The 1936 Goudy baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the early 20th century. Produced by the Goudy Gum Company, the 1936 Goudy set featured players from the American and National Leagues in colorful artwork designs. With its vintage nostalgia and historic significance, the 1936 Goudy set remains a highly sought after collection for serious baseball card enthusiasts and investors.
The 1936 Goudy set contains a total of 75 cards that were inserted in packs of Goudy gum. With no statistics or biographical information included on the cards, the focus was solely on depicting each player through stylized illustrations. The artwork varied in quality but overall featured bold colors and whimsical poses that captured the spirit of 1930s baseball. Top stars of the day like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Dizzy Dean were among those featured.
In terms of condition, the cards were fairly fragile given their thin cardboard stock. As a result, finding high grade examples in pristine Near Mint or better condition has always been challenging. Even well-cared for vintage collections from the 1930s are likely to contain 1936 Goudy cards with minor bends, creases or edge wear. Only the most pedigreed examples directly pulled from sealed packs and immediately sleeved could attain true gem mint status.
When it comes to pricing a 1936 Goudy collection, there are several key factors that determine value such as the player, condition, and completeness of the set. A general overview of 1936 Goudy card values across different grades is as follows:
Poor 1/0 – Poorly worn cards with heavy creasing, staining or tears typically sell for $5-20 depending on the player. Such low grade cards are mostly of interest to collectors looking to complete a set affordably.
Fair 2/3 – Cards with visible edge wear, small creases or light staining can sell in the $25-75 range depending on the star power of the player. Solid short prints or more sought after names will be toward the higher end.
Good 4/5 – Cards showing clean surfaces but with moderate edge wear or light creasing would sell between $50-150. Top rookie cards or Hall of Famers start to fetch over $100 in Good condition.
Very Good 6 – Sharp, bright cards with minimal edge wear and no creasing generally sell from $100-250. Keys to the set like Joe DiMaggio or Dizzy Dean rookie cards can exceed $200.
Excellent 7 – Near perfect surfaces with just a hint of wear at the edges. Ex-Mint 7 graded 1936 Goudy cards range from $150-500 depending on player demand and scarcity.
Mint 8 – Pristine surfaces with full gloss and sharply-cut edges. High grade examples of stars like Lou Gehrig or Ted Williams can sell for $300-1000+ in Mint 8 condition.
Gem Mint 9 – About as perfect as it gets for 80+ year old cardboard. Only the most elite 1936 Goudy cards qualify for true Gem status above a Mint grade. Hall of Famers like Mel Ott or Bill Terry would sell over $1000 in this lofty grade.
Completing a 1936 Goudy set in any grade presents a major challenge and significant investment due to the scarcity of many key cards. A full run collection in Good-Very Good condition could easily top $10,000 or more depending on the availability of short prints. For the rarest and most sought after rookie cards, individual prices can escalate dramatically above typical guidebook values.
The 1936 Goudy set remains one of the pinnacles of the classic tobacco era and an iconic symbol of baseball’s early decades. With its brilliant artwork, connection to legends of the game, and place in cardboard history, the 1936 Goudy cards are a benchmark for any serious vintage baseball card collection. While finding high grade examples is a tall order, owning any piece of this seminal set is a thrill for those who appreciate the origins of the modern trading card phenomenon.
