W551 Ruth - Status in the Hobby

[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.

[glchen]

I consider strip cards like the W551 a good "cheap" way to add a Ruth card to someone's collection. It used to be a lot cheaper than it is now. Just a few years ago, you could buy most Ruth strip cards for around $300 each with some notable exceptions such as the W514, Big Head, and W516's. Now of course, they are significantly more expensive, but still a lot cheaper than Goudey's or E121's.

[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.