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 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!

That's cool you had the foresight to invest in that card back in 2007...that's a great looking card. $1900 wouldn't come close to that today!

[Jcosta19]

Great pick up and thread!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[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.

[nebboy]

My 1st Ruth

[prestigecollectibles]

Thanks. He got me a Gehrig #92 in similar grade. I remember he paid $165 for the pair. I'll keep these two forever.

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

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 )

[triwak]

Nice 4-in-1 card!! My first Ruths were commemorative cards from the 1962 Topps set, of which I have four. But once I got snookered into the career-contemporary game (ha!), this was the Ruth I decided upon. Relatively inexpensive, and I also found the foreign aspect to be really cool.

[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

[ajquigs]

Nice thread.
My one and only. Probably the last card I'd sell, other than my '73 set acquired a pack at a time by my 7 year old self.

[GasHouseGang]

I would like one of the Goudey Ruth cards too, but can't justify spending that much money. I never really cared for the strip cards, but I found this one from his playing days and picked it up when ebay was having one of their sales.

[BabyRuth]

#181 was my first Ruth. I picked it up at the card show in Sturbridge, MA in 1988 for $475. I have since added over 100 vintage Ruth cards to my collection. Also, this is the last one I just snagged. Picked this Universal Toy up the other day. Good luck on your Ruth collecting journey!!!

[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:

[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

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

[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....

[baseballfan]

love the Ruths
congrats!!

I would like to get 1 too. I wont my fantasy baseball league this year and thought about getting a Ruth

is it possible for me to pick one up for around $500.00 to 600.00

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by baseballfan

love the Ruths
congrats!!

I would like to get 1 too. I wont my fantasy baseball league this year and thought about getting a Ruth

is it possible for me to pick one up for around $500.00 to 600.00

Hey Fred,

In my research,I found that you can find a few Ruth cards from his playing days for that amount, especially if you are patient and don't care too much about condition. Some of the cards in this thread fall in to that category. Specifically:

1935 Goudey 4 in 1 (that's the card I posted at the top of this thread...it was less than $500)

1932 Sanella Ruth (sharp looking card. From Germany).

1929 Kashin Publications Ruth

1934 R309-1 Goudey Ruth Premium (those occasionally come up in fairly beat up condition in that price range...although they seem to be creeping up in price)

1932 Bulgaria Sport Ruth (European card)

There are likely a few others, but those are the ones I considered when I was looking for my "bargain" Ruth.

[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.

[Jstottlemire1]

Originally Posted by triwak

Nice 4-in-1 card!! My first Ruths were commemorative cards from the 1962 Topps set, of which I have four. But once I got snookered into the career-contemporary game (ha!), this was the Ruth I decided upon. Relatively inexpensive, and I also found the foreign aspect to be really cool.

Same as mine sir. Mines a psa 4. Nice affordable playing years card.

[BabyRuth]

I always buy Babe Ruth cards......He's not going to have a bad year!!!

[yanksfan09]

Had a w515 strip Ruth but didn't like the image, then shortly after got what I thought was my first "real" ruth card... a 21 exhibit. However it was hammered to oblivion. But I still loved it. Sold off the original beat up exhibit and I think the same day I lucked out and bought a 1923 white border exhibit in a 1921 slab (since been re-holdered) for cheap. R-L Borders trimmed off but a real rarity nonetheless!

Also eventually upgraded my regular 1921 as well!

[ullmandds]

This is the first Ruth I purchased...off the BST many years ago...since then I've owned numerous ruth cards...almost 30 period ruths reside in my current collection.

[Collectorsince62]

My three of #3. The one in the middle was purchased back in the late 70's. I used to run an ad in a local paper. This was before price guides (aka the golden days of collecting). A woman called and said she was participating in an antiques sidewalk sale the next Saturday and had a Babe Ruth card for sale. If I arrived before the sale opened I could buy the card. I got there early, introduced myself, she hands me the card and says "let's start the haggling at $15." Needless to say there was no haggling necessary. I paid for the card, thanked her for calling, and went home. I probably should have stayed and looked around but I thought I'd better just leave and appreciate my good fortune. The other two cards were part of collections also purchased from responses to ads years ago. Man I miss those days.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Collectorsince62

My three of #3. The one in the middle was purchased back in the late 70's. I used to run an ad in a local paper. This was before price guides (aka the golden days of collecting). A woman called and said she was participating in an antiques sidewalk sale the next Saturday and had a Babe Ruth card for sale. If I arrived before the sale opened I could buy the card. I got there early, introduced myself, she hands me the card and says "let's start the haggling at $15." Needless to say there was no haggling necessary. I paid for the card, thanked her for calling, and went home. I probably should have stayed and looked around but I thought I'd better just leave and appreciate my good fortune. The other two cards were part of collections also purchased from responses to ads years ago. Man I miss those days.

Great story!
I don't remember my first Ruth but here is one I got back from my first collection sale.

[baseballfan]

thank you for your info and help

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

Hey Fred,

In my research,I found that you can find a few Ruth cards from his playing days for that amount, especially if you are patient and don't care too much about condition. Some of the cards in this thread fall in to that category. Specifically:

1935 Goudey 4 in 1 (that's the card I posted at the top of this thread...it was less than $500)

1932 Sanella Ruth (sharp looking card. From Germany).

1929 Kashin Publications Ruth

1934 R309-1 Goudey Ruth Premium (those occasionally come up in fairly beat up condition in that price range...although they seem to be creeping up in price)

1932 Bulgaria Sport Ruth (European card)

There are likely a few others, but those are the ones I considered when I was looking for my "bargain" Ruth.

[packs]

Kashin is definitely a good bargain Ruth and the image on it is great. I don't know why the card is still on the cheap side but it's a nice one for the money.

[kkkkandp]

The not as mainstream or as popular Fro Joy...

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by 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

Wow Troy! I'm not sure what's more impressive...that you have an M101 Sporting News Ruth....or that you have a wife that encouraged you but it!

That is a true showpiece card/investment. And I love that you have the Tim Carroll art to display.

I'm not sure anyone can top your "first Ruth" in terms of quality! An amazing card!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by packs

Kashin is definitely a good bargain Ruth and the image on it is great. I don't know why the card is still on the cheap side but it's a nice one for the money.

I agree that the Kashin seems to be a value. I wonder if it is partly related to it's availability? By no means do they seem common, but I know that set was released in four separate series of cards, but each series contained a Ruth. So I guess if we do the math, there should be four times as many Ruth cards from that set as any other card?

[GasHouseGang]

I picked up this oddball Ruth which is part of a Keystone viewer set. The set promotes improving your eyesight and has a viewer and card set. I'm not sure exactly when it was produced, but I got it cheap.

[pete zouras]

Card

[yanksfan09]

Originally Posted by pete zouras

Card

That's a beast for a first Ruth!

[Big Red Machine]

My first and only Ruth.

[Case12]

Originally Posted by 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

Gosh, your wife has a great eye :-)

My wife's view of card value is if they can be used as coasters...

This one is awesome...