Recently, I wrote about some of the cooler aspects of the 1935 Goudey set. When it comes to the actual players featured on the popular 4-in-1 1935 Goudey cards, the issue of Babe Ruth is key, obviously. But in between that card and the intriguing back combinations to create puzzles, there are some other really intriguing cards in the set. Here are five that any pre-war or vintage collector should be watching.
Bill Dickey, Tony Lazzeri, Pat Malone, Red Ruffing
This card is one of three that featured three Hall of Fame players. Of the three, this is the most desirable primarily because it features players from the New York Yankees. Lazzeri, Dickey, and Ruffing aren’t among the biggest names in this set, but they are all enshrined in Cooperstown and very collectable. To have all three on a single card is an impressive deal. The card is also a relative bargain and usually starts around $50 in lower-end mid-grade condition.
Tommy Bridges, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Billy Rogell
Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane was featured twice in the 1935 Goudey set but I probably prefer this card a little over his other one as it features only Detroit Tigers from the 1935 season. The Tigers went to the World Series in 1934, but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. They returned in 1935, the year of these cards, and came away the winners by defeating the Chicago Cubs in six games. Cochrane, featured here, was a star but the card also includes fellow Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer. Pitcher Tommy Bridges was also an underrated player, leading the league in strikeouts on two occasions and winning more than 20 games in three straight seasons. The card starts around $50-$75 in decent condition.
Tex Carleton, Dizzy Dean, Frankie Frisch, Ernie Orsatti
This 1935 Goudey card is important because it not only features the incredible Dizzy Dean but also a second Hall of Famer in Frankie Frisch. Dean’s card is heavily desired (as are most of his issues) in part because he doesn’t have a large amount of contemporary cards due to a shortened career. After appearing in a single game in 1930, Dean didn’t really enter the big leagues until a 22-year old in 1932. He lasted only until 1941 when injuries took over and forced him from the game. Dean returned in legendary style in 1947, pitching a single game after insisting he could still play before ending his career for good. That last outing (four innings while allowing no runs) proved he was correct.
He’s joined by Frisch, the 1931 Most Valuable Player and famed manager who won 1,138 career games. This card usually starts in the $100 range for mid-grade copies.
Pete Fox, Hank Greenberg, Gee Walker, Schoolboy Rowe
At the risk of making this a Detroit Tigers-centric article, a second card featuring players from that club must be included on this list. This one features the Tigers’ best player in 1935, Hank Greenberg. Greenberg won the American League Most Valuable Player award that season and is surrounded here by Tigers teammates Pete Fox, Gee Walker, and Schoolboy Rowe.
Unlike the Cochrane/Gehringer card mentioned above, Greenberg’s card doesn’t include any other Hall of Famers. But Rowe was a key player for Detroit and finished his career with three All-Star bids. Greenberg is easily the key player, though, and this card will usually start around $100-$125 in VG condition.
Guy Bush, Waite Hoyt, Lloyd Waner, and Paul Waner
A final card that I love from the 1935 Goudey set is this one featuring Pittsburgh Pirates players. This is a second card that features three Hall of Famers with Waite Hoyt and brothers Paul and Lloyd Waner. The fact that the card features the pair of siblings is a particularly great reason to love this one.
Nicknamed Big Poison and Little Poison, the duo were two of the greatest players in club history.
This card is a nice issue and can be had in the $50-$75 range in VG condition.
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