Originally Posted by t206kid (Post 2147407)

By contrast to the relatively common Ruth signed ball and common Goudey card...signed Ruth Goudeys are quite difficult. There's likely less than 50. PSA has somewhere around 30 graded.

Originally Posted by Jobu (Post 2147415)

I very am glad that I got this one years ago as I have a feeling the next one on the auction block is going to be pretty costly.

Originally Posted by Jobu (Post 2147415)

I very am glad that I got this one years ago as I have a feeling the next one on the auction block is going to be pretty costly.

Originally Posted by t206kid (Post 2147407)

By contrast to the relatively common Ruth signed ball and common Goudey card...signed Ruth Goudeys are quite difficult. There's likely less than 50. PSA has somewhere around 30 graded.

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang (Post 2147362)

Babe Ruth was bigger than life during the 1930's. He dominated sports headlines across the country. Because of that he appeared on many items. Some items were produced in the millions, and others in much smaller numbers. I picked up this item and figure it's probably fairly rare, but not very valuable. It has Babe Ruth and Tom Mix together on a card. The rest of the set are supposed to help you work on your eyesight. I'm guessing it came out in the 1930's.

Originally Posted by Carter08 (Post 2147418)

I should probably know but don’t - what is that exactly? Amazing.

Originally Posted by bobfreedman (Post 2147422)

My Ruth's

Originally Posted by Snowman (Post 2147390)

It definitely makes sense from an economic theory perspective. I would imagine that value likely follows some sort of an S-curve similar to an adoption curve with respect to scarcity/supply. If there are too few of something, it often doesn't have a strong demand simply because people are unaware of its existence, but if you make too many of them, then everyone has one. There is always an overall market cap for the current relative value of something (which, of course, changes over time with respect to market conditions that affect that item).

However, there's also an interesting phenomenon that comes into play where something that is extremely rare can still have remarkably strong demand if it is associated with something else that has high population counts & demand. A prime example of this is, of course, the T206 Wagner card. The reason that card is so valuable isn't just because there are only ~50 of them known to exist (or whatever the number is), but rather because there are ~50 from an otherwise massively produced and widely collected set. Contrast that with something like the 1929 Churchman's Cigarettes Babe Ruth card which is far more rare than many of his more popular and valuable cards (PSA's pop count is only 308), but because it belongs to a set that is otherwise not widely collected or known about, it has very little relative value today....

Originally Posted by Schlesinj (Post 2147438)

I own one of those too via an eBay purchase.

Originally Posted by Snowman (Post 2147380)

I couldn't agree more. I find myself in between with respect to collecting vintage and modern cards. I have some "big(ish)" Trout rookies (Topps Gold, Diamond Anniversary, etc) and I have several vintage cards of similar value. But when I look at a nice ~$10k Babe Ruth card and compare it to a nice ~$10k Mike Trout (or pick your other modern superstar) I just can't help but always think the Ruth is by far the better buy, especially in the modern era of exponential hobby growth and investors flooding in. High-end vintage is going to dry up at some point. They'll continue to make Mike Trout 1-of-1's and gold refractors and kaleidoscope whoseitsandwhatsits gallore, but there will always be a limited supply of early legends. Even if there are ~10,000 33 Goudey Ruths out there, that's still just a drop in the bucket compared to modern cards. PSA alone has already graded over 50,000 Zion Williamson 2019 Prizm cards. And that's just ONE product line. They have numerous other product lines with similar pop counts (Mosaic, Chronicles, Donruss, Hoops, Optic, Contenders, Spectra, NT, on-and-on-and-on). There are well in excess of a million Zion Williamson rookie cards in total today, and that's no exaggeration. I just sold a modern high-end Zion Williamson card last week and used the funds to buy 2 Babe Ruths, a handful of nice Willie Mays cards, and a Jim Brown RC. And I'm a big believer in Zion Williamson too. But I'll take that trade any day of the week and twice on Sundays. History matters, and particularly in this hobby. I say get em while you still can.

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang (Post 2147497)

Jamie, did you just get the Ruth card, or did you get the viewer and all the other cards that come with the viewer?

Originally Posted by Exhibitman (Post 2147565)

Last night in Sterling:

1933 Goudey #144 SGC 50 $16,800
1926 Exhibit PSA 2 $6,600
1948 Leaf SGC 50 $5,400
1922 E121-120 w/bird SGC 10 $2,640

Originally Posted by ullmandds (Post 2147566)

of these the exhibit is the most impressive hammer to me?

Originally Posted by pherbener (Post 2147575)

I guess for me, it's the 48 Leaf. Not even a playing days card of Ruth!

Originally Posted by yanksfan09 (Post 2147583)

Agreed, not playing days and pretty plentiful. A classic looking card for sure but I’ll take playing days everyday!

The 26 exhibit is a low pop card. The same image is used in other exhibit year cards but the 26 one is tough so that may be why. But still was a strong price on the exhibit!

I consigned the e121-120, was happy with result. I recently upgraded my bird one to a grade 3

Originally Posted by ullmandds (Post 2147597)

I suppose what I meant was I was surprised by the high price on the exhibit in light of the fact it is a duplicate pose and not a very flattering one… seems that population reports and valuations are finally catching up on more obscure issues.

Yeah the 48 Ruth still boggles my mind a little bit… The psychology of collecting it’s certainly interesting! I never would have guessed that Sanela ruths would be worth as much as they are now? And then we’ve got the tharp/Harrington like issues where are the prices escalated partially due to the old Red Sox pitching pose over 10 years old at that point. But I think now rarity has justified the values.

International issues are interesting as some have become popular and valuable whereas others have not? Also issues like fro joy… which are super scarce and relatively easily discerned from fake if you put in the time to learn?

