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BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1934

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Baseball cards from 1934 hold significant value for collectors due to the rarity of sets from this era. The 1934 Goudey Gum Company baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues from the early decades of modern baseball cards. Understanding the key details, players, and valuations of 1934 cards can help collectors properly assess the value of any cards they may have from this classic set.

The 1934 Goudey set marked the first time that gum manufacturers included baseball cards as incentives to boost sales. Prior to 1934, tobacco companies had included cards in their products but gum companies were just entering the baseball card market. The 1934 Goudey set included a total of 161 cards issued over multiple series. The set featured some of the biggest stars of the day including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx. With production numbers relatively low compared to later decades, 1934 Goudey cards have maintained their rarity and value over the decades.

When considering the value of any 1934 Goudey card, the most important factors are generally the player, the condition or grade of the card, and any notable variations or errors that may be present. Top players from the 1934 set like Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx can be worth thousands of dollars even in worn condition. More common players may have values ranging from under $100 for played copies up to $1000 or more for high grade Near Mint to Mint copies. Beyond the bigger name stars, other valuable players from 1934 include Bill Terry, Lefty Gomez, Mel Ott, and Earl Averill.

In terms of condition, the scale most commonly used by grading services like PSA and BGS for pre-war cards ranges from Poor to Mint. Most collectors agree that the threshold for a card to hold significant value is the Good to Very Good range. Cards in this range still show playing wear but features are clear. Higher grades of Excellent and Mint can increase values dramatically. A Mint 1934 Goudey Ruth would be worth over $10,000 while a worn Good example might bring $1500-2000. Condition is absolutely critical to value for these rare, vintage issues.

When examining any 1934 card, collectors should also check for variations and errors that can boost value. One such error is the “mini” version of the Lou Gehrig card, which is significantly smaller than the standard size. Other variations include printing plate differences that result in color shifts or die cuts that differ from the norm. Subtle differences like these that can be proven on population reports greatly interest advanced collectors and often result in premium prices.

The 1934 Goudey baseball card set holds immense appeal for collectors over 80 years later due to the rarity of the issue and the star power of included players. With fewer than 200,000 total cards printed, high grade copies from this set will always be in high demand. Values fluctuate based on condition, player, and any notable variations, but a properly graded 1934 Goudey card from a star player can easily fetch thousands of dollars. By understanding the key details of the set and doing research on population reports, collectors can best determine estimated values for their own 1934 cardboard treasures.

1934 GOUDEY BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

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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.

1934 DIAMOND STARS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1934 Diamond Stars baseball card set is one of the rarest and most coveted issues in the history of the vintage card collecting hobby. Printed by Diamond Playing Card Company and sold in gum packs, the 1934 set marked the end of a beloved sports card era but also introduced innovations that still impact the industry to this day.

While trading cards were popular in the late 19th century, the modern baseball card collecting craze truly began with the introduction of bubblegum packaged cards in the 1930s. Led by companies like Goudey, Bowman, and Diamond, these new card sets featured colorful player portraits on front with basic stats or descriptions on back. The 1934 Diamond Stars would be the penultimate set of the pioneer gum era before the hobby went on a two-decade hiatus due to World War II and new anti-gambling laws.

Comprised of 120 cards over 6 different player teams, the 1934 Diamond Stars set showcased some of the biggest stars of that time period like Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees and Dizzy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals. Diamond utilized a portrait style on front similar to prior years but included cartoon drawings mixed with real photos, a formula many consider to be one of the set’s best aesthetic qualities. On back was basic descriptive text about each player.

While not an incredibly large print run by today’s standards, production numbers for the 1934 Diamond Stars cards still remain relatively unknown. Due to factors like the fragility of the cardboard stock used and popularity at the time leading to high consumption rates through play, mint condition examples from this set are remarkably scarce. In fact, the set is so rare that less than 100 complete, intact sets are thought to still exist today – making individual cards extremely valuable to collectors.

Some key 1932 Diamond Stars rarities include Babe Ruth (#56), which has sold for over $200,000 in pristine grade, and Dizzy Dean (#80), which recently went for over $100,000 in similar condition. Other card superstars like Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx can fetch five figures as well if preserved exceptionally well. Even more common players in high grade demand premium prices due to the set’s legendary status.

In addition to star power and condition scarcity driving prices sky high, the 1934 Diamond Stars also introduced several innovations still seen in modern card sets. Namely, it was one of the first to categorize players by team on the front rather than just having a random assortment. This system of structuring card content by major league franchise became a standard format moving forward. While rudimentary, the introduction of some cartoon stylization mixed with photos was a creative risk appreciated by collectors.

While short-printed due to the impending world events, the 1934 Diamond Stars cards proved hugely popular, capturing the imagination of a generation of fans. Their storybook rarity and key role in baseball card history’s development has elevated them to a revered status, with individual specimens worth small fortunes today. For collectors and historians alike, the 1934 set stands as a reminder of those pioneering early decades that first sparked trading card fandom into the global phenomenon it remains today.

