Recommend me a Babe Ruth Card

shu4040

I have very little Pre-war knowledge, but was thinking that I should have at least one Babe card in my collection. I'm sure like everything else, i'll be paying twice now for the same card compared to a year ago, but what are your recommendations? I'd like to stay in the low 4 figures.

LarkinCollector

Any from the 33 Goudey set are a good choice where low 4 figures will probably be a PSA 3.5 or lower, 32 Sanella or Bulgaria if you're looking for a higher grade card at that price (Sanella PSA 8s are still under a grand). The 61 Golden Press is pretty cheap as well in PSA 8/9.

doctorperfecto

What's the best place to find one of these I'd love to pick one up

DanBessette

Originally posted by: doctorperfecto

What's the best place to find one of these I'd love to pick one up

Make sure you get one with creases. That's sure to get a Gem mint grade. "Everyone knows" that.

ThoseBackPages

1933 Goudy for sure!

AANV

How is that Ruth only a PSA 2?!?!?! The grader must have not looked at the card at arm's length.

doctorperfecto

Looks better than a 2 to me

shu4040

thanks guys for the recommendations so far. The goudey 144 seems like the most iconic, so leaning towards that now. Looking over ebay it seems like there's a fair # of examples, so I can definitely take my time. Also looks like prices haven't gone nuts lately - it's been pretty consistent?

billwaltonsbeard

Here you go.

Cool Ruth card

shu4040

^ lol

scooter729

Originally posted by: shu4040

thanks guys for the recommendations so far. The goudey 144 seems like the most iconic, so leaning towards that now. Looking over ebay it seems like there's a fair # of examples, so I can definitely take my time. Also looks like prices haven't gone nuts lately - it's been pretty consistent?

The 144 Ruth has gone up somewhat of late - just not quite the explosion of some other cards. For example - a PSA 4 would sell for $3500 - $4000 a year ago, and would bring $6000 today. I picked one up around 2008 for about $2K. So it's climbed over time, but in a way that I would call more sustainable than some of the meteoric rises of late. Crappy pic of mine (all I have at work) is here.

DanBessette

Originally posted by: AANV

How is that Ruth only a PSA 2?!?!?! The grader must have not looked at the card at arm's length.

Lol, yeah I had read on here that's the new grading standard. Pretty sure you close one eye too.

ugaskidawg

I think it depends on whether you are wanting to get something during his playing days, or you are okay with some post career. I'm partial to the W strip cards. They don't have the same feel as a traditional card, but that's what I like about them. The W551 or W515 Ruth cards are still fairly reasonable. Another option post career is the 48 Leaf. Ruth died in 48, so I find the card to have some special meaning. All of these at lower grades are under $1k - goes up exponentially from there.

miwlvrn

Originally posted by: AANV

How is that Ruth only a PSA 2?!?!?! The grader must have not looked at the card at arm's length.

Probably the corner creases, more visible on back than on front in the provided scans?

doctorperfecto

I'm not seeing any creases, that is just the texture of the cardstock milvrn

LarkinCollector

FYI... you need to use a glass Coke bottle as a loupe on your computer monitor to see the creases.

doctorperfecto

I always use a regular loop to look over my cards when I get them and it seems to work OK on the computer too

DanBessette

Originally posted by: doctorperfecto

I always use a regular loop to look over my cards when I get them and it seems to work OK on the computer too

Yeah, it picks up those creases that "everyone knows" are allowed in gem mint grade.