Babe Ruth $$$

maniac_73 · #1 09-21-2021, 09:58 AM

Since we're on the point of player exaggerations, I don't believe Wade Boggs drank 107 beers in a day

FourStrikes · #2 09-23-2021, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Since we're on the point of player exaggerations, I don't believe Wade Boggs drank 107 beers in a day

truth.

SteveS · #3 09-23-2021, 11:15 AM

When somebody is the very best at something, he or she is referred to as "The Babe Ruth of Such-and-Such."
Wayne Gretzky was "The Babe Ruth of Hockey." Arnold Palmer was "The Babe Ruth of Golf" (and later Jack and Tiger). Not only did they excel in their sport, but they transcended it and brought it to a whole new level and popularity. Babe Ruth transcended all of them. His home runs and personality were what the country needed during a crippling Depression. The fact that he died relatively young also increased his legendary status (as it has a tendency to do with celebrities). But because of his popularity, a lot of stuff was produced. There's no item that has the rarity or iconic status as does the T206 Wagner or '52 Mantle (which really aren't that rare). So while Babe items are absolutely expensive and command a premium, they are probably not as expensive as they could be based on his larger-than-life status. A Mike Trout card should never sell for more than a Babe Ruth card, regardless if it's a 1/1 or anything else. People are starting to realize that, and the days of relatively affordable Ruth items are winding down.

Snowman · #4 09-23-2021, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveS

When somebody is the very best at something, he or she is referred to as "The Babe Ruth of Such-and-Such."
Wayne Gretzky was "The Babe Ruth of Hockey." Arnold Palmer was "The Babe Ruth of Golf" (and later Jack and Tiger). Not only did they excel in their sport, but they transcended it and brought it to a whole new level and popularity. Babe Ruth transcended all of them. His home runs and personality were what the country needed during a crippling Depression. The fact that he died relatively young also increased his legendary status (as it has a tendency to do with celebrities). But because of his popularity, a lot of stuff was produced. There's no item that has the rarity or iconic status as does the T206 Wagner or '52 Mantle (which really aren't that rare). So while Babe items are absolutely expensive and command a premium, they are probably not as expensive as they could be based on his larger-than-life status. A Mike Trout card should never sell for more than a Babe Ruth card, regardless if it's a 1/1 or anything else. People are starting to realize that, and the days of relatively affordable Ruth items are winding down.

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.

Carter08 · #5 09-23-2021, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

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.

My perhaps flawed summary of vintage versus modern is scarcity with the former is inherent and scarcity with the latter has to be carefully manufactured. Off too a d we can get back to Ruth but a question I�ve had is when a company like Panini gets an amazing signature of a superstar on a 1/1 does that card just go into the packaging department and end up in a random pack or is it done a bit differently? Just wondering if the Luka card and other that sell for a million plus are originally found in a pack by some random person and then make it into the market.

Exhibitman · #6 09-23-2021, 11:05 PM

Not much else to say, just wanted to toss in another card of the Big Fella:

jingram058 · #7 09-23-2021, 11:16 AM

Folks, you just can't explain away or revise or re-write history, or say something is exaggerated, just because you don't like it or disagree or think things have evolved into something you think just has to be better or whatever. Some things just are what they are. Accept it. Deal with it. Ruth was and is bigger than life, even now decades after his death. This photo shows him signing a huge pile of baseballs. Name another ballplayer or athlete or anyone for that matter in a setting that even approaches this. He did this on a daily basis, even on playing days after eating 26 hot dogs washed down with 2 pitchers of beer, for 28 years. He took pleasure in doing it. The people (plural) who knew him say it is so - his wife, his daughters, his inner circle of friends. His manager (agent) Christy Walsh not only said it was so, he also said Ruth hired (for pay) an army of people to mail out the colossal number of signed baseballs (and all the other stuff) back to the fans who either sent things to be signed or just asked for an autograph. He didn't ask for compensation for doing it. Accept it, deal with it. He did everything he did in life far beyond what anyone else did, or even could do, because he was Babe Ruth.

GasHouseGang · #8 09-23-2021, 11:45 AM

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.

mrreality68 · #9 09-23-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

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.

Very Different and Very Cool

Schlesinj · #10 09-23-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

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.

I own one of those too via an eBay purchase.

GasHouseGang · #11 09-23-2021, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schlesinj

I own one of those too via an eBay purchase.

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

Schlesinj · #12 09-24-2021, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

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

Just the Ruth/Mix Stereoview card, not all the other view and other cards. They described it as a 1920s item.

It was around $50 Dec 2020.

Snowman · #13 09-23-2021, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

Folks, you just can't explain away or revise or re-write history, or say something is exaggerated, just because you don't like it or disagree or think things have evolved into something you think just has to be better or whatever. Some things just are what they are. Accept it. Deal with it. Ruth was and is bigger than life, even now decades after his death. This photo shows him signing a huge pile of baseballs. Name another ballplayer or athlete or anyone for that matter in a setting that even approaches this. He did this on a daily basis, even on playing days after eating 26 hot dogs washed down with 2 pitchers of beer, for 28 years. He took pleasure in doing it. The people (plural) who knew him say it is so - his wife, his daughters, his inner circle of friends. His manager (agent) Christy Walsh not only said it was so, he also said Ruth hired (for pay) an army of people to mail out the colossal number of signed baseballs (and all the other stuff) back to the fans who either sent things to be signed or just asked for an autograph. He didn't ask for compensation for doing it. Accept it, deal with it. He did everything he did in life far beyond what anyone else did, or even could do, because he was Babe Ruth.

It is certainly a great photo, and I have no doubt that the stories about him signing insanely large amounts of baseballs with regularity are true, and that he did it simply for the love of the game and the appreciation he had for the fans that allowed him to be the larger than life figure he became. As a mathematician, I may quibble about specific numbers for a "fun" debate, but ultimately the numbers themselves don't really matter. It's the story of Ruth and the passing along of history over the generations, and the pieces of memorabilia themselves that make collecting so much fun. I love seeing all these old photos and oddball collectibles that people come up with.

SteveS · #14 09-23-2021, 12:59 PM

Snowman, yes, there are arguments to be made for the investment value of current players, but the oldies are probably a safer investment. Mike Trout looked like the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he's missed so many games with an injury that may be much more serious than they're letting on, and he's been eclipsed by his own teammate. And that teammate, Shohei Ohtani, who looks like the greatest thing since Mike Trout, has a sore arm again that if the pattern continues may put an end to his two-way days. If I had spent thousands (or millions) on a Trout or Ohtani card, I would be a bit nervous about my investment. But Babe Ruth is always going to be Babe Ruth. We know his career and legend, and his card values aren't based on speculation about his potential or projecting his trajectory. It's sort of like blue-chip stocks. You may not get the huge swings either way, but you will make steady gains.

Gary Dunaier · #15 10-02-2021, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Since we're on the point of player exaggerations, I don't believe Wade Boggs drank 107 beers in a day

Maybe if they made chicken flavored beer...

Exhibitman · #16 10-03-2021, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

chicken flavored beer...

Oh, that's just wrong...

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