What am I missing on Moe Berg?

[SMPEP]

Is it just me ... or are the prices asked (and sometimes received?) for Moe Berg cards WAY out of whack with other cards?

I mean the guy was an average player and a spy. Okay. Big deal.

Why do the prices for his cards rival/exceed the prices for Lou Gerhig and Jimmy Foxx?

I just don't get it.

Seems to me Berg cards should be more in line with Al Schracht cards. A common player, with an interesting back story, that makes him more than a common and less than a super star.

Am I missing something???? Why do you have to mortgage the house to get a bad condition Berg card in the 33 Goudey of 36 Fine Pens?

Patrick

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

Is it just me ... or are the prices asked (and sometimes received?) for Moe Berg cards WAY out of whack with other cards?

I mean the guy was an average player and a spy. Okay. Big deal.

Why do the prices for his cards rival/exceed the prices for Lou Gerhig and Jimmy Foxx?

I just don't get it.

Seems to me Berg cards should be more in line with Al Schracht cards. A common player, with an interesting back story, that makes him more than a common and less than a super star.

Am I missing something???? Why do you have to mortgage the house to get a bad condition Berg card in the 33 Goudey of 36 Fine Pens?

Patrick

Lots of people collect Jewish players as well. His story is one of the most interesting and oft repeated in the history of the sport...at least for a non-all star type player. You will also notice that there isn't much of a difference between, say, a PSA 3 and PSA 6 for the 33 Goudey. Only around $100 or so on average. This tells me that people are more interested in getting an example of the card than they are getting a better condition one. Thus, the popularity of the player due to his Jewish heritae and his uber-interesting story lead to a demand for the card.

Tom C

[Exhibitman]

Besides being a Jewish ballplayer, he has a popular culture place far above Schact. Berg's story is quite compelling: Ivy League educated lawyer who would rather spend time as a bullpen catcher than working at a far more lucrative profession [he said "I'd rather be a ballplayer than a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court."], early recruit to the OSS, an actual overseas spy. At one point he was tasked with attending a conference in Switzerland to evaluate Werner Heisenberg's progress on the A bomb, with instructions to assassinate him if Heisenberg seemed to be close to building a bomb]. He parachuted into occupied Yugoslavia to work with and evaluate the various resistance groups. His wartime services resulted in the Medal of Freedom [2nd highest civilian honor at the time]. He was the subject of a best-selling book, The Catcher Was A Spy. Also a very popular character of the day who seemed to know everyone from the President on down. Here he is with Joe Louis.

[Runscott]

Bullpen catcher stuff is HUGE. I own a complete uniform worn by Astros bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte.

I wish he was also a spy

[SMPEP]

I guess I still just don't get it.

Hank Greenberg was Jewish. His cards go for less, and he was a much better baseball player.

Jimmy Doolittle did a lot more in the war ... and his cards (in the 1934 Sky Birds series for example) barely go for more than a common.

I mean I understand there would be a premium for Berg versus a common. He was an interesting guy (but so was Schact).

But when his cards are priced at the level of Gerhig and Dimaggio (and he carries a premium versus regular HOFers of the era)... well, that just seems silly to me.

But to each his own I suppose.
Patrick

[thecatspajamas]

That's Schacht to you, buddy

[vthobby]

Sorry but could not resist:

And that is Gehrig to you also.

Peace, Mike

PS oh.....and it's DiMaggio.

[Wildfireschulte]

A few years back I heard there was a Moe Berg movie in the works. Did it ever get made?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

I guess I still just don't get it.

Hank Greenberg was Jewish. His cards go for less, and he was a much better baseball player.

Jimmy Doolittle did a lot more in the war ... and his cards (in the 1934 Sky Birds series for example) barely go for more than a common.

I mean I understand there would be a premium for Berg versus a common. He was an interesting guy (but so was Schact).

But when his cards are priced at the level of Gerhig and Dimaggio (and he carries a premium versus regular HOFers of the era)... well, that just seems silly to me.

But to each his own I suppose.
Patrick

If anyone wants to trade a 1933 goudey Gehrig or a 1939 play ball DiMaggio for my Berg cards of those issues please email me.

[RGold]

I just sold this one in September for $2,200. Gehrig in the same grade would easily sell for 5 times that.

image.jpg

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by RGold

I just sold this one in September for $2,200. Gehrig in the same grade would easily sell for 5 times that.

Attachment 176476

Ron,

To answer the OP's original question, I thought your answer would be

"Gold"