Originally Posted by ullmandds (Post 2147597)

I suppose what I meant was I was surprised by the high price on the exhibit in light of the fact it is a duplicate pose and not a very flattering one… seems that population reports and valuations are finally catching up on more obscure issues.

Yeah the 48 Ruth still boggles my mind a little bit… The psychology of collecting it’s certainly interesting! I never would have guessed that Sanela ruths would be worth as much as they are now? And then we’ve got the tharp/Harrington like issues where are the prices escalated partially due to the old Red Sox pitching pose over 10 years old at that point. But I think now rarity has justified the values.

International issues are interesting as some have become popular and valuable whereas others have not? Also issues like fro joy… which are super scarce and relatively easily discerned from fake if you put in the time to learn?

Originally Posted by ullmandds (Post 2147566)

of these the exhibit is the most impressive hammer to me?

Originally Posted by pawpawdiv9 (Post 2147683)

a couple of ruths...still been seeking a red 33 goudey, but not at the current market.

Originally Posted by Exhibitman (Post 2147635)

Astra's are really really tough. Took years to get one of Schmeling-Sharkey for my type collection.

One thing is for sure: when it comes to Ruth there are fewer and fewer career-contemporary issues that are available under four figures in any condition other than shredded "A". I suspect the same will be true of Cobb, Gehrig, Young, Johnson and a few others before too long. As for Ruth, IMO even at the hammer last night that '26 was a good purchase for the long term. The 33 Goudey is practically untouchable by mere mortal collectors at this point, so interest is going to shift to other issues even more than it already has.

Originally Posted by jsfriedm (Post 2147709)

I'm curious - do people really believe that Cobb will belong in this group in the long run? I just wonder if it at some point, given Cobb's reputation for racism in particular, it will become almost taboo to own a Cobb. I understand that the reputation isn't necessarily well-deserved, given the Leershen biography and its debunking of Stump, and I also understand that we're talking about demand for a few thousand total cards, not orders of magnitude higher, so it's not like half the country needs to want to buy one. But I'm curious what people think about this.

Originally Posted by Seven (Post 2147712)

I think that any serious vintage baseball card collector either owns a Cobb or has one on their shortlist. He's on baseball's mount rushmore of greatest ever. He owned an obscene amount of records for the longest time, and still holds a couple dozen of them. Outside of Ruth, and Wagner he's the most recognizable name of the prewar hobby in my opinion, and the only reason why Wagner is above him is because of the mainstream attention his t206 issue receives.

We cannot rewrite the history books, Cobb's greatness transcended the sport itself, and anyone that follows baseball knows it. Regardless of how they feel about him.

Originally Posted by jsfriedm (Post 2147715)

Everything you say is true. But translating that to future market demand seems to imply that card collectors are trying assemble a sort of museum of the sport that must reflect its history, rather than just collecting what they want, or the people they like. What if it's the latter?

Originally Posted by Seven (Post 2147717)

I think a fair share of the collectors do a little of column A, and a little of column B. Chances are though if you're collecting baseball cards, and stick to collecting, it's because you have an interest in the game of baseball and its history. Especially if you are someone that collects vintage.

Not a single person that collects today (to my knowledge at least) was alive during Cobb's tenure as a player. The market that his cards appeals to are people of all ages enamored with the history of the game.

Originally Posted by mr2686 (Post 2147728)

My only Ruth photo.

Originally Posted by Carter08 (Post 2147737)

Good point. Forgot about the Cobb movie. A Roy Hobbs rookie would fetch huge money I would think but would he be listed as a pitcher or an outfielder?

Originally Posted by mr2686 (Post 2147741)

Any Ty Cobb movie based on Al Stumps lies is best forgotten.

Originally Posted by Carter08 (Post 2147745)

Since the thread is a lot of Ruth and Cobb I wanted to post this link. It’s worth a few minutes. Durocher talks his experiences with Cobb, Ruth, and Mays.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DfcW7yYFhqk

Originally Posted by mr2686 (Post 2147741)

Any Ty Cobb movie based on Al Stumps lies is best forgotten.

Originally Posted by JollyElm (Post 2147749)

The problem with the portrayal of 'The Babe' in movies is does anyone ever let their guard down far enough to actually believe the actor is Babe Ruth?? No frickin' way. They always find the fattest actor around, load him up with makeup and/or prosthetics and then pretend this completely out of shape board treader is the most famously skilled ballplayer of all time, when we wouldn't even choose him for a backyard Wiffle Ball game. Yeah right!

Although not stated directly (IIRC), this guy is supposed to be Babe Ruth in "The Catcher Was A Spy." He's like a four foot tall meatball. Come on, Hollywood!!!

Attachment 480184

Originally Posted by JollyElm (Post 2147749)

The problem with the portrayal of 'The Babe' in movies is does anyone ever let their guard down far enough to actually believe the actor is Babe Ruth?? No frickin' way. They always find the fattest actor around, load him up with makeup and/or prosthetics and then pretend this completely out of shape board treader is the most famously skilled ballplayer of all time, when we wouldn't even choose him for a backyard Wiffle Ball game. Yeah right!

Although not stated directly (IIRC), this guy is supposed to be Babe Ruth in "The Catcher Was A Spy." He's like a four foot tall meatball. Come on, Hollywood!!!

Attachment 480184

Originally Posted by Carter08 (Post 2147750)

Would be hard to find someone to play Gehrig nowadays. Maybe John Hamm a few years ago. I’m not saying he was a good looking man but he was a good looking man.

Originally Posted by ullmandds (Post 2147566)

of these the exhibit is the most impressive hammer to me?