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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Signed Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey Cards from “Uncle Jimmy” Sell for Over $725,000
Wheatland's October 2020 auction concluded over the weekend and, unsurprisingly, a pair of autographed Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey cards once again led the way. Part of the famous "Uncle Jimmy Collection," the two Ruth cards sold for a combined $725,700. The biggest prize of the two was an immaculate signed card of Ruth's iconic No. 181 card from the set. The card received a … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: A Look at an Ivy Andrews Gum Card Rarity
While Goudey was the undisputed king of 1930s baseball gum cards, numerous other sets popped up throughout the decade. One of those was the 1933 George C. Miller Candy set and the set contains a rarity that is not known to all collectors. The player in question was Paul 'Ivy' Andrews and one variation of the card in particular is a difficult find. Let's take a closer look at … [Read more...]