Fro Joy Babe Ruth Cards

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Oldtix

Does anyone know the back story on when and who produced the Fro-Joy fakes? Were they done for some purpose other than to defraud?

I think many of the early 1980's reprints, especially color ones, were NOT meant to defraud but just to be nice, inexpensive display pieces. Many, or most, of the black and white type reprints were probably meant to defraud.

One other hobby myth (maybe) is that there was an actual Fro Joy printing plate(s) found, much later in the hobby, and some cards were printed from it/them. Those were supposedly almost impossible to tell from the originals and that is the (supposed) reason grading companies wouldn't slab any of them. I have never seen that story be verified but the story has been around for years. Collectors need to be wary of all of these type cards even though some will be good. I do have some good ones but to say ALL of the fakes/reprints are easy to tell, would be a misnomer in my opinion. Actually, according to the head graders at 2 of the top 3 grading companies, they can be difficult to discern. best regards