What was the salvation of the Prewar card hobby

jingram058 · #1 02-09-2025, 02:06 PM

Having been in and out of the hobby 4 times, I have never understood my 3rd return in the late 1980s, and now. Even in the late 80s, you could still buy a 33 Goudey Ruth for $250. I know, because I bought one. I thought it was a lot of money. Maybe I'm just and old fogey, but the thousands of dollars for that same Ruth seems unbelievable. I have never understood the Mickey Mantle phenomenon. But I guess his meteoric rise in value is similar to Lawrence Welk in the big bands. Out of Glenn Miller (who unfortunately disappeared over the English Channel), Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, who would believe that Lawrence Welk would wind up so insanely popular when all the others faded away?

brunswickreeves · #2 02-09-2025, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

Having been in and out of the hobby 4 times, I have never understood my 3rd return in the late 1980s, and now. Even in the late 80s, you could still buy a 33 Goudey Ruth for $250. I know, because I bought one. I thought it was a lot of money. Maybe I'm just and old fogey, but the thousands of dollars for that same Ruth seems unbelievable. I have never understood the Mickey Mantle phenomenon. But I guess his meteoric rise in value is similar to Lawrence Welk in the big bands. Out of Glenn Miller (who unfortunately disappeared over the English Channel), Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, who would believe that Lawrence Welk would wind up so insanely popular when all the others faded away?

When I was about 10 years old a friend of mine casually opened a safety box at his grandfather’s house where we were visiting and showed me several 33 Goudey Ruths. Said they were worth about a thousand bucks. That was the first time I had ever seen a vintage baseball card in person and was totally captivated. I also remember a friend telling us his Dad had a 52 Topps Mantle and my brother and I would play in the woods imagining what if we found an abandoned box of 52 Topps cards and THE Mickey Mantle? Funny how these childhood memories are so cemented in memory and a place we collectors go back to for pure unbridled joy.

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #3 02-09-2025, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

But I guess his meteoric rise in value is similar to Lawrence Welk in the big bands. Out of Glenn Miller (who unfortunately disappeared over the English Channel), Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, who would believe that Lawrence Welk would wind up so insanely popular when all the others faded away?

I don't think any big band aficionado would compare Lawrence Welk to any of the greats on your list. That would be insulting to the other artists. (And you're obviously saying pretty much the same thing!) Welk was more like Guy Lombardo; extremely popular, but not influential in any sort of progressive sense. All the others you mentioned made huge contributions to music, while Welk and Lombardo were just pablum that some people could dance to. You could say that Welk was to big bands what Pat Boone was to rock & roll, except it dragged on for decades thanks to television.

Peter_Spaeth · #4 02-09-2025, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I don't think any big band aficionado would compare Lawrence Welk to any of the greats on your list. That would be insulting to the other artists. (And you're obviously saying pretty much the same thing!) Welk was more like Guy Lombardo; extremely popular, but not influential in any sort of progressive sense. All the others you mentioned made huge contributions to music, while Welk and Lombardo were just pablum that some people could dance to. You could say that Welk was to big bands what Pat Boone was to rock & roll, except it dragged on for decades thanks to television.

Pat Boone's version of Tutti Frutti outsold Little Richard's. Times have changed.

jingram058 · #5 02-09-2025, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I don't think any big band aficionado would compare Lawrence Welk to any of the greats on your list. That would be insulting to the other artists. (And you're obviously saying pretty much the same thing!) Welk was more like Guy Lombardo; extremely popular, but not influential in any sort of progressive sense. All the others you mentioned made huge contributions to music, while Welk and Lombardo were just pablum that some people could dance to. You could say that Welk was to big bands what Pat Boone was to rock & roll, except it dragged on for decades thanks to television.

I agree with you. What I'm saying is who would have believed that Welk would be the one out of the hundreds of big bands to get the popular (to a huge number of viewers, not me) TV show that was on TV seemingly forever after all the others, Lombardo included, faded away?

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #6 02-09-2025, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

I agree with you. What I'm saying is who would have believed that Welk would be the one out of the hundreds of big bands to get the popular (to a huge number of viewers, not me) TV show that was on TV seemingly forever after all the others, Lombardo included, faded away?

I understood!

At the same time, Mickey Mantle contributed far more to his profession than Welk did to his. If I could actually think of the baseball equivalent to Lawrence Welk, I might laugh for a week straight! Just the thought of this premise was enough for a great chuckle.

Balticfox · #7 02-09-2025, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

At the same time, Mickey Mantle contributed far more to his profession than Welk did to his.

Well I dunno....

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

If I could actually think of the baseball equivalent to Lawrence Welk, I might laugh for a week straight!

I like jingram058's Mickey Mantle pick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

I have never understood the Mickey Mantle phenomenon. But I guess his meteoric rise in value is similar to Lawrence Welk in the big bands.

I'm going to get not just weeks but years of laughs at the expense of Yankee fans with the "Mickey Mantle is the Lawrence Welk of baseball" analogy!

Peter_Spaeth · #8 02-09-2025, 07:24 PM

IMO one of the internet's biggest impacts was giving collectors a way to sell somewhat efficiently for retail prices, rather than having to sell to a dealer at an unconscionable discount. This was, again IMO, vitally important to grow collections.

brianp-beme · #9 02-09-2025, 07:31 PM

Moms that did not throw out vintage cards laid out the foundation for our current hobby.

Brian

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