Affordable Babe Ruth cards?

[shagrotn77]

I've been thinking about adding a few affordable Babe Ruth cards to my collection. I'm thinking examples that can be found with nice eye appeal in the 1-3 range for $1K or less. I know this eliminates most of the key cards, but '32 Sanella and Bulgaria are 2 that I've added to my list. There are a few Exhibits that might fit the bill as well. What else fits this criteria?

[bbcard1]

I really like the 1929 Club Shonen Ruth for the money. I picked up one earlier this year for under $200 in an auction...it was diamond cut, but I was shocked to get so lucky. I think you should expect to pay $500, but could probably find on for that.

It has a similar photo to the Churchman, which can also be purchased in the range you are looking at, but I like the Shonen better.

[bbcard1]

For the cheap, I like the Brown and Bigelow playing cards...they aren't contempt pious, but the are old.

[ullmandds]

I also like the club shonen in the $500 range...it's a pretty "card" and is likely much more scarce than goudey ruths!!!!!

[Tyruscobb]

Take a look at the 1929 Churchman card. There are multiple reasons you should add it. First, it is a tobacco card. Ruth doesn’t have too many tobacco issues. Secondly, the card legendarily shows Ruth smashing a home run. Third, 1929 is the year that the Yankees started wearing numbers. So, this is Ruth’s first card in which he iconically began wearing number 3. Finally, it is still relatively cheap.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

Take a look at the 1929 Churchman card. There are multiple reasons you should add it. First, it is a tobacco card. Ruth doesn’t have too many tobacco issues. Secondly, the card legendarily shows Ruth smashing a home run. Third, 1929 is the year that the Yankees started wearing numbers. So, this is Ruth’s first card in which he iconically began wearing number 3. Finally, it is still relatively cheap.

The churchman image is the same as the shonen. The fact that it's not an american issue will always hold it back.

[packs]

The Kashin card is pretty affordable. Haven't seen it come up as much as it used to though.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

The churchman image is the same as the shonen. The fact that it's not an american issue will always hold it back.

The Churchman image was released in early '29 without naming Ruth as the batter which raised some question as to who it was, the Shonen card was released in August of '29 naming Ruth as the batter and putting the matter to rest. I've always been curious about how that same image ended up on both sets. Did the owner sell the image to Churchman and Shonen? Seems like a fascinating story.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

The churchman image is the same as the shonen. The fact that it's not an american issue will always hold it back.

This is a valid point. The Churchman is a foreign issue, but so is the Shonen which you promoted earlier in this thread.

There are several reasons the Churchman is superior. First, the Shonen card isn’t even a true baseball “card.” It is a postcard. There is a difference between a baseball tobacco card and a baseball postcard. The Churchman is a T-206 type/size card with a front and back. The Shonen was created to write on and to mail to friends/family, etc.

Secondly, as a postcard, the Shonen card is larger. So, if you buy a graded one, you will receive a larger, cumbersome slab. Again, the Churchman is T-206 size and comes in a regular slab.

Third, the Shonen’s color and picture is not as sharp as the Churchman. The Churchman has crisp colors and the image is sharper. Finally, the Shonen is in Japanese, whereas the British Churchman is in English.

The main knock on the Churchman is it doesn’t say Babe Ruth anywhere on the card. There, however, is no argument that the image is not Babe Ruth. The swing, uniform etc. scream Ruth. This has kept its value down.

To each his own, but I’d rather own the Churchman.

[abothebear]

The churchman is great - old-school tobacco card printing look and size, great horizontal action shot from a well known photo, from 1929, and cheap (because Ruth isn't named on the card). Even if it wasn't the only one I could afford, I'd still think it was the coolest Ruth card.

There is another English tobacco card that looks the same but without "churchman cigarettes" on it. The brand escapes me at the moment.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by abothebear

The churchman is great - old-school tobacco card printing look and size, great horizontal action shot from a well known photo, from 1929, and cheap (because Ruth isn't named on the card). Even if it wasn't the only one I could afford, I'd still think it was the coolest Ruth card.

There is another English tobacco card that looks the same but without "churchman cigarettes" on it. The brand escapes me at the moment.

Players, perhaps. And Ruth buttons and pins, such as Mrs. Sherlock, are pretty affordable.