The 1939 Play Ball baseball card set has it all. Thanks to the rookie issue of Ted Williams, there's an iconic first-year card. There are shortprinted high number cards to increase the difficulty in building a set. And there is a slew of star cards, including the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Mel Ott, and Hank Greenberg, among others, that are plentiful enough to create a meaningful … [Read more...] about Plenty of Candidates for Missing No. 126 Card in Landmark 1939 Play Ball Set
1930s baseball cards
5 Budget Priced 1933 Goudey Hall of Famers
The 1933 Goudey set launched what eventually became the standard by which baseball cards were issued. They were a kids product so why wouldn't they be packaged with gum? Bubble gum and baseball cards went together like peanut butter and jelly. Kids chased multiple Babe Ruth cards, yelled when a Lou Gehrig popped out of a pack and dug Dizzy Dean. Over … [Read more...] about 5 Budget Priced 1933 Goudey Hall of Famers
The Wayback Collector: Pre-War Card Bargains Can Still Be Found
The sports card craze of 2020-21 isn't one that's going to be soon forgotten. Collectors have seen prices soar and the values of their collections rise -- in many cases, dramatically. That's good news, right? In a way, sure. Some collectors have cashed out, pocketing big profits. And while others have held onto their stuff, the value of what they possess is now in most cases … [Read more...] about The Wayback Collector: Pre-War Card Bargains Can Still Be Found
1932 Bulgaria Sport Set Includes Babe Ruth and Other Sporting Greats
There are all sorts of pre-war international tobacco sets and a few of them include baseball and the legendary Babe Ruth. One of those is the 1932 Bulgaria Sport set, produced in Germany -- let's take a closer look at it. The Basics Despite its name, the 1932 Bulgaria Sport is actually a German tobacco card set. Bulgaria Sport was the name of a cigarette brand and the formal … [Read more...] about 1932 Bulgaria Sport Set Includes Babe Ruth and Other Sporting Greats
1932 New York Giants Schedule Postcards (Mostly) A Rare Find
Fresh off of a second place finish in the National League standings in 1931, hopes were high for the 1932 iteration of the New York Giants. But despite a lineup that featured Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Fred Lindstrom, Travis Jackson, Carl Hubbell, and Waite Hoyt, the Giants never met expectations, finishing a disappointing 72-82 under Terry and fellow Cooperstown … [Read more...] about 1932 New York Giants Schedule Postcards (Mostly) A Rare Find
The Wayback Collector: International Babe Ruth Cards Climbing in Value
The majority of Babe Ruth's baseball cards are American made. But for many years, collectors have been able to find relative bargains in the slugger's international cards. If you've been paying attention to prices lately, though, those low-priced cards are starting to disappear. Ruth's early candy and gum cards have long been expensive. But prices for those cards, along with … [Read more...] about The Wayback Collector: International Babe Ruth Cards Climbing in Value
1936 S&S Game Set is a Pre-War Bargain
If you were a baseball-loving youngster 80 years ago and mom and dad’s bank account hadn’t been devastated by the Great Depression, you would have loved getting one for your birthday. “The National Game” was a board game issued by S&S, a Chicago-based company that marketed them at youngsters. Today, the 1936 S&S baseball cards that came with it are among the most … [Read more...] about 1936 S&S Game Set is a Pre-War Bargain
Pre-War Baseball Card Holiday Gift Ideas for Any Budget
The holidays are here and if you're still looking for some last-minute gift ideas for fellow collectors--or give yourself a well-earned present for a challenging year-- I've got you covered. Just about all of these are easily attainable and while most are inexpensive, we've broken them down by the price ranges you can probably expect to pay. Under $25 1880s Baseball Comics … [Read more...] about Pre-War Baseball Card Holiday Gift Ideas for Any Budget
1933 Baseball Candy Card Explosion: The Less Popular Sets
Recently, I wrote a three-part series about the explosion of baseball cards in 1909. Headlined by the famous T206 set, that tobacco card era represented the first big boom in trading cards in the 20th century. But it wasn't the first time there was a decided focus on baseball cards. In the 1930s, tobacco cards were out and gum/candy cards were in. And if you're looking for a … [Read more...] about 1933 Baseball Candy Card Explosion: The Less Popular Sets
1933 Baseball Candy Card Explosion: The Popular Sets
I recently wrote a three-part series about the explosion of baseball cards in 1909. Headlined by the famous T206 set, that tobacco card era represented the first big boom in trading cards in the 20th century. But it wasn't the first time there was a decided focus on baseball cards. In the 1930s, tobacco cards were out and gum/candy cards were in. And if you're looking for a … [Read more...] about 1933 Baseball Candy Card Explosion: The Popular Sets