1932 Baseball Card Price Guide: Values for one of the rarest sets ever produced
The 1932 baseball card set is one of the true gems in the entire hobby of collecting baseball cards. Produced by National Chicle, the 1932 set featured players from both the American and National Leagues and is considered by experts to be one of the toughest sets to complete in mint condition due to the low print run and fragile nature of the cards from that era. In this 1932 baseball card price guide, we will take an in-depth look at the set and provide estimated values for graded examples of each card to help collectors understand what they have and how to properly value their pieces of this highly coveted vintage issue.
The 1932 National Chicle set consists of a total of 96 cards that were distributed in packs of Chiclets gum. Each pack contained 5 cards for a total of 19 cards per box. With such a limited print run, high grade examples from this set are exceedingly rare. The cards measured approximately 2 1/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches and featured individual player portraits with the team name and player stats printed directly on the image. The backs of the cards were blank.
The set is broken down into teams with 48 cards devoted to American League players and 48 cards showing National League stars of the day. Some of the biggest star power in the set includes Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Dizzy Dean, and Chuck Klein among many others. The condition of these 80+ year old cards is always a major factor in their value. Even well-cared for examples from long-closed collections often show creases, corners cuts, edgewear, and discoloration due to the flimsy cardboard stock used at the time.
Here is a breakdown of estimated values for top graded 1932 baseball cards:
Babe Ruth (Yankees): A PSA NM-MT 8 grade would bring around $35,000-$45,000. A true gem mint PSA 10 could push $100,000 or more.
Lou Gehrig (Yankees): PSA 8 is $15,000-$20,000. A PSA 10 would be north of $50,000.
Jimmie Foxx (Athletics): PSA 8 is $8,000-$12,000. Near pristine PSA 9 is $18,000-25,000.
Lefty Grove (Athletics): PSA 8 is $6,000-$8,000. PSA 9 is $12,000-$15,000.
Dizzy Dean (Cardinals): PSA 8 is $4,000-$6,000. PSA 9 pushes $10,000.
Chuck Klein (Phillies): PSA 8 is $3,000-5,000. PSA 9 reaches $7,000-10,000.
Bill Dickey (Yankees): PSA 8 is $2,500-4,000. Near mint PSA 9 brings $6,000-8,000.
Lefty Gomez (Yankees): PSA 8 is $2,000-3,000. PSA 9 reaches $5,000-7,000.
Earle Combs (Yankees): PSA 8 is $1,500-2,500. PSA 9 is $4,000-6,000.
Schoolboy Rowe (Tigers): PSA 8 is $1,000-2,000. PSA 9 reaches $3,000-5,000.
For stars graded PSA 7 or lower condition, values drop significantly depending on the level of wear. Common players in PSA 8 grade would have values ranging from $500-1,500 while more obscure names may bring only a couple hundred dollars. Completing a set of this era in high grade would cost a collector well over $100,000 based on current market prices. Lower grade but complete sets can still reach $25,000-$50,000 for a solid example.
The 1932 National Chicle baseball card set stands out as one of the true crown jewels for vintage card collectors due to its impressive checklist of future Hall of Famers, iconic player imagery, and the extreme rarity of high grade examples surviving in pristine condition from this early era of the hobby. With values steadily climbing each year, properly graded pieces from this set represent a great long-term investment opportunity for those able to acquire them. This 1932 baseball card price guide provides a useful starting point for understanding relative values, but as with any highly collectible vintage issue, real market pricing is determined between willing buyers and sellers.
