W551 Ruth - Status in the Hobby

[Ima Pseudonym]

Question for the community: How are the W551 strip cards -- particularly the Ruth card -- regarded in the hobby? I've always been torn on whether or not the [usually badly-drawn] strip cards feel like "real" cards to me or not.

Do serious collectors keep them in their PC, or are they just low budget pieces, like the Sanella, used to sell Ruth to more casual collectors who can't afford the "real" Ruth cards?

[Rhotchkiss]

For reference, here is a W551 Ruth (not mine, image from internet).

Personally, I don’t like “W” series cards, unless they are real pictures (like the Ruth below, which I do own), and even then I own very few and only if they are rare and/or unique poses. I particularly do not like strip cards like the W551, and own none. To me, they are goofy and “less than”; maybe it’s their small size, the dark cardboard, or the clowny images, but they just don’t appeal to me. This includes Wagner items, and I collect almost anything Wagner. That said, they do provide an affordable option to acquire a playing-days version of Ruth, which are otherwise usually very expensive

For me, the one exception is the 1916-1920 UNC Bighead Ruth. It’s a a Red Sox issue, it’s pretty rare, and it’s purposefully goofy so the goofiness doesn’t bother me as much

[JeremyW]

I'm a fan of W551 strip cards. I'm probably not a "serious" collector though.

[mrreality68]

I am not a big fan of the W551 either but they are Ruth cards, many people do collect them and the prices are going up(so good if you are a collector with long term investment thoughts), and the prices are still reasonable compared to other Ruth cards.

I like the big head Ruth and was fortunate to get one. Rare and took time to find one and the prices definitely has gone up dramatically. So with time the W551 will go up also.

Go for it and enjoy the card just wait for the card that has the eye appeal that you want within your budget

[brianp-beme]

For collectors, the W514 set has always been the king of the drawn strip card sets, for many reasons, including the 120 card size of the set, the many HOF players pictured, the inclusion of the Black Sox players including Joe Jackson, and the decent artwork. I have always thought the W551 set was a neglected afterthought because it is only a 10 card (baseball subjects) set, but in my eyes the artwork is comparable to the W514 issue.

As far as W551 Ruth, I think folks dislike the side portrait view, and might even think it does not look like the Babe. I found a side view photo of the Babe on the web, dated from the early 1920's, the same basic time frame as the W551 set, for everyone to compare, and I would say that the W551 artists did a pretty good job with his depiction.

And both serious and non-serious collectors alike should consider strip cards as an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet of vintage cards.

Brian

[ullmandds]

Years ago...when ruth strips were $100...I didn't value them enough to add to my PC. When they staerted gettting expensive...I started appreciating them more. All strips are not created equal though. I have close to ten strips of ruth...I shy away from ones that dont look like ruth...w514 being the exception due to its curiousness!!!!

im not even sure this is considered a strip???

[BabyRuth]

I'm a Ruth collector and I just love the strip cards! Maybe it's the fragile nature coupled with the primitive style or the low pops. Collect what appeals to you. If you like 'em, then buy 'em!!! Here's a few: