Best affordable Babe Ruth card?

[Jeter1020]

So I’m in the market for a Babe Ruth card but the bigger cards over 2k are out of the question. So I’m leaning towards relics but wanted to see if there were any Ruth collectors who had some other ideas or type of cards. Also feel free to show what you have.


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[ThoseBackPages]

i want to say the floor is now 5K to get in on a playing days card, which is the best thing to get IMO

[Jeter1020]

i want to say the floor is now 5K to get in on a playing days card, which is the best thing to get IMO


The Bulgarian is under 2k. Same with the Churchman card.

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[ThoseBackPages]

yea, im not sure those are considered baseball cards

ETA: you can probably find "strip" cards for that price range

[ThoseBackPages]

i would recommend going with your favorite 1933 Goudey

[Stringmusic]

Here’s my only Ruth card. You might be able to pick up a decent SGC/PSA 1 with good eye appeal for slightly over 2k.
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[theshowandme]

Go for the Kashin

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241004/3e97c3f5dd90e3525d32394663f03c2c.jpg

[mfw13]

He has a SP parallel in 2010 Topps Heritage (the 1961 design) which runs about $20-30.

And of course tons of cards in recent sets which look gorgeous.....

[no10pin]

This is the 1954 Topps Scoops series, obviously not a playing days card, but it's a fun set and more affordable.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9s4AAOSwoNVjZq7G/s-l800.webp

[CardPadre]

A lot of lower grade 1935 Goudeys can be had for under $2k

Also the 1934 (really 1933) Premium is really cool…but really big. Can also often be found for under $2k

Lastly, a beater 1933 Sport Kings can sometimes be under $2k.
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[LittleJimmies]

2023 Bowman Chrome 1st Bowman Retrofractor, timeless card.

[mjohnatgt]

The Bulgarian is under 2k.
This would be my pick as well. Playing days, real photograph, Yankees uniform, another world class athlete from the time on it as well.

The oversize cards/premiums are nice, too. I can't stand the cartoony cards.

[mantlefan7]

I’ve thought about picking up one of those Churchman cards. I like the looks of them. Anyways, I think you can pick one of these up for around 2K - Ruth’s first bat/jersey card with Gehrig on the back:

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[williemayshayes]

48/9 Leaf is iconic.
Has cards that are instantly recognizable.
Jackie, Paige, Williams, Wagner.

The style is something that Warhol would be jealous of. Think it's just a set that will continue to age like wine and only be more appreciated as time goes on.

[Mister2Bits]

Vintage:

https://i.imgur.com/FC8k7NK.jpg?1

Modern:

https://i.imgur.com/ee9FadY.jpg?1

[awz50]

Go for an autograph

But in all seriousness go for a 1948 leaf

[Promethius88]

1932 Sanella Margarine

I don't know where they are at now. I had a PSA 7 a couple years ago and then after I sold it for $400 they skyrocketed. It's a nice looking card during his playing days and should be able to pick up a decent one in your price range.

[SaveMeTheGum]

The hand cut "W"'s used to be pretty reasonable. Haven't bought/sold one in a while. There's some debate of whether that's Ruth or not on the Churchman.

[DioBrando]

What about the 1952 Topps Look 'n See? 49 Leaf would be a solid choice

[rudan007]

Being a poor man, I always liked the 1962 topps subset.

[vintg]

my vote would be the 1929 kashin.

1st) playing days

2nd) black and white, great "shot" of him

3rd) affordable

i had one , sold it, REGRET IT

[theshowandme]

my vote would be the 1929 kashin.

1st) playing days

2nd) black and white, great "shot" of him

3rd) affordable

i had one , sold it, REGRET IT


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[Retired hobbist]

So I’m in the market for a Babe Ruth card but the bigger cards over 2k are out of the question. So I’m leaning towards relics but wanted to see if there were any Ruth collectors who had some other ideas or type of cards. Also feel free to show what you have.


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If you want a cheaper Ruth card junk wax era aside you could pick up a 1973 Topps all time leader card for less than 20US raw.

I have always wanted to get the Aaron Home Run King record breaker card but have never gotten around to it.

[hammertime]

The Bulgarian is under 2k.

This is the one (and only one) I own, but I don't understand the appeal of modern cards of vintage players, so I know absolutely nothing about that area.

