How Rare is the 1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie?

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Wasn't there a card number that was skipped for some reason or other and people got all pissed off so Goudey decided to print the Lajoie with the missing number and give it away to those who asked for it? I think it was actually printed in 1934 if I am not mistaken.

Tom C

Yes, #106 was intentionally left out by Goudey. Instead, they double printed card #144 of Babe Ruth. To fulfill requests, Goudey went back and printed a #106 (Lajoie) in late 1934.

All of the 1933 and 1934 Goudey sheets had consisted of 24 cards up to that point (6 across and 4 high). To accommodate the 1933 #106 Lajoie card, Goudey printed a 25 card (5 across and 5 high) sheet in 1934 which also included its high-numbered cards.

So, theoretically, just as many 1933 #106 Lajoie cards were produced as other 1934 Goudey high-numbered cards except that the they were not distributed in packs, instead they were pulled aside and given out to those who requested the missing #106 card from 1933.