W551 Ruth - Status in the Hobby

[FrankWakefield]

I used to think just like what Jay just posted. The paper reminded me of that thick construction paper that I used in primary school. I'd be trying to draw, trying to color, trying to cut out pieces of paper lefthanded with those ridiculous cheap metal scissors... And many of the strip cards looked like that: something I'd have drawn, colored, and jaggedly cut.

I've found being a hater is easy. One of my daughters, wiser than I was at her age, as we looked at something that someone else was proud of and as I criticized it a bit, she said, "Dad, don't blah somebody else's bling." It took a few seconds of reflection for that to sink in. I still criticize, but I think it is less often and less harshly.

So, back to hating. I really like a Sports Americana book, I think it's a 5th edition, green cover, Baseball Card Alphabetical Checklist. There are newer editions that have a bunch of 21st century players... The green edition I like best. With it, I can look up a player who will be listed alphabetically, and then there's a bunch of letters and numbers, eg E102. That means the player is in the E102 set. The book has a few mistakes, but it's mainly well done. If I read about a player and he interests me, then I'll be wanting a card of him from his playing days, and if I don't have one, I start searching for that green book. What I'm I hating? I hate that there's not a vintage set that had all 8 of the Eight Men Out - Blacksox. (I get annoyed at how there wasn't a significant card issue that shows Jack Rothrock as a Cardinal, he wasn't up very long, and realistically didn't deserve to be in the 1933 or 1934 Goudy sets, nor the Diamond Stars... so I'm making do with Rothrock on a matchbook cover, and on a 4in1 Exhibit card.)

The closest we can get to all 8 of the Blacksox is SEVEN, in the W514 strip cards. The cutting is a mess. If you want graded cards then strip cards don't grade well. The Paper has a slightly low ph, they'll degrade with time, they're fragile. And strip card haters, don't leave out that Wagner isn't in the set. But golly gee, the set has a fantastic assortment of HOFers. How many sets have both Mathewson and Stengel, or Babe Ruth and Southworth??? Or how about non HOFer Burt Shotton and Ty Cobb?? A very few. W514 is a snapshot of 20th century baseball immediately after the 1915 Cracker Jacks and M101-5s... and before the flood of candy cards of the early to mid 1920s. Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Rogers Hornsby, Pete Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Nap Lajoie... Wow!

I don't know if my thoughts have matured or manured, but I have learned to not hate the W514s, and have even gotten to like them. They are the green eggs and ham of the immediately post WW1 baseball cards. I'm glad people still hate them, makes them less expensive than they could be.

[FrankWakefield]

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1696648687

[Casey2296]

Not really a strip card guy, but I've always wanted a W516 Cobb, Speaker, and Ruth. Currently chasing down a different rabbit hole though so I've never made an effort to pick them up.

[Ima Pseudonym]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Lots of great insight and opinion.

The reason I was asking is because I recently picked up a W551 Ruth on a bit of an impulse buy. I really loved the idea of owning an early-days Ruth, and there just aren't many of those I can afford.

I've never been too excited by the strip cards but I thought there was a chance I'd fall in love with it after holding it in my hands and seeing it in person -- which has happened before. Alas, the meter wasn't really moved once I received it. It's a fine card and all, but it isn't the first card I pull out to show people, if you know what I mean.

So, I'm trying to decide if I should sell it and use the money on something I'd be more excited about (like a '34 Goudey Gehrig, or a Ginter Anson, etc). Or, if people would think I'm crazy because, after all, **it's an early playing-days Ruth!!** and how could you get rid of a playing-days Ruth once you have one in your possession?

I do already have a nice Sanella though.... but, let's be honest, most people probably don't consider that a real baseball card either. LOL

[nat]

It's a hobby. More to the point - it's YOUR hobby. Do you like the Ruth more than you'd like the Gehrig or whatever? That's your real question.

If you're looking for investment potential or something, then sure, what other people think might matter. But if you're just asking about what to do with your PC, whether other people like strip cards isn't really relevant. Do YOU like them?

[Ima Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by nat

It's a hobby. More to the point - it's YOUR hobby. Do you like the Ruth more than you'd like the Gehrig or whatever? That's your real question.

If you're looking for investment potential or something, then sure, what other people think might matter. But if you're just asking about what to do with your PC, whether other people like strip cards isn't really relevant. Do YOU like them?

I hear you, and I understand what you're saying. However...

Maybe it's just silly human nature, but we tend to like things that are popular -- even if it's just subconsciously. When it comes to my PC, I definitely have my personal favorites but I particularly love "iconic" cards... cards that are conversation pieces... cards that other people get excited about so we can talk about them. (and, conversely, I love talking about other people's iconic cards)

To that end, if the community thought, "hell no I wouldn't get rid of that, it's an early Ruth card, you moron"; that would probably tweak my perception of it just being a "goofy strip card".

