a few too many paper clips.

Originally Posted by PhillyFan1883

All good points guys. I am hoping one or two letters made it, but I think most were tossed you are right Trey..

Connor that is cool about the rust mark of the paper clip. Which grade and auction was that ??

I wish I could remember. When I saw it I remember thinking that the letter must have survived at least some amount of time, being stored with the card still paper clipped to it.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by scgaynor

I am pretty sure that I remember one in a catalog auctions years ago, I can't remember which auction it was however, but I remember it shedding light on how the cards were obtained by early collectors.

I seem to remember this as well.

[concrete]

Has been ten years since my last reply but I feel this is significant and like you other collectors I looked for 15 years to finally find a copy of the Goudey Apology letter which i do have. I will post a copy tonight. Its an awesome piece of history

[Leon]

Originally Posted by concrete

Has been ten years since my last reply but I feel this is significant and like you other collectors I looked for 15 years to finally find a copy of the Goudey Apology letter which i do have. I will post a copy tonight. Its an awesome piece of history

11 yrs but who's counting? Would love to see the letter when you can post it.
.

[concrete]

Here’s the 33 Goudey apology letter

[uniship]

Wowza. Simply awesome. Can’t read it on my phone tho. Looking forward to the wording.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by concrete

Here’s the 33 Goudey apology letter

awesome...but it is not legible. any chance you can send to leon or scan better copy?

[concrete]

Working on it with Leon. Be patient I will get a clearer picture.

[PhillyFan1883]

Originally Posted by concrete

Working on it with Leon. Be patient I will get a clearer picture.

Thanks so much for posting. PM sent to you also.

Connor

[Carter08]

Amazing.

[obiwan1129]

Bumping the thread...would love to see the letter.

[GasHouseGang]

I've been waiting to read this letter too. So I'll bump it so it doesn't get forgotten.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I've been waiting to read this letter too. So I'll bump it so it doesn't get forgotten.

I emailed him to help but he never responded..
.

[Leon]

My mistake. It was sent tonight as I was out and missed it.

[G1911]

Now this is an awesome discovery!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Damn that's one of the coolest hobby items I've ever seen.

[ezez420]

Awesome find


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nat]

That is unbelievably cool.

But also unbelievable is that they don't even cop to skipping 106. "Reprint", sure...

[tedzan]

GOUDEY expanded their standard 24-card format to 25 cards when they printed their 1934 Hi # sheet in order to include the Lajoie card (#106).


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by nat

That is unbelievably cool.

But also unbelievable is that they don't even cop to skipping 106. "Reprint", sure...

Definitely a piece of hobby history. I like how the recipient of the Lajoie card was almost made to feel like Goudey was doing them a big favor in sending them a card, making "one exception to the rule" at "considerable expense".

Good stuff!

Brian

[conor912]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Definitely a piece of hobby history. I like how the recipient of the Lajoie card was almost made to feel like Goudey was doing them a big favor in sending them a card, making "one exception to the rule" at " considerable expense".

Good stuff!

Brian

Super cool, but I agree…it’s a pretty dick-ish tone.

[NiceDocter]

Hahaha no "apology" here just more of the coverup! Great letter! Reminds me of when an athlete gets caught doing something really bad how they always begin their "explanation" by saying... "thats not me...." Okay then who was it ???? Truth is..... "OKay thats me but I didnt want you to find out I was like that...and I cant even admit it to myself!"

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by conor912

Super cool, but I agree…it’s a pretty dick-ish tone.

Turns out corporate America has been corporate America for quite a while…

[chadeast]

So cool! A big thank you to concrete. Like Brian said, this letter is a significant piece of hobby history.

[JLange]

Please accept this card, and only this card, and please refrain from any further requests for any other cards, but please do enjoy this one card that we purposefully withheld from circulation so all the boys and girls would buy more of our product, “with our compliments and best wishes.”

Quite the apology!

[chriskim]

They didn't admitted they didn't print #106..... instead they are doing above and beyond to reprint that card to make people happy. LOL

[ALBB]

Wow..that letter is a real hobby treasure

[MuncieNolePAZ]

Definitely cool. Thanks for sharing!

Chad

[PhillyFan1883]

Wow thanks concrete for posting. So happy I started this thread to see this piece of hobby history. The wording is hilarious and carefully done to not incriminate their asses.

[brian1961]

Our hobby forefather, Jefferson Burdick, was a major force behind Goudey's decision to reprint # 106. His forceful letter was replete with pungent legal threats. As I understood the story, told a few times in 1970s hobby paper writings by fellow hobby forefather, Lionel Carter, NOBODY had pulled a #106. Goudey wasn't intending that you would----just keep buying our penny packs with the hope against hope you'd get a 106.

Think about it. Who did they wind up making. A Napolean Lajoie, of all players. I really doubt it. Look closely at the design of the Lajoie. That's not a 1934 Goudey by a long shot; the design is indicative of an unissued 1933 Goudey Sport King. Looks like they made more of the #106 in the 1934 Goudey high # series.

Just as our brother concluded, they took pains not to incriminate their asses.

A worthy postscript. About a dozen letters were sent to Jeff Burdick about the matter, before Jefferson fired off his broadside to Goudey. He kept all the letters. Goudey sent Mr. Burdick a little more than a dozen copies of the #106 Nap Lajoie. Jefferson Burdick then mailed out a letter to each hobbyist that had written to him about the matter, and enclosed one of the precious # 106s, for free of course. Lionel Carter wrote that story, because he was one of those who complained to his friend Jefferson, and in course received a letter with a Lajoie from his hobby pal. Nice fellow, this Mr. Jefferson Burdick.

---Brian Powell

Maybe one of you who knows David Kathman might be able to persuade this master hobby paper archivist to dig out one of Lionel's articles he penned of that historic hobby happening. Try Sports Scoop, David. I think I recall seeing it there, or in an early 70s SPORT FAN. Just a thought......

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by JLange

Please accept this card, and only this card, and please refrain from any further requests for any other cards, but please do enjoy this one card that we purposefully withheld from circulation so all the boys and girls would buy more of our product, “with our compliments and best wishes.”

Quite the apology!

You could say that again! -- Brian

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by ASF123

Turns out corporate America has been corporate America for quite a while…

Ha. Nail. Hammer. Head.

[PhillyFan1883]

Just as our brother concluded, they took pains not to incriminate their asses.

A worthy postscript. About a dozen letters were sent to Jeff Burdick about the matter, before Jefferson fired off his broadside to Goudey. He kept all the letters. Goudey sent Mr. Burdick a little more than a dozen copies of the #106 Nap Lajoie. Jefferson Burdick then mailed out a letter to each hobbyist that had written to him about the matter,



Brian,

Thanks for posting. May follow up with you to talk sports king theory which I think is interesting.

[CW]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Look closely at the design of the Lajoie. That's not a 1934 Goudey by a long shot; the design is indicative of an unissued 1933 Goudey Sport King.

Good catch, Brian.

[ocjack]

Great letter and amazing history. I'm in awe.

So, if your Lajoie has a rust stain in the corner, does PSA label it a reprint?

[egri]

Fascinating letter, both its content and the story behind it.

I'm curious if there was any bad blood that carried over the following year from collectors towards Goudey. It wouldn't surprise me, and I don't think Goudey ever came close to matching the 1933 set again.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

so cool that this survived.