Lots of 1933 Goudey Ruths for sale?

[Casey2296]

Beautiful Ruth James.

[jingram058]

Thanks very much, Phil. I used reenlistment bonus money in 1988 to buy Ruth and Gehrig at a Base Exchange card show at Chanute AFB, Illinois. Navy and Air Force do their weather schools together to this day, now at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. That is how I got my Ruth signed ball as well.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Thanks very much, Phil. I used reenlistment bonus money in 1988 to buy Ruth and Gehrig at a Base Exchange card show at Chanute AFB, Illinois. Navy and Air Force do their weather schools together to this day, now at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. That is how I got my Ruth signed ball as well.

I forgot to add that yours is gorgeous also!

[hcv123]

While completely agree no Goudey Ruth card is "rare" by any stretch, there are 1376 PSA graded #144's an additional 584 graded by SGC and likey a bunch more raw ( I would argue it is likely the large majority of these have been graded by now.). Probably also need to reduce the #'s for resubmissions a bit as well. That leaves under 2K examples graded and another ?? 100, 200, 300 raw? If we round up to even say 2500.
The demand for this card is off the charts. It is the "poster child" for baseball card collecting! If you polled just the people attending the national and asked how many would like to one day own this card, I suspect it will quickly surpass 2500. Now add in all the collectors that aren't at the national - 2500 all of a sudden doesn't look like that many cards! The price appreciation that this card has seen goes to support the same conclusion - supply and demand at work - When demand is greater than supply it drives price up - as price rises, it draws more supply into the market place, until there is an equilibrium of a price at which supply=demand.
While the other Goudey Ruth's are in shorter supply, they are no where near as in demand as the #144.
Most collectors who want 1 Ruth card want the Goudey batting pose.

[brianclat11]

As someone without the knowledge as most of you, I would like to get some advice on buying one of these. I've been admiring them for a while, but scared off because of price and different variations. Like most others, I'm going to take the plunge eventually, because I think this iconic card is pretty much a must have.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by brianclat11

As someone without the knowledge as most of you, I would like to get some advice on buying one of these. I've been admiring them for a while, but scared off because of price and different variations. Like most others, I'm going to take the plunge eventually, because I think this iconic card is pretty much a must have.

I would pick the Ruth that appeals to you most and watch the auctions for hammer price and quality vs cost. Eye appeal is more important than grade. Its a great way to educate yourself while saving your pennies up to buy one.

[brianclat11]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I would pick the Ruth that appeals to you most and watch the auctions for hammer price and quality vs cost. Eye appeal is more important than grade. Its a great way to educate yourself while saving your pennies up to buy one.

Thank you. Very good advice. I keep telling myself that patience is a virtue.

[DeanH3]

I was fortunate enough to acquire both before the big run up. #144 has always been my favorite. Yes, it's the most plentiful of the four. But it's very tough to find with nice qualities. Same goes for the Gehrig. Very tough to find with nice color and registration. Many have a bland look to them. I doubt there will ever be enough supply to satisfy demand for either card.



As for '34 Goudey, I'm more drawn to #61. Interesting to ponder if having no Ruth in the set hurts or helps Gehrig's value. If Ruth was included, I imagine there might be more interest in the set. However, no Ruth means Gehrig is the "key" to the set.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by brianclat11

As someone without the knowledge as most of you, I would like to get some advice on buying one of these. I've been admiring them for a while, but scared off because of price and different variations. Like most others, I'm going to take the plunge eventually, because I think this iconic card is pretty much a must have.

1) Set your budget
2) Look for the right card - as has been mentioned not all cards at a particular grade are created equal - especially so as you get into the lower grades - I would encourage you to be willing to pay a premium (20-30%) for a strong eye appeal example at a particular grade level.
3) Be sure to do your market price homework and don't just look at the grade, look at the cards.

Originally Posted by T205 GB

I personally think Gehrig will surpass Ruth in the Goudey set in terms of value. Playing days were numbered and scarcity of playing day cards should be a huge factor in this. Ruth is by far one of the most iconic players but demand is high and prices are absurd. What next best? Gehrig. As this escalates conversations will start taking place about scarcity and value and eventually a massive drive will force Gehrig into the stratosphere. I am super surprised that Gehrig is just now making moves with guys from the 40-60's already skyrocketing and most of the prewar guys already booming. Just look at what Cobb has done over the last few years. Soon we will be saying the Big 8 for T206's.