And yes, the investment aspect does play a small part in it. I'm collecting them, but my kids will end up with them eventually. If there is a consensus that a card will likely appreciate much faster than other cards then it would be foolish to unload it.

[brianp-beme]

By the way, nice W551 of Ruth. I now really like this card of him because it seems to have a fairly accurate side view depiction of Babe early in his career, as seen with the comparison photo I provided in my previous post.

By providing this comparison photo I might have just made this card more popular...discuss.


Brian (and by discussing with others, perhaps this will flip on the switch in your brain, the "I'm keeping this Ruth card because maybe, after all, it is interesting" switch)

[brunswickreeves]

Let’s illuminate this discussion with some grading co. POP data…

There are currently 252 total graded 1921 W551 Ruth’s across PSA and SGC. In the aggregate, your SGC 2 has a better grade than 60% (152) of lower graded versions. It’s one of 35 total graded 2’s, and is only inferior to 65 total graded 2.5’s or higher (those are in the top 26%).

In SGC, there are 93 total graded, with 12 graded a 2, and 37 graded higher.

IMHO, your W551 is one of Ruth’s better looking strip cards, is way more scarce compared to thousands of Ruth’s Goudey graded cards (although I do prefer those over strip cards since they have better art and stats/info on the back), and as a 2 grade yours is in the top 40% of total graded W551 Ruth’s.

I’m doubtful it’ll go up much more than $2,650 in a 2 grade, but you never know…either way, I think is a winner!

[EddieP]

I like the strip cards because they are a reflection of period’s Art Movement. It is my belief they were purposefully drawn this way NOT because it was cheaper to due. There were strip cards of movie stars made that in all likelihood were not collected by little boys. Also, look at the cover of magazines produced at the time like the October 1921 Popular Science Magazine. Ruth is on the cover and the drawing has a strip card look to it. The W516 strips were produced by the Hearst company. There were 5 series produced in 1920 and 1921. William Randolph Hearst collected art. Do you think he’d produced this multiple times if he were ridiculed by his family, friends and colleagues?

You have to remember they were produced at a time of great prosperity :the roaring ‘20s. For reference look at the Topps 2020 series with its collection of cards made by contemporary artists. In other words, there’s a reason why the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC kept Burdick’s strip cards in its collection because they are part of Art History.

Also their price ( even the Ruth’s) compared to other works of art are very cheap. If you put it in perspective to buy an original “sketch” of a work art ( which are very often crudely drawn) that is part of the MMA’s collection is $$$$.

[Ima Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

Let’s illuminate this discussion with some grading co. POP data…

There are currently 252 total graded 1921 W551 Ruth’s across PSA and SGC. In the aggregate, your SGC 2 has a better grade than 60% (152) of lower graded versions. It’s one of 35 total graded 2’s, and is only inferior to 65 total graded 2.5’s or higher (those are in the top 26%).

In SGC, there are 93 total graded, with 12 graded a 2, and 37 graded higher.

IMHO, your W551 is one of Ruth’s better looking strip cards, is way more scarce compared to thousands of Ruth’s Goudey graded cards (although I do prefer those over strip cards since they have better art and stats/info on the back), and as a 2 grade yours is in the top 40% of total graded W551 Ruth’s.

I’m doubtful it’ll go up much more than $2,650 in a 2 grade, but you never know…either way, I think is a winner!

Good data. Thanks for digging it up.

[pawpawdiv9]

W-UNC BIG HEADS:

JimB & JeffK:
I knew of Jeff's recent addition and discussed about it. Still great addition.
However, Jim, i been keeping track of these Big Heads, as i try to finish the set.
(as noted in my signature)
I did not know you had a Big Head Ruth, in a GAI holder as well...new to my list.
Maybe i need a thread on these cards.

[Ima Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

By the way, nice W551 of Ruth. I now really like this card of him because it seems to have a fairly accurate side view depiction of Babe early in his career, as seen with the comparison photo I provided in my previous post.

By providing this comparison photo I might have just made this card more popular...discuss.


Brian (and by discussing with others, perhaps this will flip on the switch in your brain, the "I'm keeping this Ruth card because maybe, after all, it is interesting" switch)

I came across what I think is the template photo for the W551:

[brianp-beme]

Here is a side by side to compare. I think the angle is a little off, the cap is riding higher on the head and tilted, and the Babe is displaying a little bit more nostril (don't we all in some pictures) than what is seen on the card. Still in my eyes bolsters the idea that the W551 depiction of Ruth, whether or not suited to everyone's artistic sensibilities, captures a little bit of that Babe mystique.

Brian

[JackR]

My framed W551 strip, which I have argued to my wife is actually art, not a “card,” and therefore exempt from the Card Budget. She’s not buying it.