Babe Ruth Item - What would you buy with $500?

[leaflover]

I might be a bit biased. Something like this would be my choice. A card that presents well, plus a Bio on the back. The best part you can probably get one for less than $500. AND it goes with the theme of the program.

[drcy]

I think for a non-collector, the Senella card would be good, because they are vintage to his playing days, nice looking and interesting-- and you can get a nice one for under $500.

The German Babe Ruth/Harold Lloyd 'Speedy' real photo movie postcard would be great, and under $500, but is probably hard to find. That's something both the collector and non-collector would appreciate.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by leaflover

I might be a bit biased. Something like this would be my choice. A card that presents well, plus a Bio on the back. The best part you can probably get one for less than $500. AND it goes with the theme of the program.

REGARDING THE 2013 NSCC PROMO The Card that Never Was 1915 CRACKER JACK BABE RUTH /500

I wholeheartedly agree. SCD editor Tom Bartsch was able to pick one up for me at the National Convention where it was given out. They only made 500, and it was crafted with the utmost thought and care. I prize it for its beauty, its historical accuracy, and even the fact PSA wisely endorsed the promotion. The PSA cert succinctly identifies it as a modern 1915 Cracker Jack fantasy card, as well as affirms its limited edition existence. For some frog collectors, 500 cards is way too big a pond to share, and thus not exclusive enough. Others wouldn't have it in their collection because it's a modern fantasy Babe Ruth, and not a vintage card of The Babe during his playing days. Methinks there's enough eye candy in this baby to go around and around with absolute delight!

One of the key factors to keep in mind is the fact most of the collectors who were privileged to get this prime free prize are holding tight onto it, as I am, and displaying this gorgeous Ruth with their original vintage cards, AND LOVING IT!

Think about it. With what a collector paid to get into the convention, in most cases having to stay at the host hotel and pay their hefty bill, and all the meals you would naturally need to purchase, the "free prize" WAS ANYTHING BUT FREE! Think about that, my friend. ---Brian Powell

[Leon]

Commemorative cards are great as long as they are marketed correctly. As for PSA endorsing it, that is fine too. I have seen a few of these for sale previously. For me, if I only had 1 Ruth item I would want it to be a period piece...but after that, the commemorative items display well. And if you aren't a pre-war collector would barely, if ever, know the difference. Collect what you enjoy.....This one wasn't under 500 but it's one of 2-5 cards I had to have again.....

Originally Posted by brian1961

REGARDING THE 2013 NSCC PROMO The Card that Never Was 1915 CRACKER JACK BABE RUTH /500

I wholeheartedly agree. SCD editor Tom Bartsch was able to pick one up for me at the National Convention where it was given out. They only made 500, and it was crafted with the utmost thought and care. I prize it for its beauty, its historical accuracy, and even the fact PSA wisely endorsed the promotion. The PSA cert succinctly identifies it as a modern 1915 Cracker Jack fantasy card, as well as affirms its limited edition existence. For some frog collectors, 500 cards is way too big a pond to share, and thus not exclusive enough. Others wouldn't have it in their collection because it's a modern fantasy Babe Ruth, and not a vintage card of The Babe during his playing days. Methinks there's enough eye candy in this baby to go around and around with absolute delight!

One of the key factors to keep in mind is the fact most of the collectors who were privileged to get this prime free prize are holding tight onto it, as I am, and displaying this gorgeous Ruth with their original vintage cards, AND LOVING IT!

Think about it. With what a collector paid to get into the convention, in most cases having to stay at the host hotel and pay their hefty bill, and all the meals you would naturally need to purchase, the "free prize" WAS ANYTHING BUT FREE! Think about that, my friend. ---Brian Powell

[packs]

I paid $515 for this one three or so years ago. It's possible to score one on your budget:

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by packs

I paid $515 for this one three or so years ago. It's possible to score one on your budget:

not one like that!!!

[packs]

It happened to me. It could happen to you. Just be patient.

[brian1961]

Leon and Packs have shown you compelling cards from Babe's career that are do-able, though probably for more than 500 smackers. Period cards, those from the man's playing career, are the best. If you wish to have but one Ruth in your collection, and your heart's desire is a period Babe, by all means, forget what I said----go for the vintage!

I do wish to make sure you understand where I was coming from in urging you to consider the 2013 NSCC Promo Card that Never Was 1915 Cracker Jack Babe Ruth. If you don't already know, this fantasy card is pure quality, and still under $500. The word "still" connotes I am suggesting some day this fantasy will take $500 to buy it. Yes, I am. It would be a first, but this is no ordinary fantasy baseball card.

Arthur K. Miller, the talented creator of this small, but massive, cubic zirconia, poured a lot of thoughtful care into his fantasy card of Babe Ruth.

Mr. Miller shrewdly toned the borders down from today's diaper-white to bone china white, so they appear precisely as a genuine PSA MINT 9 Cracker Jack would look. Nice touch. The portrait he chose was perfect. Hands on hips, with the right "tough customer" countenance that marked his successful pitching career in Boston.

The colorization given Ruth was remarkable, as rich as Mr. Miller could make Babe, and yet still subdued as the real Cracker Jacks were.

Granted, PSA did not grant these fantasy Babes with a numerical grade. However, rum-dum factory seconds most assuredly were not ensconced into any of those PSA holders. Each and every one of the 500 specimens was PSA GEM MINT 10-worthy, trust me.

For those who don't want to trust me, and remain cynical, mule-headed snobs, I'm warning you this day. The time will come when the title / catch phrase of an old 1940s radio program shall ring loudly in your ears:

"YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Just don't shoot me, as Daffy Duck did to the brave chap who tried to warn Porky Pig of his impending doom as a contestant on "TRUTH, OR AAAHHHHHHHHH", in the Looney Tunes 1947 cartoon classic, "The Hucksters".

In all seriousness, collect whatcha like. You gotta work within your budget. Don't try to please everybody, as Ricky Nelson sang, just please yourself, bro.

Hey, you ask for opinions, you're bound to get a dozen different answers. In this instance, advice is cheaper by the dozen. Though I suppose, if you acted upon all the advice, it transpires to never cheaper by the dozen.

Take your time, bro. Then, once you see the Ruth you want, don't wait a second longer; otherwise someone else might bag it and you'll initiate a thread along the lines of "DIDJA EVER MISS OUT ON A CARD 'CAUSE YOU WAITED TOO LONG?" Most painful.

Best regards, Brian Powell

[glchen]

The reason I can't really take the 2013 NSCC card seriously even though it is numbered to 500 is that Memory Lane also sent one of these cards as part of their auction catalog that shipped around the same time as that National. Same front, but Memory Lane advertising back. So who knows how many thousands of these were given away. (I have one myself.) That and the fact that it's a card that was issued way after Ruth's playing days makes me believe that this card will never really have that much value. Sure, I really like the front image also, but I also like the images of a bunch of modern Topps cards for Ruth that regularly sell on ebay for less than a dollar.