Whats the earliest card of Babe Ruth in a Yankees uniform?

[mrreality68]

Hi

That is a great question and while I started my Ruth collecting this is one of the articles that I came across about it and depending on what you consider a card vs promo cards vs strip cards gives different answers

Here is the LINK

https://waxpackgods.com/babe-ruth-baseball-card/

[Baseball Rarities]

I assume that these cards were issued in conjunction with the 1920 off-season tour that Ruth did with Carl Mays. The newspaper is from July 19, 1920. Unfortunately, neither one is mine.

[Tabe]

Great pictures to show to anybody who thinks of Babe as being just this rotund non-athletic guy.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Baseball Rarities

I believe that these cards were issued in conjunction with the 1920 off-season tour that Ruth did with Carl Mays.

Mays on tour to capitalize on the publicity from killing Ray Chapman with a pitch? Wow.

[FrankWakefield]

I think that Mays has been demonized over the years.

What happened, happened. Chapman was a well-liked ball player, even Ty Cobb liked Chapman.

Maybe start with Wikipedia's article on Carl Mays, then keep reading other articles.

As for that 1920 touring team... Would you say that Babe Ruth joined up with that team to capitalize on Mays having killed Chapman? I doubt it.

[LincolnVT]

Kevin is on to something.

I believe he can also be seen (wearing early pinstripes) on his 1920 Tex Rickard "Headin' Home" Card. Some say he was with the Yankees when his Frederick Foto card was issued, however he is pictured in a Red Sox uniform for that card.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

1921 self-developing card from our last auction comes to mind.

[tkd]

I would say most likely Headin' Home Babe Ruth cards are his first cards in a Yankees uniform.
Headin' Home was released on Sept 19, 1920. The film was played at several Theatres during that time, and some would offer advertising cards for the film. The advertising cards would have a picture of Babe Ruth on the front wearing his Yankees uniform. The back would typically be blank with a theatre stamp. Some examples are Welcome Theatre and Majestic Theatre. I've seen some with actual dates on the back which is helpful. Oct. 25th is one date. I would assume these were handed out at least from Sept. - end of year 1920. I'm not sure when the cards were made but my guess is sometime April-July 1920.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by tkd

I would say most likely Headin' Home Babe Ruth cards are his first cards in a Yankees uniform.
Headin' Home was released on Sept 19, 1920. The film was played at several Theatres during that time, and some would offer advertising cards for the film. The advertising cards would have a picture of Babe Ruth on the front wearing his Yankees uniform. The back would typically be blank with a theatre stamp. Some examples are Welcome Theatre and Majestic Theatre. I've seen some with actual dates on the back which is helpful. Oct. 25th is one date. I would assume these were handed out at least from Sept. - end of year 1920. I'm not sure when the cards were made but my guess is sometime April-July 1920.

I would agree with this as long as we accept these as Ruth Cards as some people consider these Promo cards and thus not true cards.
So as a group how do we consider this

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I think that Mays has been demonized over the years. What happened, happened. Chapman was a well-liked ball player, even Ty Cobb liked Chapman. Maybe start with Wikipedia's article on Carl Mays, then keep reading other articles. As for that 1920 touring team... Would you say that Babe Ruth joined up with that team to capitalize on Mays having killed Chapman? I doubt it.

Most of what I know about the Mays/Chapman incident--not much--comes from Joe Wood on "The Glory of Their Times" audio. I didn't take sides in my comment, merely expressed wonderment at what appears to be crass capitalization of it given the timing. Mays did have a great season, though, so maybe he would have gotten equal billing with Ruth without the notoriety of the "pitch that killed." I tend to doubt it, but who knows? As for the Babe, I'm sure he was just happy to be picking up some extra cash for the tour; whether he gave any thought to Mays's involvement or had any feelings about it one way or the other would only be conjecture.

[GasHouseGang]

Is there any way to know what time of year this 1921 strip card was issued? It's not a photo but I guess it would at least be a candidate.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Baseball Rarities

I believe that these cards were issued in conjunction with the 1920 off-season tour that Ruth did with Carl Mays. The newspaper is from July 19, 1920.

i've seen the ruth swinging image identified as the first image of ruth with the yankees in a newspaper insert.