Collector's Choice - A couple low grade Ruth cards

[CobbSpikedMe]

Definitely agree the top one (the one you chose) is far superior to the other one. Better clarity, corners, edges... All around a better card. Screw the number grade, especially since these are strip cards. Nice pick up.

[ullmandds]

you made the right choice! i, similarly, decided to jump on one of these back in oct...seeing the opportunity slowly disappearing for many ruth cards now exponentially more expensive than in the past!

[Exhibitman]

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

nice rarity adam!!!

[packs]

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by packs

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

I agree with you on the Kashin. I almost bought one of those a couple years ago. But those have really increased in price recently. I was considering those as well as the W517.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by packs

Still think the Kashin is an underrated buy for those hunting Ruths:

100% agree. First affordable Ruth I bought when I got back in, and I don't like Ruth but hey what're gonna do. I would also add the 21 exhibit Ruth at this point.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You guys sound exactly like I did the last time the mainstream Ruth cards starting getting a bit pricey. I started buying Exhibits, Ruth Candy, Fro-Joy, etc., just to be sure I'd have some Ruth cards. Definitely one of the better decisions I made. All that modern wax I was breaking, not so much (anyone want a case worth of 2020 Heritage commons?). My favorite acquisition from the era doesn't even show up on the sales charts--too hard to find



1920 Universal Surprise Box Ruth-Johnson-Sisler-Coveleskie

I did not even know that card existed! What is a "Surprise Box"? How were those distributed?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

I did not even know that card existed! What is a "Surprise Box"? How were those distributed?

Literally, it was a box:





There were several different sports cards made, baseball and boxing, and also entertainment. Plus some miscellaneous paper toys and games and cards. Some of the sports cards were full poses like mine, others were portraits. I have shown a Cobb in the second photo. I haven't seen a full box offered for sale in several years; I've only seen two boxes offered for sale as far back as I can recall. My guess is that there's no more than a dozen examples of the baseball cards known in the hobby. I know there's another Ruth out there because I have a scan of it in an SGC holder. I am always searching for them. Last year I got very excited at a paper show when I saw a table with what looked like a card but it was a laser print of the card with a 'wanted' sign. Some kids naturally cut them up. There are two cut Cobbs on ebay right now.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

you made the right choice! i, similarly, decided to jump on one of these back in oct...seeing the opportunity slowly disappearing for many ruth cards now exponentially more expensive than in the past!

Wow, that's a nice looking "low grade" card. I considered holding out for a non-creased one...but like I said, the FOMO was too strong.

REA actually had several W517 Ruth's in their last auction (both versions) that all went around the $1000 range. I was the underbidder on one of them, and I was sad to have missed them.