Affordable Babe Ruth cards?

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

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.

I can certainly appreciate your points! And yes...the shonen is obviously japanese(not american) as well! Fact is any non american issue has lagged american issues traditionally. While this may change...I think they will always lag to some degree in value/desirability.

[aelefson]

I know this is a card forum, so my opinion is probably in the minority, but why are you looking for a card? You can get cool photos or ephemera of Ruth for much less. Below are a couple of examples. I paid 100.00 for the 1926 booklet and around 200 for the Be a Star booklet. Both of these are much scarcer than almost any Ruth card. To me, I get much more enjoyment out of these types of items than I do a small piece of cardboard. I also have snapshots of Ruth (including a great one in uniform shown below). I got it for about 300 (maybe less). There are also career contemporary books featuring Ruth, Quaker Oats premiums, and other items that to me are much cooler than a (relatively) common card and are usually much cheaper too.

Alan

[Jobu]

I'd go with the Goudey Premium. The size and contrast make them impressive in person.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

This question comes up from time to time, and I typically give the same answer: 1935 Goudey

It's an American Goudey gum card from his playing days and can still be had for a good price. The prices on these have gone up over the last couple of years (just like everything else) but you can still grab a PSA/SGC 1 grade for under $1000.

The fact that he's not listed as a Yankee, and he shares the card with three other Braves are the contributing factors that keep this card priced lower (although according to the pop reports, there are less of these than the 1933s...especially with specific back images).

I picked this "beauty" up about a year ago for $300. Having a nail hole through the middle also helps keep the price down

Ruth.JPG

[brianp-beme]

On the non-card front, illustrations from newspapers can come cheap. Here is a cool 8" x 10" caricature of him clipped from a September 4th, 1932 newspaper that I picked up multiple years back for about $5. I assume it would be substantially more now, but still inexpensive.

Brian (Ruth as Roman charioteer...classic. I always wanted to share it on here)

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Jobu

I'd go with the Goudey Premium. The size and contrast make them impressive in person.

I agree with Bryan...

Assuming it fits your criteria, I think the Goudey Premium cannot beat (for the money).

[abothebear]

In 1930 British American Tobacco released the same card as the churchman’s in the same sports of the world collection. The only difference on the front is that there is no “churchman cigarettes” apparently, this issue is more rare, but it sells for a similar price.

[x2drich2000]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I agree with Bryan...

Assuming it fits your criteria, I think the Goudey Premium cannot beat (for the money).

I agree with the Goudey premium, if you can still find one for under $1k. The last couple I've seen have gone for more than I would have expected. I would add other premiums like W554 and butterfinger as well.

[ullmandds]

ok you guys and a few glasses of sauvignon blanc convinced me...I just added a churchman and another w ruth to my stable! f you're gonna drink and buy cards...tough to go wrong with the babe!!!

[Schlesinj]

FYI, Churchman and Edwards are starting to creep up in cost. Some raw versions sold for $700+ on eBay today.