What am I missing on Moe Berg?

[SMPEP]

I guess I still just don't get it.

Hank Greenberg was Jewish. His cards go for less, and he was a much better baseball player.

Jimmy Doolittle did a lot more in the war ... and his cards (in the 1934 Sky Birds series for example) barely go for more than a common.

I mean I understand there would be a premium for Berg versus a common. He was an interesting guy (but so was Schact).

But when his cards are priced at the level of Gerhig and Dimaggio (and he carries a premium versus regular HOFers of the era)... well, that just seems silly to me.

But to each his own I suppose.
Patrick

[thecatspajamas]

That's Schacht to you, buddy

[vthobby]

Sorry but could not resist:

And that is Gehrig to you also.

Peace, Mike

PS oh.....and it's DiMaggio.

[Wildfireschulte]

A few years back I heard there was a Moe Berg movie in the works. Did it ever get made?

[1963Topps Set]

That is like Bob Uecker, a common who has far more value then he should have.

[FrankWakefield]

SMPEP, read The Catcher was a Spy. Then consider that Berg touched a broad spectrum of very diverse people. A few of those folks, here and there, probably wanted a Berg card back in the late '40s to late '50s. Kinda like how Shag Shaughnessy's white border southern league card had increased demand in the teens, 20's and 30's, because of his position in minor league baseball. Lots of folks who didn't really collect baseball cards did want one of Shag's in those days.

I think that's what pulled some of Berg's cards out of the hands of normal collectors ("normal, thought that was a setting on a clothes dryer") and into the hands of folks who'd only get one card, Moe's. Those singletons are now most likely lost to our hobby.

Based on the way you asked your question and your first response, it sounded like you'd already made up your mind.

Somewhere, I have one of his business cards from long ago. If I can find the right box I'll get an image posted.

[RichardSimon]

I am not a card person but I find it hard to believe that his cards are selling for as much as Gehrig.
Is that correct?

[btcarfagno]

Wonderful signed large format Who's Who page.

Tom C

[dabigyankeeman]

I collect Jewish cards as a sub-collection, and Berg is one of the major Jewish players I want, and people like me I am sure drive the prices up. Perhaps too not as many Moe Berg cards survived as at the time it wasnt known that he was a spy and all the other stuff, and while Greenberg cards were being kept, perhaps many people got rid of Berg cards.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

I guess I still just don't get it.

Hank Greenberg was Jewish. His cards go for less, and he was a much better baseball player.

Jimmy Doolittle did a lot more in the war ... and his cards (in the 1934 Sky Birds series for example) barely go for more than a common.

I mean I understand there would be a premium for Berg versus a common. He was an interesting guy (but so was Schact).

But when his cards are priced at the level of Gerhig and Dimaggio (and he carries a premium versus regular HOFers of the era)... well, that just seems silly to me.

But to each his own I suppose.
Patrick

If anyone wants to trade a 1933 goudey Gehrig or a 1939 play ball DiMaggio for my Berg cards of those issues please email me.

[RGold]

I just sold this one in September for $2,200. Gehrig in the same grade would easily sell for 5 times that.

image.jpg

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by RGold

I just sold this one in September for $2,200. Gehrig in the same grade would easily sell for 5 times that.

Attachment 176476

Ron,

To answer the OP's original question, I thought your answer would be

"Gold"

[RGold]

Goot

[ullmandds]

After I read the catcher was a spy...I Wanted a Moe Berg card!!!!!!!

To say Berg's cards sell higher than gehrig's just is not true...this may only be the occasional case in a set where gehrigs cards go very very cheap...definitely not the main issues like goudey.

[Wildfireschulte]

A teammate Once said of Berg, "he can speak seven languages, but can't hit in any of them".

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

After I read the catcher was a spy...I Wanted a Moe Berg card!!!!!!!.

This, +1.

I first heard about Moe 7 years ago or so (when I heavily got into collecting my hof cards etc.) and heard he was a spy, and quite an interesting man (too bad he's not around today, he surely would have been the "World's Most Interesting Man" for Dos Equis). I immediately went home to search for any signed cards/cards/and plain auto's of him.