NEVER will the 33 Gehrig surpass the Ruth. "Babe Ruth" is as close to synonymous with "baseball" as a single player can get! Gehrig was a GREAT player with a tragic end to his career and his life and has strong collector demand for his cards but just nowhere close to Ruth in baseball card collector demand. I would argue that either of the 34 Gehrigs are in higher demand than the 33 (probably not by much though) - To me, either of the 34's visually dwarf the 33's.

[hcv123]

Wish I had fought a little harder for this one! I was the underbidder.

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...rare-blue-back

[T205 GB]

I personally think Gehrig will surpass Ruth in the Goudey set in terms of value. Playing days were numbered and scarcity of playing day cards should be a huge factor in this. Ruth is by far one of the most iconic players but demand is high and prices are absurd. What next best? Gehrig. As this escalates conversations will start taking place about scarcity and value and eventually a massive drive will force Gehrig into the stratosphere. I am super surprised that Gehrig is just now making moves with guys from the 40-60's already skyrocketing and most of the prewar guys already booming. Just look at what Cobb has done over the last few years. Soon we will be saying the Big 8 for T206's.

I just really hope this Mike Trout guy pans out because I way over invested in him. Lol

[skelly423]

Originally Posted by T205 GB

Soon we will be saying the Big 8 for T206's.

I was with you right to the end. Can you clarify what you mean by the Big 8? Thanks

[T205 GB]

Originally Posted by skelly423

I was with you right to the end. Can you clarify what you mean by the Big 8? Thanks

The biggest chase cards in the T206 set. Wagner, Plank, Magie, Doyle NY, ect.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by T205 GB

I personally think Gehrig will surpass Ruth in the Goudey set in terms of value. Playing days were numbered and scarcity of playing day cards should be a huge factor in this. Ruth is by far one of the most iconic players but demand is high and prices are absurd. What next best? Gehrig. As this escalates conversations will start taking place about scarcity and value and eventually a massive drive will force Gehrig into the stratosphere. I am super surprised that Gehrig is just now making moves with guys from the 40-60's already skyrocketing and most of the prewar guys already booming. Just look at what Cobb has done over the last few years. Soon we will be saying the Big 8 for T206's.

I just really hope this Mike Trout guy pans out because I way over invested in him. Lol

Gehrig will never overtake Ruth in value. ....and he doesn't look too happy about it!



.

[Exhibitman]

I agree. And the iconic Gehrig isn't the 1933, it is the 1934 portrait. That's #2 on my want list from the era. From PSA's site:

[T205 GB]

Originally Posted by Leon

Gehrig will never overtake Ruth in value. ....and he doesn't look too happy about it!

He looks upset because he was on the path to topple Ruth and any record he set but just found out he is sick and has to retire early. To bad Ruth was such a POS and turned on Gehrig out of jealousy. Honestly Gehrig may not surpass Ruth but he is by far a better player and would have set records most would have never been able to touch and at a much faster pace than Ruth was ever capable of. The whole game was altered when Gehrig got sick. Eventually a movie will come out about Gehrig and his playing days. Its going to show Ruth for what he really was. The hobby will ultimately have the final say.


Adam I highly doubt the 34 will be Gehrigs Iconic card. The 33 is his "RC" card and is the first card talked about with Gehrig most times. You ask for a Gehrig card at any dealer table and I would be willing to bet they respond with the 33 Goudey answer of whether they have one or not. Then they respond with secondary cards like the 34. The 34 presents very well but is not anywhere near as appealing as the 33 to me. Then again who knows what buyers with to much money will do to the market. That would be the only reason I could see the 34 passing the 33 Gehrig.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by hcv123

