Lou Gehrig underrated?

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Here's the original photo.

That's amazing! Beautiful!

[Peter_Spaeth]

...

[Dardevl]

Great stuff so far! I love seeing all of the variations and unusual issues.

Gehrig's "other" rookie. Card is mine. 1923 photo is not.

[todeen]

After considering people talk about the '34 Goudey cards, I think I like #61 more than #37.

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[Chesbro41]

Favorite player, favorite team.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Chesbro41

Favorite player, favorite team.

I like that Rogers Peet!

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[todeen]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I have a few examples. It wouldn't surprise me to see a big jump in Gehrig cards. He and Jackie transcend the hobby.

I agree that Gehrig transcends. My wife isn't very supportive of my habit. But last year when I bought my first Gehrig card, instead of stabbing me in her imagination, she thought for a moment and said, "I don't want to encourage you, but I like Lou Gehrig."

She saw PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, and she knows all about Gehrig.

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[pherbener]

I really like the Gehrig exhibits cards. I think they, as well as the Jimmie Foxx are underrated. Here's a couple of my Gehrig exhibits.

[Leon]

His cards (and premiums ) are gaining more popularity every day..

[SAllen2556]

I've been reading "Cobb Would Have Caught It" and there's an interview in there from Doc Cramer given in 1986.

He said, "Nobody liked Gehrig, not even his own players. I know that to be a fact. Tony Lazzeri, he couldn't stand to be near him. He was too cheap, that's what it was. And he was self-centered. I always got along with him. He'd have a beer and drink with you, if you bought it. The only guy that got along with him was Bill Dickey. They roomed together.

[BeanTown]

Great exhibits Paul and That should say swag on Leon’s premium

[Seven]

Originally Posted by pherbener

I really like the Gehrig exhibits cards. I think they, as well as the Jimmie Foxx are underrated. Here's a couple of my Gehrig exhibits.

Exhibits are beautiful cards. And I feel Foxx as a whole, is pretty underrated to collect. His stuff is pretty cheap in comparison to the other sluggers of his day.

[Popcorn]

Lou Gehrig and Teddy Ballgame IMO. If Williams played today he hit .400

[WA_HOF_rookie]

Gehrig is actually the whole reason I got back into cards. When Covid hit, I was in the middle of my 356th game of MLB the Show 2020 and Gehrig was my star 1st baseman.

I went to eBay to see if there were even Gehrig cards available. I saw how expensive they were and bought three Mattingly rookies instead.

Not one to give up though, I sold three watches and bought this Gehrig card. I probably (most definitely) overpaid for it not knowing what I was buying, but I smile EVERY time I look at this card, so in the end it was worth every penny.

Fantastic player, but a more remarkable man.


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[todeen]

Originally Posted by WA_HOF_rookie

Gehrig is actually the whole reason I got back into cards. When Covid hit, I was in the middle of my 356th game of MLB the Show 2020 and Gehrig was my star 1st baseman.

I went to eBay to see if there were even Gehrig cards available. I saw how expensive they were and bought three Mattingly rookies instead.

Not one to give up though, I sold three watches and bought this Gehrig card. I probably (most definitely) overpaid for it not knowing what I was buying, but I smile EVERY time I look at this card, so in the end it was worth every penny.

Fantastic player, but a more remarkable man.


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Whatever makes you happy! I see the Tris Speaker behind Gehrig. I prefer Speaker over Lou. That is a card on my want list.

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[WA_HOF_rookie]

Originally Posted by todeen

Whatever makes you happy! I see the Tris Speaker behind Gehrig. I prefer Speaker over Lou. That is a card on my want list.

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Wow, great eyes! Yep, I bought a few low grade T201 cards to get my other favorite players. The display on my desk is T201 Speaker, Lajoie and the Gehrig.

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[glchen]

I recently saw this listing on ebay which was sold (not mine): Link, and had the W590 photo of Gehrig. I thought it was pretty neat.

[scmavl]

I had a '34 Goudey #61 years ago that I wish I'd kept. Great colors and great pose. And I also believe that Gehrig transcends the hobby and will continue to rise with Jackie, Clemente, and a handful of others after Mantle and Ruth level off.

I recently got this card, as it was a true case of "buy the card and not the holder". Just a great looking card that the creases don't detract from too much.

[WA_HOF_rookie]

Originally Posted by scmavl

I had a '34 Goudey #61 years ago that I wish I'd kept. Great colors and great pose. And I also believe that Gehrig transcends the hobby and will continue to rise with Jackie, Clemente, and a handful of others after Mantle and Ruth level off.

