Suggestions For Affordable Ruth Items.
 

Im a budget type collector and most of my cards fall into the G/VG grade except for a lot of older cards like my T206 collection which I will accept in any condition as long as I can afford them.
I would like to have a Ruth playing days issue and have bid on a few graded Sanella's on ebay but been outbid everytime. My max bid was $100 and they always seem to go just over that.
I was thinking of taking alternate routes to collect a Ruth item, see if I could keep it at $50 or under. So far I have found several newspaper photo clippings/cartoon panels for right around that price and I THINK they would be worth it to add to my collection. I have a 1935 Jack Sords cartoon panel of Gehrig that I like as well as any actual "card" in my collection and I have recently fallen for Wheaties Panels so I think either a newspaper photo clipping pasted on cardboard or a cartoon panel would fit in nicely with that.
What do you guys think? I know it's each/their own but do any of you collect oddball stuff like that for players you like?

Strip cards are pretty cheap, but that $100 budget is tough with ruth. Maybe a beat up strip card

Something like this might not be too bad.. Ruth isn't a cheap player to collect.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCARCE-VINTA...gAAOSw-CpYBZxL

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yeah it's a tough goal :) Most of the strip cards I have found of Ruth are much more except the ones I know to be fakes and even some of them go at crazy prices.

I would give $47 for half of a Ruth card :)

Now that is cool. I had not seen it. Some of the newspaper strips are catching my eye too. Collecting Ruth per se is not on my list but collecting one item from his playing days is. I have the 1962 topps Ruth's but they don't count since they are after he passed on. I have also looked at the 1948 Exhibit HOF cards.

Couldn't turn this down due to the cool factor plus an added bonus of "a flock of rainbows" Never heard that term before.

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WGYAAO...Gf/s-l1600.jpg

Depending on your opinion of reprints or "custom"(homemade) cards you can have any card you want at a reasonable price.

I have the Bowman reprint sets(thanks Al) from 48-54 and I guarantee I cherish them as much as anybody does their real sets.

I have also made many "custom" vintage cards that there is no way I could ever afford if real.

They are all just pictures of BB players on paper. I am way past the age of caring what others think and am not competing with anybody. I guess it is all a matter of perspective. Collect what ever makes you happy.:)

Ben, I always dig your perspective on collecting :) I actually like the "custom" cards and bought a Chick Stahl from the Helmar guys because there is no way I could afford one of his two or three real releases and I love it.

Leon, I think you just like this item because it's pictured with a quarter! That's your MO isn't it?

A Sanella ended last night at $62. I want a graded version, or else I would've been all over it. Be patient, my friend.

With your budget, I would recommend the Quaker Ruth Scorer...here's one under $100

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Babe-Ruth-19...oAAOSwB09YGMcf

With patience you can find one with the backing removed. I picked one up a couple of years ago for $35 or so. Just couldn't pass on it for the money and the chance to get an original photographic image or This from his playing days.

There are a few Ruth pinbacks that can be had for less than $100.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Babe...YAAOSwImRYJlrH

Yes, the quarter and I have a complex relationship. It keeps wanting to leave and I keep wanting it to stay. :eek:

I'd recommend the 1929 Imperial / Churchman. It's a UK tobacco card, which features all sorts of sports and baseball was included.

They aren't always under $100 but you can find them at that price with a little luck. I just sold a duplicate a couple of weeks ago for under $100.

The card doesn't specifically say it's Babe Ruth but it's generally accepted as a Ruth card. For my money, it's a great card.

The 1932 Bulgaria Sport Babe Ruth/Max Schmeling card can sometimes be had for under $100 depending on condition.

I understand the desire for a stand alone piece, but if you're already looking at newspaper cutouts, I'd suggest looking into old Reach Guides. I recently picked up one from 1922 for $10. Not mint, but totally intact with a tight spine and has lots of Ruth photos, stats, etc. Definitely ten of the best hobby dollars I've spent in a long time.

Now that is great buy! I have picked up one Ruth newspaper panel and looking at one from the old version of Life magazine. Things like this are an overlooked corner of the hobby.

There is a Sanella Ruth in a SGC 30 holder on Ebay now.

The best thing without a doubt on a limited budget would be something from this group.

1. Notebook Cover
2. Newspaper like Midweek Pictorials (awesome)
3. Magazines many to choose from
4. Calander/schedule/Promo guide, etc...

Thanks! Got it on my watch list

Yes indeed! I have one 1935 magazine panel on the way and a member here is showing me some earlier pages from a guide.

Not going to get any card pre 1935 for $50 BUT, if your looking for pieces prev1935 u can check for reach or spalding guide cutouts with ruth. Shiuld be 50 and less.

