Collector's Choice - A couple low grade Ruth cards

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Combine my fascination with Babe Ruth cards and my growing uncertainty about how high and how fast card prices are rising, I decided I wanted to add one more Ruth to my collection as cheaply as possible (wanted to stay around $1000) before they ALL get out of reach. Yep, I guess I'm a victim of the FOMO that we've all been talking about in some of those other threads. My only condition is that it had to be issued during his playing days, and it had to be an American card (so no foreign issues).

I landed on wanting to add a W517 Portrait card. It's cheaper because it's technically a strip card, but the larger size and big photographic image really sticks out, so I consider it to still be a value.

As luck would have it, ebay had TWO beat up copies sitting out there for a few weeks similarly priced around my price point.

Neither one was going to win any beauty awards, but when you are looking for a bargain Ruth, you have to make concessions

I went back and forth trying to decide which card was "better", and finally pulled the trigger. And now that I have it in hand I am extremely happy with my choice. But just for conversation, I'm interested in which card YOU guys would have picked and why.

Here's an image of both of them.

The top card is the one I purchased. The PROS of that card: 1. Cleaner image. 2. No paper loss. 3. $100 cheaper. The CONS of that card: 1. Heavy crease. 2. An "Authentic" grade which may limit the future resale value a bit (although I'm still confused as to why some W517 cards get number grades and others don't since they are all hand cut).

The bottom card is one I ALMOST purchased. The PROS: 1. No creases. 2. Number grade (although not a very high one). The CONS: 1. Paper loss on back. 2. Staining which muddies the image.

As I went back and forth, I ultimately made my decision based on the Yankees logo on his hat. Once I noticed that the staining on the bottom card seemed to wash out the logo (at least it appears that way in the picture), I decided to take the card with the sharper image (even though it's creased).

Anyway, that's my thought process. Curious how others think. Drop in a comment and let me know (and throw in an image or two of your beat up Ruth cards just for fun).

Funny side note, although both cards were sitting out there for a month, they both had 30 watchers. After I bought mine, the other one sold within a few hours. I have a feeling my purchase triggered someone else's FOMO

RuthCompare.jpg

[Casey2296]

Top card has better eye appeal by far, I can only guess the auth was caused by a later trim job on the bottom, but if we're buying the card and not the flip I would endorse your choice. I'm going through the same dilemma with a card I'm watching. One is alt on the flip the other is a 3 and $1000 more but that one looks alt too, both look trimmed but the cheaper one presents better and looks less trimmed than the 3.

[nat]

I like the top one a lot better. Good choice.

Strip cards will get number grades only if the cut doesn't cross the dashed line around the cards. The cut on the top card ventures across the line, and so it doesn't get a number grade. Strangely, at least from the pictures, it looks like the cut on the other one _also_ crosses the line. Which, if true, would mean that it should also be an A.

[NiceDocter]

You have chosen well in my opinion. Great card of Ruth that will not only hold its value but probably will appreciate. You will have no regrets about this purchase!!

[CobbSpikedMe]

Definitely agree the top one (the one you chose) is far superior to the other one. Better clarity, corners, edges... All around a better card. Screw the number grade, especially since these are strip cards. Nice pick up.

[ullmandds]

you made the right choice! i, similarly, decided to jump on one of these back in oct...seeing the opportunity slowly disappearing for many ruth cards now exponentially more expensive than in the past!

[Exhibitman]

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

nice rarity adam!!!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

you made the right choice! i, similarly, decided to jump on one of these back in oct...seeing the opportunity slowly disappearing for many ruth cards now exponentially more expensive than in the past!

Wow, that's a nice looking "low grade" card. I considered holding out for a non-creased one...but like I said, the FOMO was too strong.

REA actually had several W517 Ruth's in their last auction (both versions) that all went around the $1000 range. I was the underbidder on one of them, and I was sad to have missed them.

[packs]

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

I did not even know that card existed! What is a "Surprise Box"? How were those distributed?

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by packs

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

I agree with you on the Kashin. I almost bought one of those a couple years ago. But those have really increased in price recently. I was considering those as well as the W517.

[brianp-beme]

I think you chose fine...the crease, although going through Babe's head, is not one that I find extra distracting (a crease that goes through middle of a player's head or especially through the eyes is the type that really bothers me). Also the picture is nice and crisp. Ideally the card that you did not purchase would have had a more in focus/less glare image provided by seller. Maybe it is a somewhat crisp image too, but the photo provided perhaps conceals it.

As I mentioned a fine choice. W517 cards are great, underappreciated cards, and it is always nice to corral a contemporary card of Babe for the collection.

Brian

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

I did not even know that card existed! What is a "Surprise Box"? How were those distributed?

Literally, it was a box:





There were several different sports cards made, baseball and boxing, and also entertainment. Plus some miscellaneous paper toys and games and cards. Some of the sports cards were full poses like mine, others were portraits. I have shown a Cobb in the second photo. I haven't seen a full box offered for sale in several years; I've only seen two boxes offered for sale as far back as I can recall. My guess is that there's no more than a dozen examples of the baseball cards known in the hobby. I know there's another Ruth out there because I have a scan of it in an SGC holder. I am always searching for them. Last year I got very excited at a paper show when I saw a table with what looked like a card but it was a laser print of the card with a 'wanted' sign. Some kids naturally cut them up. There are two cut Cobbs on ebay right now.

[Andrew1975]

I would have made the same choice. Great card.

[ullmandds]

One of the other universal toys.

[DeanH3]

I really like the W517 Ruth's. You made a very good choice. I also think the Kashin Ruth is a great option as well.

[Exhibitman]

That's a nice one, Pete. Ruth, Cobb, Alexander and Johnson on one card. But Lee Meadows??? Did his mom own the company?

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I really like the W517 Ruth's. You made a very good choice. I also think the Kashin Ruth is a great option as well.

I concur the Kashin Ruth has upside and eye appeal

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by packs

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

100% agree. First affordable Ruth I bought when I got back in, and I don't like Ruth but hey what're gonna do. I would also add the 21 exhibit Ruth at this point.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

That's a nice one, Pete. Ruth, Cobb, Alexander and Johnson on one card. But Lee Meadows??? Did his mom own the company?

Haha! Ya...that's a cool one...not mine! I had it on my desktop...thought it was mine...I wish! Here's mine!