I recently got this card, as it was a true case of "buy the card and not the holder". Just a great looking card that the creases don't detract from too much.

wow, that is a beautiful card!

[philo98]

This is a few months old thread but thought I would revive it after reading "Luckiest Man" by Jonathan Eig. Great well-written book I thought. Also, just over a week away for the 1st Lou Gehrig Day on June 2nd.

[Shoeless Moe]

I'd like this to go to a Lou Gehrig fan if they want to add it to their collection and figured this thread is where a Gehrig fan would be. Now mind you obviously the one played in Yankee Stadium that day tends to fetch slightly more then this

https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/1...umbnail-071515


gulp..........but......it's still pretty cool that it's the same date in history in one of baseball's other hallowed grounds. And unless you have $40 grand to spend on the other one this is a very cool alternative/placeholder : ) and a Cub hit 3 HR's in a game vs the Cardinals that day, so not a bad stub on game alone. But that infamous date, that's the thing! Every true baseball fan knows it. If you are talking to someone and ask them that question and they don't know it, just shake your head and walk away. They're no fan of the game. Not a die-hard anyway.

$115 bucks shipped.....hey, beats 40K

PSA has only 3 tickets graded from that famous date, 2 Yankees, obviously the big guys, and 1 Athletics DH vs Boston, this Wrigley Field one would be the 4th if you were to so choose to do, or don't, doesn't need it.

If interested just message me - no need to keep the thread going with a reply - just pm me if you want to add it to your Lou Collection - cool sidepiece.

[packs]

My only Lou

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by packs

My only Lou

Nice card! Here's my only Lou, a #160 SGC 1.5

[Yoda]

My personal favorite card of Lou is the 1936 WWG, his last as a player. To me, his somewhat bittersweet expression reflects the knowledge that he is experiencing the first effects of the disease that would kill him.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Yoda

My personal favorite card of Lou is the 1936 WWG, his last as a player. To me, his somewhat bittersweet expression reflects the knowledge that he is experiencing the first effects of the disease that would kill him.

He does have a bit of a resigned look on the card. And I like it too.

[packs]

What I wouldn't give for there to have been a 1939 Play Ball Gehrig.

[Chris Counts]

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about Hank Greenberg. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would say Bill Terry and George Sisler — first basemen who were contemporaries of Gehrig — are vastly overrated.

Here are my only Gehrig cards, one of which is technically 1/4 of a card, but I like it anyway ...

[mightyq]

man, wish i didnt sell ALL back in 2013...game is way too expensive now to recoup it all...love gehrig....would easily be the all time r.b.i. leader if he could have played until 39,40...

[jgannon]

Delete

[Jay Wolt]

When I was a kid, this card came out & it stated he was the greatest 1st baseman
Almost 50 years later, I still believe it

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate.

Absolutely spot-on, Chris. I am astounded at how little Foxx RCs sell for as compared to Gehrig. Any 1925 Exhibit Gehrig is legitimately a mid-five figures card or more. Foxx's Exhibit being priced at 10% or less of that is crazy.

[packs]

I think Foxx's flame out has a lot to do with his card sales. Doesn't help that he wasn't part of some significant all time team either. He played in some World Series early on but I'm not sure anyone remembers them for anything iconic like Murderers Row or something like that.

I DO think Foxx benefits from fantastic nicknames and his association with League of Their Own.

[G1911]

I second the choice of Foxx, there's a good argument there though Foxx ends up priced about where he should relative to other stars of the 20's and 30's.

Gehrig is still generally regarded as the greatest 1B of all time. He remains a household name among baseball fans. The only player in his time period that outsells him is Babe Ruth, who was clearly better than Gehrig. I do not see how he can thus really be considered underrated, either in cards or in baseball history.

[chadeast]

It's hard to call someone who is universally regarded as the best 1B of all time underrated. Agree that Foxx is more so, but I can't agree that he wasn't part of all time great teams. I consider the A's teams from 1928 to 1931 to be absolutely iconic, with Grove, Foxx, Simmons, and Cochrane leading the way as top tier all-time talents. The first two '33 Goudeys I ever bought, and the only two I owned for 10+ years, were Foxx and Simmons, because of my fascination with this dynasty.

EDIT: and which still causes me to do things like this without even realizing it. I just noticed this last week when I was consolidating. Oops

[packs]

But do you think that admiration is universal to casual fans in the same way Murderers Row or the Miracle Mets are?

