The 1935 Diamond Stars baseball card set holds an important place in the history of vintage baseball cards as one of the last pre-war card issues and one of the rarest and most valuable sets from the 1930s. Published by Diamond Stars Gum Company in 1935, the set features players from both the National and American Leagues along with other notable major leaguers from that era. While not as historic and famous as the iconic T206 and 1909-1911 T3 cabinets cards, the 1935 Diamond Stars have grown in popularity in recent decades due to their scarcity.
Only 16 cards make up the complete 1935 Diamond Stars set and they are considered among the rarest and most valued from the 1930s. The sets low production volume can be attributed to the Great Depression’s impact on the sports card industry at the time. When the 1935 issue was released, America was still in the midst of economic turmoil following the stock market crash of 1929. Demand for baseball cards may have been down and fewer packs and boxes were printed as a result. The Diamond Stars Gum company did not have as large of a distribution network or dedicated following as some of the other bigger card manufacturers of the day such as American Caramel, Goudey, or Play Ball.
All of the 1935 Diamond Stars cards have colorful lithographed illustrations of players on the front with statistics and factoids printed on the back. The cards stock is thinner than issues from previous decades, a telltale sign of efforts to cut costs during difficult financial times. Despite using cheaper materials, the vintage artwork and photography utilized remain high quality. Some of the biggest stars of the 1930s featured include Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Chuck Klein, and Lefty Gomez. Rarer short prints also exist of players such as Earl Averill, Freddie Lindstrom, and Roy Parmelee. Grading services have verified population reports showing remarkably few high graded examples exist of each different 1935 Diamond Stars card.
Condition is always paramount when it comes to the value of any vintage issue but it takes on even greater importance for these ultra scarce 1930s cardboard relatives. Slight flaws can diminish an otherwise amazing card from this set while examples still in the crisp near mint state they left the pack decades ago are simply unheard of outside of the most elite collections. In the current trading card market, mid-grade seven’s can easily clear five figures at auction due to their extensive thinning from use, wear and tear over eighty plus years. Truly pristine gems which preserve that never-handled virginal state fetch astronomical sums.
In 2011, a PSA 8 Babe Ruth from the 1935 Diamond Stars set sold at auction for $182,750, setting a record for the series. Other Hall of Fame players like Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Cochrane, and Lefty Gomez continue appreciating greatly in value as well, especially in higher grades. Even lesser known short prints are beginning to gain more attention from currency collectors. For example, a 1974 PSA-graded Earl Averill showing only moderate play sold privately in 2014 for $21,000 demonstrating the tremendous upside remaining for uncovering overlooked issues in exceptional condition from this exceedingly sparse seventy-five year old gum card release.
Today, the 1935 Diamond Stars cards exist as treasured keepsakes of baseball’s glory years for the fortunate few who possess them. Their scarcity and place as one of the last pre-World War II productions make each surviving specimen all the more desirable to vintage paper aficionados. With so few survivors to supply an ever-growing demand, prices will likely continue an upward trajectory, though acquiring high grade examples grows exponentially tougher. Now listed on the Professional Sports Authenticator’s most valuable sets list, these octogenarian cards exemplify both the human fascination with card collecting and the financial potential dormant in a simple packet of forgotten chewing gum rewards from over eighty years ago. Through appreciation events like PSA’s recent population report, the 1935 Diamond Stars are assured an honored position within the expansive history of American baseball memorabilia for generations to come.
