The 1933 Goudey baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the entire history of card collecting. Produced by the American Card Company and featuring photographs from the Boston-based Goudey gum company, the 1933 set included a whopping 262 total baseball cards when it was first released. Though production totals for the set are unknown, surviving examples are extremely scarce today, making high grade 1933 Goudeys some of the most expensive cards that can be purchased on the hobby market.
The 1933 set was the first mass-produced baseball card set to feature actual photographs of players, rather than basic illustrations seen on earlier tobacco cards. This innovation helped capture kids’ imaginations and fueled the growing baseball card craze during the Great Depression era. Despite being produced during economically depressed times, 1933 Goudey cards saw immense popularity upon initial release. The set was sold through gum packs as a marketing tool for Goudey gum and featured images of current major league players from the American and National Leagues of that era.
Top stars of the day like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx were all prominently included and their rare Goudey cards today are considered holy grails by collectors. The set is also notable for including the only known cards made for Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Van Lingle Mungo and Cleveland Indians player Ray Castillo, who are considered the rarest modern baseball cards in existence due to extremely low survive rates. High grade examples of any 1933 Goudey have been known to sell for six figures or more when they emerge on the secondary market.
When considering 1933 Goudey cards for sale currently, it’s important to understand the set contains cards in varied conditions – from heavily played to gem mint. The Scarcity and pricing naturally increases exponentially depending on the grade. At the lower end, well-played or poor conditioned examples of common players can still fetch thousands. The most expense cards will be high number cards and the aforementioned stars, especially in superior gem mint grades. For example, here are the estimated values of some key 1933 Goudey cards across different condition levels:
Babe Ruth (PSA 8 EX-MT): $150,000+
Lou Gehrig (PSA 6 VG-EX): $50,000+
Jimmie Foxx (PSA 5 EX): $35,000+
Van Lingle Mungo (PSA 5 EX): $200,000+
Ray Castillo (PSA 5 EX): $150,000+
Mickey Cochrane (PSA 4 VG): $20,000+
Lefty Grove (PSA 9 Mint): $100,000+
As you can see at the top end, Goudeys in pristine new-looking grades regularly sell for well into the five figures due to their extreme rarity. Even mid-range conditioned examples still demand impressive high four or low five figure prices. This is especially true for the elusive Mungo and Castillo cards which have survival populations in the single digits.
When scouting for 1933 Goudeys for sale, your best options are usually through reputable vintage card auction houses like Heritage, Goldin, or Memory Lane. Individual sellers may also have rare finds listed on eBay, but there is naturally more risk there in terms of authenticity. You’ll also need to factor in a buyer’s premium around 20-25% on top of the final auction price. Grading services like PSA or SGC can also be searched directly for certified examples available for purchase through their ‘collectors vault’ databases.
In summary – the 1933 Goudey baseball card set is one of the true summit releases that started the collecting hobby we know today. High grade key cards and the ultra-rare Mungo and Castillo continue to be among the most expensive and collectible in the world when they surface for sale. For the serious vintage card investor or collector seeking a blue-chip addition, 1933 Goudeys truly represent some of the finest trophies that money can buy in the hobby. Just be prepared to shell out five or even six figures for that opportunity.
