Exhibit Experts - Babe Ruth

[Shoeless Moe]

Can anyone tell me the years Exhibit cards were made for Ruth?

I do not have any price guide so would appreciate any assistance. And what is the going rate for say SGC 10 or PSA 1 for each of those years.

Do they usually go for more or less then the 33 Goudey Ruths in the same condition?

[glchen]

I'm not an expert, but I think Exhibits Ruth's typically go for less than 33 Goudey's in the same condition. However, there are 2-3 of in demand Exhibits that are very popular, the 1921 (and 22) Exhibits with Ruth in the fielding pose, and the 1926-29 Exhibit in the holding bat pose.

[smtjoy]

Ruth has a ton of exhibits from his playing years, here is a list (im sure I will miss one). As far as pricing most in low grade (1 or auth) will run around $400-600, a few are very expensive and can run from $1000-4000 in any grade (I put a * next to those ones)-

1921
1922 Eastern Exhibit
1923-24 * (a PSA 1 sold in auction last year for $3600)
1925
1925 Sports Champions
1926 *
1926-29 PC Portrait
1926-29 PC Batting Thru
1927
1928
1929-30 4 on 1
1929-30 4 on 1 with 2 boxers *
1929-30 8 Star Stamp Pictures
1931-32 4 on 1 *
1931-32 Prize- In Suit *
1933 4 on 1 *
1934 4 on 1
1935 4 on 1

[Exhibitman]

Sounds about right, tho I'd probably give a bit more love to the 1925 Champions; that is a very tough card...

[glchen]

Is that a 1926 Exhibit Ruth in the current Legendary auction. It seems more green like a 27 Exhibit than blue-gray. Link is here: Link

Meanwhile this SGC 1926 Ruth Exhibit almost seems more blue like a 28 Exhibit. Link is here: Link

Are both of these really 1926 Exhibits?

[smtjoy]

Hi Gary,

You are correct and PSA messed up on both of them, the first is a 1927 and the second on ebay is a 1928.

[Touch'EmAll]

I tend to agree that the 3 most prized Ruth Exhibits are:

1921 Exhibits, fielding pose
1925 Exhibits, Champions
1926 Exhibits, w/bat pose

In nice shape, you occasionally see a 1921 up for sale, rarely the 1925 or 1926 pose card.

Question - not a PSA member, but what are the pops for these 3 cards, in say a PSA 5 grade? Also SGC pops? If anyone knows, thanks.

[glchen]

Thanks, Scott. That's what I figured.

This is probably more of a general Exhibits question, but are there any color tints that are tough? I think this mostly pertains to the 1926-29 Exhibits, but I think some of the 4 in 1's have different color tints also.

[smtjoy]

On most prized Ruth Exhibits, my list would be (I still need two of them)-

1- 1923-24
2- 1929-30 4 on 1 with 2 boxers
3- tie 1926 and 1931-32 Prize- In Suit

Now most popular would be a lot different as you rarely see the ones above, I would put that more like-

1- 1921 (great pose)
2- 1926-29 Portrait (great photo)
3- 1926-29 Follow Thru (action shot)
4- 1935 4 on 1

These really are the 3 easiest Ruth exhibits to find too, lots out there.

On colors, the 1926-29 has a lot and some are a lot harder than others, like orange and red are very tough. The 1929-30 has the most colors combos of all the exhibits and some of them are nearly impossible to find. On all the color sets the black and white are the most common.

[Leon]

and then there is this.... (no, not the quarter)

[glchen]

Anyone think Lot 96: 1931-32 Four-on-One Exhibits Complete set in the Legendary auction went high? I realize it's a rare set, but nearly 18K including BP?

[Exhibitman]

Not really. It isn't easy to put one together.

The exhibits seem to be getting some respect generally in this auction, though there are a few relative bargains still out there.

[Ladder7]

The Ruth/Gehrig seems a tad overgraded. Though, I've got no comment on the bottom border.

[wrapperguy]

It is a tough set (I still need 6 of them) but that is crazy money. It is the #1 set on the registry and that helps but hopefully two whales were slugging it out.

[ls7plus]

I really like the Exhibits, especially those from the '20's, and consider their image reproduction to be generally quite a bit superior to other issues of the same era. As Rob Lifson commented in one of REA's recent auctions, some of Ruth and Gehrig's most dramatic images are found within the Exhibits sets. Some of the reasons the bigger cards, like Exhibits, and/or other postcards, lagged a bit behind more traditionally sized cards in value were due to the lack of quality holders for them for quite awhile, and if I recall correctly, it took PSA and SGC a significant length of time to produce large enough holders for them. Once professional grading took hold, values to a great extent depended upon (1) authentication of the card; and (2) the number given the card in the slab. If a card couldn't be graded, there was less demand for it, hence lower prices. Those obstacles are no more, and I would look for Exhibits to continue to rise in price, at least in proportion to their relative scarcity/rarity compared to other issues.
With regard to prices, I paid $2200 for the 1931-32 Ruth (portrait, with tie) from the movie stars set a few years ago in PSA 5. The Standard Catalog describes this as the rarest Exhibit Babe Ruth, but I would defer to Exhibitman on that one. Anyone have any ideas on whether that one is tougher than the 1923-1924 issue (duplicating the '21 fielding pose, but with borders)?

Larry

[glchen]

I think Adam practically gave away the 31-32 Exhibit Ruth here: Link

If I had known that was one of the rarest Exhibit Ruth's, I would've bid it higher. Anyone know what year/designation is the Ruth from Leon's post?

[Exhibitman]

I thought it was a good price for a poor condition card.

The 1923-24 is tougher and so is the 1926.

[wonkaticket]

Easily the best Ruth image IMO.

[ls7plus]

I agree with John on that one too--the 1921 is the first Exhibit Ruth I wanted, and the first one I bought. Plus, it was really his best year statistically (off the top of my head, without checking the stats, I believe he set a longstanding record--did Bonds "break" it?--with 119 extra-base hits, 44 doubles, 16 triples, and 59 HR's), and it was the year of the Yankees' first pennant.

Best to all of you guys,

Larry