[ThoseBackPages]

This is the one (and only one) I own, but I don't understand the appeal of modern cards of vintage players, so I know absolutely nothing about that area.

love dat SHINE!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53183361864_bf873cf2b3_b.jpg

[discodanman45]

love dat SHINE!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53183361864_bf873cf2b3_b.jpg

Topps Gilded cards are absolutely gorgeous. My advice would to save up for a 1933 Goudey Ruth or get a Topps Gilded Ruth if you don't want to spend that much money.

[Jazz Chisholm]

I’ve thought about picking up one of those Churchman cards. I like the looks of them. Anyways, I think you can pick one of these up for around 2K - Ruth’s first bat/jersey card with Gehrig on the back:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241004/98b5e3eaa3387a525fcbb38f5e5b9c66.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241004/df343a685e5234ddc7499e4a64481f37.jpg


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I pulled #3/50 of this card in 2001. Sold if for $2100 iirc. While that was a TON for a broke college kid, I still regret it. I’d love to pick up another copy

Do you know what the Ruth single runs nowadays?

[TBTC Baseball]

I’ve thought about picking up one of those Churchman cards. I like the looks of them. Anyways, I think you can pick one of these up for around 2K - Ruth’s first bat/jersey card with Gehrig on the back:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241004/98b5e3eaa3387a525fcbb38f5e5b9c66.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241004/df343a685e5234ddc7499e4a64481f37.jpg


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There is a Ruth only version up on eBay for $1500. Great looking card.

[mantlefan7]

I pulled #3/50 of this card in 2001. Sold if for $2100 iirc. While that was a TON for a broke college kid, I still regret it. I’d love to pick up another copy

Do you know what the Ruth single runs nowadays?

Man, I can’t imagine pulling something like that. A couple years ago, it seems like a single Ruth was going for about 600-700 bucks. I think you could probably get one now for maybe 1000-1200.

[mantlefan7]

There is a Ruth only version up on eBay for $1500. Great looking card.

Thank you - mine is actually a replacement - I bought the original 30/50 off of eBay back in ‘01, but when I got the card, there was a hair that was underneath the gloss of the card, so they replaced it. You can tell the serial number font is different.

[bear0555]

I pulled #3/50 of this card in 2001. Sold if for $2100 iirc. While that was a TON for a broke college kid, I still regret it. I’d love to pick up another copy

Do you know what the Ruth single runs nowadays?

Wow, you did REALLY well. I had wanted this card for a while and was lucky to get the last two that were "available". And probably for a good amount less than you would have expected. Nowadays, they're difficult to find, but if you do find one, you can probably still get it for a lot less than you really should. This is one of the most underrated Ruth GU cards imo.

[marl1220]

Not a very expensive card but still a Ruth from the 1950s. I actually own the set (they were sold in the HOF in the 50's) with the original box.

https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/images.pricecharting.com/corr4qcipxmfngnaydqc/240.jpg

[awz50]

Not a very expensive card but still a Ruth from the 1950s. I actually own the set (they were sold in the HOF in the 50's) with the original box.

https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/images.pricecharting.com/corr4qcipxmfngnaydqc/240.jpg

Pretty dang cool

[Jazz Chisholm]

Man, I can’t imagine pulling something like that. A couple years ago, it seems like a single Ruth was going for about 600-700 bucks. I think you could probably get one now for maybe 1000-1200.

It’s easily my best pull ever. Summer 2001 at a card shop in Lubbock, bought a box of Classics and opened it there. Luis Aparicio Signifcant Sigs, Johnny Bench Benchmarks seat, Eric Munson Timeless Tributes parallel /100 (lol), Ripken Stadium Stars seat. At that point I had 4 packs left and thought the box was great, then 2nd-to-last pack the Ruth/Gehrig popped out. I was yelling and shaking. The Ruth serial numbering got a HUGE premium…other #’s were selling around $1300. The shop owner sold it for me for either $2050 or $2100; I got $1900. I bought a BGS 8.5 Bowman Chrome Pujols and a 79 OPC Gretzky PSA 8 and had money left over. Unfortunately I sold those for a bit over what I paid for them cause today they’re worth a ton :eek:

[marl1220]

Pretty dang cool

Thanks. It was actually bought by my dad when he was a kid when he went to the HOF with his parents. Years later, probably in the 80"s, I found it in my uncles room at my grandparents house. I've had it ever since.:)!

[MarksalotBrown]

In 1992, Megacards created 165 unique Babe Ruth cards for everyone to collect.