While completely agree no Goudey Ruth card is "rare" by any stretch, there are 1376 PSA graded #144's an additional 584 graded by SGC and likey a bunch more raw ( I would argue it is likely the large majority of these have been graded by now.). Probably also need to reduce the #'s for resubmissions a bit as well. That leaves under 2K examples graded and another ?? 100, 200, 300 raw? If we round up to even say 2500.
The demand for this card is off the charts. It is the "poster child" for baseball card collecting! If you polled just the people attending the national and asked how many would like to one day own this card, I suspect it will quickly surpass 2500. Now add in all the collectors that aren't at the national - 2500 all of a sudden doesn't look like that many cards! The price appreciation that this card has seen goes to support the same conclusion - supply and demand at work - When demand is greater than supply it drives price up - as price rises, it draws more supply into the market place, until there is an equilibrium of a price at which supply=demand.
While the other Goudey Ruth's are in shorter supply, they are no where near as in demand as the #144.
Most collectors who want 1 Ruth card want the Goudey batting pose.

having graded a half dozen raw ones myself in the last year I think you greatly underestimate the raw population. I would guess it's still HIGHER than the graded population.

[MattyC]

I used to have all four, but found myself really grabbing the #144 first to hold and enjoy, so sold the others and kept it. It does seem that all of them are harder to find in 4 and higher condition, and the image focus issues even plague the higher technical grades. In my collection I went with the 144 and the e121 to represent Ruth; one image pitching for Sox and one batting for Yanks; one black and white, the other color; one later in his career, one earlier. Seemed like a good duo and allows me not to fall down the expensive rabbit hole of any more cards of his LOL.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I used to have all four, but found myself really grabbing the #144 first to hold and enjoy, so sold the others and kept it. It does seem that all of them are harder to find in 4 and higher condition, and the image focus issues even plague the higher technical grades. In my collection I went with the 144 and the e121 to represent Ruth; one image pitching for Sox and one batting for Yanks; one black and white, the other color; one later in his career, one earlier. Seemed like a good duo and allows me not to fall down the expensive rabbit hole of any more cards of his LOL.

Beauty Matt!

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I used to have all four, but found myself really grabbing the #144 first to hold and enjoy, so sold the others and kept it. It does seem that all of them are harder to find in 4 and higher condition, and the image focus issues even plague the higher technical grades. In my collection I went with the 144 and the e121 to represent Ruth; one image pitching for Sox and one batting for Yanks; one black and white, the other color; one later in his career, one earlier. Seemed like a good duo and allows me not to fall down the expensive rabbit hole of any more cards of his LOL.

Wow, the "eye appeal" colors and image clarity are darned near incredible, Matt. That is one awesome card!

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I used to have all four, but found myself really grabbing the #144 first to hold and enjoy, so sold the others and kept it. It does seem that all of them are harder to find in 4 and higher condition, and the image focus issues even plague the higher technical grades. In my collection I went with the 144 and the e121 to represent Ruth; one image pitching for Sox and one batting for Yanks; one black and white, the other color; one later in his career, one earlier. Seemed like a good duo and allows me not to fall down the expensive rabbit hole of any more cards of his LOL.

Outstanding 4! As plentiful as the goudey Ruth’s are the ones like that in 4+ grades have all but dried up. Collectors realizing the value of these mid grade examples. Wonder if we see them begin to separate more from the lower grades?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

having graded a half dozen raw ones myself in the last year I think you greatly underestimate the raw population. I would guess it's still HIGHER than the graded population.

I also think there are still a large percentage of raw cards (maybe not more than graded, but probably at least something close).

There are also Ruth 1933 Goudeys that are likely never to be graded, like this particular iconic two piece batting pose.

Brian

[MattyC]

One thing to consider is that when a collector is shopping for a Goudey Ruth, if they have decided to buy a graded copy from say PSA or SGC, they are really only going to look at and consider examples from the slabbed population.

In other words, while there is an awareness of there being raw examples out there "in the wild," I doubt that factors into the mind of someone looking to purchase a graded copy. That buyer isn't saying, "Well, they usually go for 'X,' and this one looks better than average, yet I will only pay less than X because of the raw population out there." If one were to lower their paying price for graded examples because of potential future graded examples out there, the most likely outcome is that buyer fails to meet the market price and thus fails to reel one into his collection. As long as the newly graded copies enter market at a pace that can be consumed by the demand, the number of cards that are going from raw to graded are not likely to affect the price at all. And so that raw pop is rather moot in reality.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I also think there are still a large percentage of raw cards (maybe not more than graded, but probably at least something close).

There are also Ruth 1933 Goudeys that are likely never to be graded, like this particular iconic two piece batting pose.

Brian

I would like to christen that card the bikini Ruth.

[Neal]

I love the green

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