The 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the entire history of baseball cards. Issued by the American Card Company and licensed through chewing gum manufacturer Goudey, the 1934 set marked several firsts for the fledgling industry of baseball cards. It was the first true “set” of cards as it included all teams from the American and National Leagues, with each team getting several player cards. At the time it was the largest baseball card set yet produced.
The set contains a total of 161 cards featuring players, managers, and umpires from the 1933 MLB season. Some key things to know about 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards include:
Design: The cards featured colorful graphics and colorful player photos pasted onto basic cardboard stock. The front displayed a caricature-style drawing of the player, their team logo, name, and position. The back had stats and a brief biography.
Condition: Most surviving 1934 Goudey cards are in well-worn condition as they saw a lot of use by children in the 1930s. Mint condition specimens are quite rare. Even moderately played cards in VG or EX condition can command premium prices.
Short Print Cards: The set included several “short print” cards that were printed in lower numbers, making them harder to find. Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth were not included due to licensing issues.
Hall of Famers: Over 75 players in the set would eventually be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, and Lefty Grove.
In terms of prices, 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards featuring the game’s all-time greats in top condition can sell for astronomical sums. Here’s a breakdown of some record prices realized for key cards from the set:
Mickey Cochrane (Tigers): A PSA 5 copy of this Hall of Fame catcher’s card sold for $72,900 in 2020.
Lou Gehrig (Yankees): A PSA 4 of the Iron Horse went for $62,250 in 2021.
Jimmie Foxx (Athletics): A gem mint PSA 9 sold for $93,000 in early 2022.
Mel Ott (Giants): A PSA 6 brought $53,250 at auction in 2021.
Lefty Grove (Athletics): A high-grade PSA 8 sold for $47,500 last year.
It’s not just the all-time greats that hold value. Here are recent sales of 1934 Goudey cards featuring very good to excellent condition examples:
Bill Dickey (Yankees): A PSA 5 copy made $11,250 in 2020.
Gabby Hartnett (Cubs): A PSA 6 sold for $10,875 last year.
Charlie Gehringer (Tigers): EX condition brought $9,250 in 2021 auction.
Lefty O’Doul (Phillies): A VG-EX grade realized $7,150.
Earl Averill (Indians): PSA 5.5 condition earned $6,250.
Schoolboy Rowe (Tigers): VG-EX grade traded hands for $5,500.
Perhaps most remarkably, even fairly low-grade copies of common players from 1934 Goudey still hold substantial lingering value due to the set’s importance and rarity overall in high grades. A PSA 2 copy of Yankees pitcher Johnny Murphy still sold for $1,575 recently.
The 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set was hugely influential and the first true “set” released. Even in well-worn lower grades, copies retain value due to their place in the hobby’s history. High-grade examples of the set’s long list of Hall of Famers routinely break records, with the true all-time great rookies bringing hundreds of thousands when pristine.
