SCBC Update . . . Two Rare Ruths

[Leon]

My mistake. I thought you guys had put those in there and thought I had remember seeing them. Maybe I got a little confused as there was a nice SGC graded one floating around a few months ago and that is why I am thinking what I am (was). I have seen about 3-4 of these types. Here is another from the set. You can tell it might have been connected to one just below it too.

As for the fantasy card no one knows more than Rob L about type cards. Glad our hunches were right. As was mentioned it's very seldom that new, legit, whole series turn up. (at least post internet). Pardon the other scans the sample card is obviously on the far right.

[Bob Lemke]

Well, Leon, I wonder if we're both right? We DO list a W-UNC 1929 playing strip card set with your Hogan, it's on Page 516, but with no picture in the 2009 edition. Barry Gordon added a Walter Hoyt, Yankees (2 of clubs) to that checklist. That makes three in that checklist, all clubs or spades, on a red background. Now we have the Gehrig and Ruth, hearts and diamonds, on a black background. That may have been the pattern for the set. The Ruth and Gehrig differ from the others, though, in that no city or team is indicated. Maybe it was figured they were so well known it was not needed?

The style of portrait and other typography seem to indicate one set for all. I guess I'd be inclined to go with your theory and list them all together.

[fkw]

The Ruth (crude playing card strip card) is from a set made by the Universal Toy & Novelty Company.

Ive always called it ca.1929 which is the rough average year of the known cards (player/team combo)

1.Jim Elliott ..... No playing card designation, only the "Universal Toy & Novelty Co." Logo in the corner.

2.Shanty Hogan..... 6 of Clubs

3.Lou Gehrig.... 5 of Hearts

4.Doug McWeeny.... 7 of Spades

5.Babe Ruth...... 5 of Diamonds

all are black, red, and white and crudely drawn.


I dont have a scan of the Elliot card (wish I saved it), but did see it a few years ago when someone emailed me a scan of it asking what it was. I knew the set already as Ive owned a couple of them over the years (Hogan, McWeeny).

PS Hi Bob L., I sent you info about this Ruth strip card a few years ago and told you it was part of the Hogan/McWeeny set and a Gehrig was also known (I didnt see the Elliott yet, so didnt know the Universal Toy & Novelty Co. connection then). You said you couldnt add it to the checklist unless you could see a better picture. The picture I sent was a tiny B&W photocopy from an older "Old Judge" Auction (Lew Lipset, 1990 era).

[BKasarda]

Here is a scan of another Gehrig