Or u can look at the 1953 medcalf, or 1960's topps ruths but at least the reach and spalding pieces are from his playing days

I have the Topp's cards and am looking for older magazines etc.
This thing here is sorta what I want....but I think the "grade" is a bit dodgy. Even the concept that you CAN grade a magazine cutout is dodgy in itself

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VacAAO...90/s-l1600.jpg

My advice would be to stay away from any cut outs from publications made to look like cards. Also stay away from anything slabbed by those fly by night "grading services".

Have patience and keep looking there have been older threads with advice on cheap Ruth cards. Maybe a Quaker oats or Butterfinger premium? Raw lower graded Shonen Japanese Postcard? Sanella, possibly low grade Josetti, Churchman, or Bulgaria card? There's much better options than those slabbed cut outs which are meant to deceive.

I wouldnt but any magazine cutouts that r graded, or anything from any grading except, sgc, bvg or psa.

If u look on ebay u can search for reach or spalding guides. U may find some fun stuff. Its not cards but is wil be origional buth from playing days

I think folks have put up a lot of good options for Ruth items during his playing days that are often less than $100:

(1) Sanella Type 2: Link

(2) 1931 Josetti: Link

(3) 1932 Bulgaria: Link

(4) 1929 Churchman: Link

(5) 1934 Quaker Oats Premium: Link

(6) Multiple pinbacks: (1934 Quaker Oats pin, 1935 Quaker Oats Metal pin, etc)

(7) Baseball Magazine with Ruth on cover: Link

(8) Midweek Pictorial: Link

(9) 1930s Keystone Stereoview: Link

(10) Original Type I photos or snapshots: Link

Good luck!

Nice ULTRA affordable Ruth item from 1935 came in the mail today :)
Keeping my eye out for more.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...39&oe=58AFBE6A

How about a Baseball Magazine player poster?
Ruth

Good recommendations. Any ruth, which is period to him playing, is a good Ruth....

Missed out on a Quaker Oats Premium photo in the last 15 seconds of an auction today.

Me too! :( i was the underbidder. Hope someone from here won at least

There are usually Quaker Oats Ruth items available. They aren't too scarce and a sharp eye will garner something nice if patient...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...+ruth&_sacat=0

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Picked up a 1933 newspaper panel with what I consider a great pose . It's collectible to me! :)

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a2&oe=58B4E7C0

Glad you found something you are happy with Bill. That's what matters.

+1

My search for an affordable playing era Ruth has paid off :)
Trimmed but a 1934 Quaker Oats Premium. THANKS for all the suggestions and help. I never knew these existed until ya'll pointed them out.
Im happy now!

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a5&oe=58EF0CBB

That is a cool Premium. I hear you might be able to get this postcard and the price is right.;)

Guarantee it will be my favorite postcard of the season! Thanks, Ben North

Nice pick up i was watching that as well

great choice...those quaker premiums are beautiful...period...and cheap!

Great thread ... thanks to everyone for sharing! Does anyone know who took the picture of Babe on the 1934 Quaker Oats Premium ... and the year of the original photo? Thanks! Jerry.

Got the 1934 Quaker Oats Ruth in the mail today and MAN do I love it!! I had been leaning toward a Sanella and outbid on quite a few and a friend of mine bought a Sanella recently which only made me want on more. While the Sanella is a very nice card I am glad I ended up with the Quaker Being a large sized photo it is unlike anything else in my collection and is a great image of The Babe in action.

Thats awesome bill! Enjoy it.... I love ruth cards and items too, just picked one up myself that i cant wait to get in the mail from a board member :D

A great, and period, image for not a ton of money.....Congrats!!

Just as a guesstimate from you guys who have been watching these longer than I have how do the Sanella, The Quaker Oats Premium and Bulgaria Sport compare to one another as far as rarity goes?

This is a fascinating thread. What if we bumped up the budget to $1000?

What are some thoughts on the best graded Ruth card one could buy for up to $1k?

Thanks.

For me it'd be the #144 or #149 33 Goudey. I think you'd be right up on the edge of that budget and the condition would be pretty poor, but it'd be real.


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This article is a few years old, but some options for that higher level here: http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...rgain-hunting/.

Aside from issues mentioned in above article:
Numerous exhibits cards of Ruth can be found under 1k, depending on condition. Also plenty of strips (w516, W514, w520 and w519 being my favorites of the colorized strip types) Plenty of other black and white ones too like the W502, which has a nice portrait.

For under 1k (depending on grade) you can also sometimes get an R315, either W517, Shonen PC, maybe a low grade Sport Kings. E121-120 issues are great but would have to be really hammered to be under 1k.

I still like the 1928 Babe Ruth Candy cards. Great images and from his playing days. They can be had in nice condition for under $500, if patient.

(not mine)
http://luckeycards.com/peunc1928baberuthcandyx2.jpg