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by packs

But do you think that admiration is universal to casual fans in the same way Murderers Row or the Miracle Mets are?

Definitely not. I was only setting the record straight that he in fact was part of all-time great teams. Foxx and those A's teams aren't nearly as well known to the casual fan. To a lot of people, there is what happens in New York, and then there's everything else.

[packs]

True. I didn't mean to suggest he wasn't on great teams. Just not all time teams from the casual fan perspective. Like the Big Red Machine teams or the Black Sox, etc.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about Hank Greenberg. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would say Bill Terry and George Sisler — first basemen who were contemporaries of Gehrig — are vastly overrated.

Here are my only Gehrig cards, one of which is technically 1/4 of a card, but I like it anyway ...

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by rats60

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

Foxx fell off HARD after a few years in Boston, but even at his best offensively, Gehrig was still better. Foxx Just hit more home runs. Foxx had some killer seasons though with both the A's and the Sox.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by rats60

Gehrig .340/.447/.632 OPS+ 179
Foxx . 325/.428/.609 OPS+ 160

For those that like WAR
Gehrig 114.1 in 17 seasons with only 14 full seasons Those 14 full seasons Gehrig had 113.8 WAR or 8.12 WAR per season.

Foxx 93.9 in 20 seasons. Foxx's best 14 seasons averaged 6.7 WAR.

Gehrig was also a monster in the postseason with 6 WS wins in 7 tries hitting . 361/.483/.731.

It really isn't close. Collectors want to collect the best. For prewar it is Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig. Tier 2 players are going to trail behind badly.

No one was arguing that Foxx was better than Gehrig. I think we all agree that Gehrig was clearly better, and the best 1B of all time. The question was which one of them was more underrated.

[Exhibitman]

One nice way to compare players of varied careers is to look at 7 year peak WAR:

Gehrig 68.1
Pujols 61.7
Foxx 58.5

The rest are substantially below these three.

Top 3 in WAR for 1B are Gehrig, Pujols and Foxx.

No one can really contest Gehrig's status as the GOAT, though I do not agree that Foxx is not a first tier HOFer; the #3 guy has to be.

I guess the question is more whether Foxx cards are undervalued based on his place in baseball history. Of course, that question assumes that card values correlate directly with on-field performance, which is not always the case. Beloved and iconic status can come from other sources besides just stats (hello, Nolan Ryan, #24 in WAR; Mel Ott and Frank Robinson have better career WAR than Roberto Clemente; guess which right-fielder is on a stamp?).

[egri]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Mel Ott and Frank Robinson have better career WAR than Roberto Clemente; guess which right-fielder is on a stamp?).

Mel Ott has a stamp as well: https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products...ates/4082/USA/

[rats60]

Originally Posted by chadeast

No one was arguing that Foxx was better than Gehrig. I think we all agree that Gehrig was clearly better, and the best 1B of all time. The question was which one of them was more underrated.

I don't think Foxx is underrated at all. Depending on if you consider Stan Musial a 1B or not, Foxx is widely considered #2 or #3 all time at 1b. Johnny Mize and Hank Greenberg are underrated, not Foxx.

As far as card values, people are drawn to the top few names. Players down the list are going to increase in value much slower. I don't think Foxx cards are undervalued at all. In 1933 Goudey after Ruth and Gehrig (and Lajoie) comes Foxx, Hornsby and Dean. He isn't like Eddie Collins who sells for less than many lesser players in t206.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by rats60

I don't think Foxx is underrated at all. Depending on if you consider Stan Musial a 1B or not, Foxx is widely considered #2 or #3 all time at 1b. Johnny Mize and Hank Greenberg are underrated, not Foxx.

As far as card values, people are drawn to the top few names. Players down the list are going to increase in value much slower. I don't think Foxx cards are undervalued at all. In 1933 Goudey after Ruth and Gehrig (and Lajoie) comes Foxx, Hornsby and Dean. He isn't like Eddie Collins who sells for less than many lesser players in t206.

I can only speak to 33/34 Goudeys, but I agree with you. He's not underrated and priced pretty much right where he should be.

[Tao_Moko]

One of the best.

[flpm08]

I agree that Gehrig was one of the top ten greatest players in the history of the game. But what makes Gehrig so special was his character. His 1939 speech in Yankee Stadium was a sports classic. Fortunately, I have my two favorite Gehrig cards the 33G #92 and the 34G #37. He may be underrated by baseball card collectors but not by people who are familiar with the history of the game and its players. He will always be one of my favorite players.