Lou Gehrig underrated?

[brianp-beme]

I am not ashamed to backtrack when it makes sense, because that is a good way to know where I have traveled. If I were to ever to pick up this card, I would definitely look for one that appears like yours, because the one I posted is positively hideous.

Brian

[ullmandds]

My others.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

I'm a sucker for supplements and this one is pretty rare. I don't know much about the 1933-34 Blum's Bulletin supplements but for the price, even though it's kind of beat, I jumped. I also got the Delong earlier this month...

[DeanH3]

I have a few examples. It wouldn't surprise me to see a big jump in Gehrig cards. He and Jackie transcend the hobby.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I have a few examples. It wouldn't surprise me to see a big jump in Gehrig cards. He and Jackie transcend the hobby.

I agree that Gehrig transcends. My wife isn't very supportive of my habit. But last year when I bought my first Gehrig card, instead of stabbing me in her imagination, she thought for a moment and said, "I don't want to encourage you, but I like Lou Gehrig."

She saw PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, and she knows all about Gehrig.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[pherbener]

I really like the Gehrig exhibits cards. I think they, as well as the Jimmie Foxx are underrated. Here's a couple of my Gehrig exhibits.

[Leon]

His cards (and premiums ) are gaining more popularity every day..

[Seven]

Originally Posted by pherbener

I really like the Gehrig exhibits cards. I think they, as well as the Jimmie Foxx are underrated. Here's a couple of my Gehrig exhibits.

Exhibits are beautiful cards. And I feel Foxx as a whole, is pretty underrated to collect. His stuff is pretty cheap in comparison to the other sluggers of his day.

[scmavl]

I had a '34 Goudey #61 years ago that I wish I'd kept. Great colors and great pose. And I also believe that Gehrig transcends the hobby and will continue to rise with Jackie, Clemente, and a handful of others after Mantle and Ruth level off.

I recently got this card, as it was a true case of "buy the card and not the holder". Just a great looking card that the creases don't detract from too much.

[WA_HOF_rookie]

Originally Posted by scmavl

I had a '34 Goudey #61 years ago that I wish I'd kept. Great colors and great pose. And I also believe that Gehrig transcends the hobby and will continue to rise with Jackie, Clemente, and a handful of others after Mantle and Ruth level off.

I recently got this card, as it was a true case of "buy the card and not the holder". Just a great looking card that the creases don't detract from too much.

wow, that is a beautiful card!

[philo98]

This is a few months old thread but thought I would revive it after reading "Luckiest Man" by Jonathan Eig. Great well-written book I thought. Also, just over a week away for the 1st Lou Gehrig Day on June 2nd.

[Chris-Counts]

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about Hank Greenberg. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would say Bill Terry and George Sisler — first basemen who were contemporaries of Gehrig — are vastly overrated.

Here are my only Gehrig cards, one of which is technically 1/4 of a card, but I like it anyway ...

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate.

Absolutely spot-on, Chris. I am astounded at how little Foxx RCs sell for as compared to Gehrig. Any 1925 Exhibit Gehrig is legitimately a mid-five figures card or more. Foxx's Exhibit being priced at 10% or less of that is crazy.

[packs]

I think Foxx's flame out has a lot to do with his card sales. Doesn't help that he wasn't part of some significant all time team either. He played in some World Series early on but I'm not sure anyone remembers them for anything iconic like Murderers Row or something like that.

I DO think Foxx benefits from fantastic nicknames and his association with League of Their Own.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about Hank Greenberg. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would say Bill Terry and George Sisler — first basemen who were contemporaries of Gehrig — are vastly overrated.

Here are my only Gehrig cards, one of which is technically 1/4 of a card, but I like it anyway ...

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by rats60

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

Foxx fell off HARD after a few years in Boston, but even at his best offensively, Gehrig was still better. Foxx Just hit more home runs. Foxx had some killer seasons though with both the A's and the Sox.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by rats60

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

No one was arguing that Foxx was better than Gehrig. I think we all agree that Gehrig was clearly better, and the best 1B of all time. The question was which one of them was more underrated.

[flpm08]

I agree that Gehrig was one of the top ten greatest players in the history of the game. But what makes Gehrig so special was his character. His 1939 speech in Yankee Stadium was a sports classic. Fortunately, I have my two favorite Gehrig cards the 33G #92 and the 34G #37. He may be underrated by baseball card collectors but not by people who are familiar with the history of the game and its players. He will always be one of my favorite players.