Rank The Top Ten Babe Ruth Cards

[MattyC]

This should be fun to see everyone's opinions; probably little variance in the top two but will be interesting to see personal choices beyond that...

1. Balt News - the king card in hobby after a "1" outsold a "1" T206 Wagner?
2. M101-4/5 RC - the RC, enough said. Also pretty challenging to find centered.
3. Frederick Foto - ultra rarity with a total pop of only 4! Unique pose/image. Mystique of original issue distribution. An early NY Yankee designation.
4. M101-6 Mendelsohn
5. 1916 Standard Biscuit
6. Boston store
7. 1921 American Caramel
8. Headin Home (various poses/first cards in pinstripes?)
9. US Caramel
10. Goudeys #53 & #144

[terjung]

For clarity, the M101-6 (Felix Mendelsohn) has two versions... one listing him as playing for the Red Sox and one more common one listing him with the Yankees.

I'd put the Red Sox version up higher than the Yankees version and think the Red Sox version would crack the top 3.

Interesting discussion.

[glchen]

Real tough to keep it to 10:

1. 1914 Baltimore News
2. M101-5/4 RC (including Standard Biscuit and back variations)
3. 1917 Boston Store
4. 1933 R306 Butter Cream
5. 1917-20 Felix Mendelsohn (Red Sox)
6. 1917 Collins-McCarthy
7. 1917-20 Felix Mendelsohn (Yankees)
8. 1921 Frederick Foto
9. 1921 E121 Babe Ruth
10. 1933 Goudey #53

[g_vezina_c55]

i think the number 1 and 2 will be the same for everyone here

[e107collector]

Originally Posted by glchen

Real tough to keep it to 10:

1. 1914 Baltimore News
2. M101-5/4 RC (including Standard Biscuit and back variations)
3. 1917 Boston Store
4. 1933 R306 Butter Cream
5. 1917-20 Felix Mendelsohn (Red Sox)
6. 1917 Collins-McCarthy
7. 1917-20 Felix Mendelsohn (Yankees)
8. 1921 Frederick Foto
9. 1921 E121 Babe Ruth
10. 1933 Goudey #53

Gary, I like your list, but I would put the Frederick Foto at #4, and move the rest down one spot. Just my opinion.

Tony

[Sean1125]

I really think E126 should be somewhere on the list.

[Leon]

I like the lists given but like this pose too....

[soxinseven]

I really like this one...

[JeremyW]

I would put the E122 Ruth ahead of the E121 in the rankings.

[pcoz]

I'd put the 1922 E122 on the list somewhere. Super tough card to find, with I think only 13 on both pop charts.

[ullmandds]

I agree w/sentiment on e122...partially because I have one...but also because there are 3 poses of e121(maybe more with name variations)...not all are not created equal...and all are more common.

Frederich photo would probably be 3 on my list behind the big 2.

what about the 1928 series

[smtjoy]

Great cards, as an exhibit collector this might be his toughest of them (pop 4 both companies)-

[HexsHeroes]

.

It is certainly by far not the toughest Ruth card to locate, but it was the very first Ruth card I purchased, therefore finding a place in my top 10 Ruth cards; a beautiful Goudey Sports King specimen from collector/dealer Charlie Conlon. That card still holds very fond memories for me, even if now long gone from my collection.

[vintagecpa]

The E135 Collins McCarthy has to be in the top 4. It is the classic pitching pose, but listing him with the Red Sox instead of the Yankees.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I agree w/sentiment on e122...partially because I have one...but also because there are 3 poses of e121(maybe more with name variations)...not all are not created equal...and all are more common.

Frederich photo would probably be 3 on my list behind the big 2.

Could not agree more about the Frederick Foto. Just a perfect storm for a card: biggest demand name in the hobby, only four known copies in the world, unique image to the card, noted as a Yankee with Boston uniform, a certain mystique to the set from which it hails... I just love that card. Add in that it got that one "breakout" sale that any card needs to secure a special place in the hobby, with that REA example hitting $44,000, and it's a real beast of a card.

[Vintageclout]

My top ten as follows with respect to value, rarity and desirability:

1. 1914 Baltimore News
2. 1916 M101-4/5 Rookie
3. 1917 Boston Store/Collins McCarthy/Standard Biscuit
4. 1921 Frederick Foto Ruth (Imagine - a "PCL" Ruth Issue - Incredible Card)
5. 1920 M101-6 Felix Mendelsohn (Boston & NY)-NY Issue is Ruth's 1st Yankee Card
6. 1921 E121 American Caramel
7. 1921-23 E220 National Caramel Ruth (MOST UNDERATED RUTH CARD!)
8. 1922 E122 American Caramel (Pitching Pose)
9. 1933 Goudeys (any of the 4 issues)
10. 1933 Sports King

Honorable mention: 1920 Headin Home Issues (Ultra-rare); Buttercream (Extreme Rarity with VERY POOR eye appeal); 1927 E126 American Caramel (Tough Issue/low pop); 1932 U.S. Caramel

[ullmandds]

There is an e122 ruth currently in legendary...and the description states26 copies in pop reports...I didn't think there were that many?

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

There is an e122 ruth currently in heritage...and the description states26 copies in pop reports...I didn't think there were that many?

Correct Peter. There are 13 TOTAL (6 SGC & 7 PSA). Legendary inadvertently used the E120 Ruth "pop" figure from SGC's census report.

Joe T.

[ullmandds]

Joe...they're not helping their/their consigners cause with an error like that!

BTW I agree with you on the e220...very tough, underrated card...I had to settle for the exhibit champions...same pose.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Joe...they're not helping their/their consigners cause with an error like that!

BTW I agree with you on the e220...very tough, underrated card...I had to settle for the exhibit champions...same pose.

Incredible pose Pete. Consider this...what is more American than a Babe Ruth batting pose with his white cap/pinstripes, grandstands in the background and an American Flag draped along the side wall. FYI, finding that card even in a "2" holder is extremely difficult. SGC/PSA combined have encapsulated 26 copies with only 8 graded "2" or higher (3-2's; 1-2.5; 1-3; 1-3.5; 1-4; 1-5).

Joe T.

[ullmandds]

Mmmm...tough call...I kinda like the simplicity of the exhibit...it's less cluttered...just the babe in all his glory!