Babe Ruth $$$

[BobC]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

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

They weren't always hacks. In 1942's Pride of the Yankees, Ruth actually played himself opposite Gary Cooper as Gehrig, if I remember correctly. And I don't think William Bendix was that bad of a Ruth portrayer.

Oh, and that reminds me of another thing touting Ruth's universal popularity and appeal. Swell actually created an entire card set to go along with and help promote the movie starring Bendix. Until the start of the junk wax era of the 80s-90s, the only similar player I can remember ever having an entire card set of more than just a handful of cards dedicated solely to them would be the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set. And I think that wasn't so much that Fleer wanted to do a set just for Williams, but more because Topps had pretty much everyone else under exclusive contract back then.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by BobC

Oh, and that reminds me of another thing touting Ruth's universal popularity and appeal. Swell actually created an entire card set to go along with and help promote the movie starring Bendix.

The cards from the set with Ruth himself are selling for three figures and up.

He also got a subset in 1962 Topps; can't think of any old-timer who got that treatment in the 1950s-1960s Topps issues.



I guess it was Topps' version of the 61*

[Seven]

All this talk of Ruth, and it makes me thinking about pivoting to get one of his cards next. His Sanella still seems to be relatively affordable, along with the Japanese issue whose name escapes me at the moment.Though I'm trying to think what other cards of his would be available in the 0-2K range. Probably not much anymore. Any thoughts?

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Seven

All this talk of Ruth, and it makes me thinking about pivoting to get one of his cards next. His Sanella still seems to be relatively affordable, along with the Japanese issue whose name escapes me at the moment.Though I'm trying to think what other cards of his would be available in the 0-2K range. Probably not much anymore. Any thoughts?

in that range...sanella...shonen club...fro joy...churchman...beater possibilities.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

in that range...sanella...shonen club...fro joy...churchman...beater possibilities.

I didn't even think of FroJoy. The Butterfinger as well is another that came to my mind though that's more an oversized than anything. Well lets hope I hit powerball and can buy the full range of Goudey's will report back after the drawing

[Bill77]

I bought my m114 last year for $40. I know it is from the 40's with 1943 the most common date sited for its 1st release. I would like to find some of the earlier Ruth's from the series.

[jingram058]

Other than Ruth and Gehrig, what is the next big money 1933 Goudey card? Foxx, perhaps?

[CardPadre]

Originally Posted by Seven

All this talk of Ruth, and it makes me thinking about pivoting to get one of his cards next. His Sanella still seems to be relatively affordable, along with the Japanese issue whose name escapes me at the moment.Though I'm trying to think what other cards of his would be available in the 0-2K range. Probably not much anymore. Any thoughts?

No one is jumping at my pretty decent 1935 Goudey Ruth 4-in-1 for under $2k :shrug: And you can get a really rough one for around $1.5k at times.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Seven

All this talk of Ruth, and it makes me thinking about pivoting to get one of his cards next. His Sanella still seems to be relatively affordable, along with the Japanese issue whose name escapes me at the moment.Though I'm trying to think what other cards of his would be available in the 0-2K range. Probably not much anymore. Any thoughts?

Churchman's is still available in that range.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by Seven

All this talk of Ruth, and it makes me thinking about pivoting to get one of his cards next. His Sanella still seems to be relatively affordable, along with the Japanese issue whose name escapes me at the moment.Though I'm trying to think what other cards of his would be available in the 0-2K range. Probably not much anymore. Any thoughts?

My favorite "affordable" Ruth cards (and consequently these are the only two Ruths I own) are the 1935 Goudey and the W517 portrait. Both of these in the this poor/authentic condition can still be had under $2000 (although they've been inching closer to $2000 over the last couple of years).

Ruth.JPG

w517 ruth.jpg

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

My favorite "affordable" Ruth cards (and consequently these are the only two Ruths I own) are the 1935 Goudey and the W517 portrait. Both of these in the this poor/authentic condition can still be had under $2000 (although they've been inching closer to $2000 over the last couple of years).

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Very Nice

[packs]

To anyone who's thinking about how to acquire their first Babe, my opinion and advice is to buy anything you can afford when you can afford it. You will not regret extending yourself when you did.

Case and point, I bought this WWG for $500 when I was in grad school. I used my own loan money to do it and it meant not eating as much as I would have liked to. Do I regret it? No!



I bought my Kashin at the start of the pandemic. I wasn't exactly thrilled about paying $1,800 for it. But, uh, another win I think:

[doug.goodman]

My favorite Ruth issues are from the Blum's Bulletin

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by packs

To anyone who's thinking about how to acquire their first Babe, my opinion and advice is to buy anything you can afford when you can afford it. You will not regret extending yourself when you did.

I think this is a very good point. While nothing is a sure thing, it doesn't get much safer than Ruth when it comes to buying a high dollar card and hoping it maintains it's value.

And there is something about owning a real, playing days Ruth card that is very satisfying. I mean, it's a baseball card of BABE RUTH!

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by packs

To anyone who's thinking about how to acquire their first Babe, my opinion and advice is to buy anything you can afford when you can afford it. You will not regret extending yourself when you did.

Case and point, I bought this WWG for $500 when I was in grad school. I used my own loan money to do it and it meant not eating as much as I would have liked to. Do I regret it? No!



I bought my Kashin at the start of the pandemic. I wasn't exactly thrilled about paying $1,800 for it. But, uh, another win I think:

You are quite correct. You will not regret it. I bought my 1933 Goudey Ruth card (see OP this thread) and my Ruth signed ball (also signed by Gehrig and Cobb) both for $800 in 1988 upon completion of weather forecasting school at Chanute AFB Illinois and receiving my $20K reenlistment bonus (Air Force and Navy go to the same weather schools even now). Also bought a Ford Mustang that I put 326,000 miles on from Rantoul Ford. I thought the money paid for both was crazy, and the only way I could have afforded such high-end baseball stuff was because I had reenlistment money. But look what has happened over time. Usually my luck is the Midas Touch in reverse, whatever I touch turns to crap, not gold. I just gave away, literally, all my 1988 to 1993 cards. I did, however, hang on to a Stadium Club Jeter RC and a few others.