SCBC Update . . . Two Rare Ruths

[Bob Lemke]

I hope you don't mind my use of this forum to steer you to my blog (linked below) where I am now posting updates, discoveries, queries, etc., for the vintage sections of the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.

It seems like the best way to get this audience involved in the process. And I do value the collective expertise on this forum.

Here are a couple of Babe Ruth cards that have been brought to my attention by New York collector Barry Gordon. The full particulars are in my blog.
1920s W-UNC Playing Strip Cards (3).jpg

taylor-chocolates-ruth.jpg

Thanks, as always, for your participation.

[Leon]

Hey Bob
I share your concerns on the candy card. Here is a strip card, already noted in the Big Book, that does look similar to the Ruth strip shown albeit a little different..

[canjond]

The Taylor Chocolates seems to resemble a Star Player Candy sort of.

[Bob Lemke]

Leon, that's the other card that Barry sent me a copy of, but I don't think it's listed in the Standard Catalog. Do you have a page number?

[Bob Lemke]

I got a quick response from a reliable source indicating the Taylor Chocolates Babe Ruth is a fantasy issue, though possiby quite an old one, circa the 1970s.

If he gives permission to use his name, I'll post the details he provided.

[Bob Lemke]

My source is Rob Lifson, and here is an excerpt of what he had to say about the Taylor Chocolates Sports Heroes Babe Ruth . . .

I saw your blog post on the Taylor Chocolates Ruth and your instincts are right on the money! That is not a real card - It is not a reprint in that there is no original - It is simply a "fantasy card" produced to look old and fool people. It is definitely not real. I remember when they "surfaced" - it's been a while (guessing 25 years) so they have a little age to them for real but the fact is that the card itself is not real - not a chance in the world! I am very familiar with this card - you can tell the paper isn't even right. This was a nice try by someone long ago to create a "rarity" but it did not work.

I'll take his word for it.

[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