1934 GOUDEY BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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The 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set is arguably one of the most iconic issues in the entire history of baseball cards. Produced by the American Chicle Company, the 1934 Goudey set was the first widely distributed modern baseball card set. It featured cards of 154 different players from the National and American Leagues at the time.

The checklist of players included in the 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set was very comprehensive for its era. Some of the biggest stars of 1930s baseball were featured, like Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees and Dizzy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals. The set also included many role players and lesser known stars, demonstrating Goudey’s goal of having cards for most everyone actively playing in the majors at that time.

In terms of the franchise representation, the New York Yankees led the way with 15 total players featured thanks to their dynasty run during this period. The St. Louis Cardinals were next with 13 cards. Other teams well-represented included the Chicago Cubs (11), Detroit Tigers (10), Boston Red Sox (9), and Philadelphia Athletics (8). No other franchise had more than 7 players make the checklist.

Some notable individual players included in the 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set were:

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees: As the game’s biggest star, Ruth predictably headlined the checklist and his card is the most coveted by collectors today.

Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals: One of the era’s best pitchers, Dean’s fun-loving personality made him a favorite among fans.

Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees: Prior to his tragic decline, Gehrig was one of baseball’s finest all-around players as evidenced by his inclusion.

Jimmy Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics: Future Hall of Famer was in his prime with back-to-back MVP awards in 1932-1933.

Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers: The “Hammerin’ Hebrew” was one of the game’s top sluggers just beginning his remarkable career.

Joe Medwick, St. Louis Cardinals: 1934 NL MVP and star of the famed “Gashouse Gang” Cardinals clubs.

Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers: Durable second baseman was a contributor for Tigers’ championship teams.

In addition to the notable stars listed above, the set also included solid players like Bill Terry, Mel Ott, Jimmie Wilson, Lefty Gomez, Mickey Cochrane, and Freddie Lindstrom among many others. No players were omitted simply due to being on poorer teams – statistical merit earned inclusion.

The design scheme for the 1954 Goudey cards was quite basic but effective. Each card measured approximately 2.125 inches by 3.125 inches and was printed on thin cardboard stock. The front of the card depicted each player’s headshot along with their name and team neatly featured below. On the back was a simple grey graphical border with space in the center for the player’s stats, but no written information. The cards featured no logos or advertisement content at all.

With such inclusiveness and prominently featuring the sport’s icons like Babe Ruth, the 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set was an immediate success upon its release. Its distribution method of being sold in packs of gum helped popularize what we now consider the standard baseball card collecting experience. The set had massive cultural impact by bringing the baseball card hobby to the mainstream forefront.

Today, the 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards are among the most prized possessions of any serious vintage card collector. In top gem mint condition, premium cards like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig routinely sell for over $100,000 each due to their rarity, historical significance, and superb iconic imagery capturing an bygone era of the national pastime. Even more common players can still fetch thousands because of the set’s immense popularity and influence on the industry. Over 85 years later, the 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards still capture imaginations as one of the most storied releases in any sport.

1934 GOUDEY BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1934 Goudey Baseball Cards set was truly groundbreaking and represented many ‘firsts’ for modern baseball cards. Issued by the American Card Company and sold in packs of gum as part of its promotion, the 1934 Goudey set showed that there was a market for specialized sports cards and helped lead to the golden age of baseball cards in the post-World War II era.

With its iconic design featuring a colorful oval photo front and stats on the back, the 1934 Goudey set introduced many innovations that became staples of the baseball card industry. At the time, most baseball related Ephemera focused more on teams rather than individual players. The 1934 Goudey cards prominently featured close-up headshots of players, personally connecting young fans with their favorite stars.

For the first time, cards included details on batting and pitching stats from the previous season, helping educate new and younger fans just learning the game. Critical information like career records, batting handedness, rookie season and more were printed on the backs. This standard format is still widely used today on most modern baseball cards. Some key stats featured were batting average, home runs and runs batted in.

The 1933 and 1934 Goudey Baseball Gum sets are considered the first ‘modern’ baseball cards. They included a who’s who of the day’s biggest stars including Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig and 154 other major leaguers from 1933. The 1934 set surpassed its predecessors in many important ways. At 180 total cards across 3 series, it featured more players than any previous card issue. Many of the game’s biggest stars received vertical double portrait cards highlighting two images. Innovations like these demonstrated clear commercial potential for dedicated sports cards as collectibles.

Some other key details on the 1934 Goudey set that added to its historical significance:

-Color tinting was added to many photos, another first, making the images really pop compared to earlier black and whites. Some portraits had team-colored borders as well.
-Raisedprinting further highlighted player names and stats vs smooth paper. This embossing effect added a sense of quality.
-For the first time, rookie cards were identified as such, a major boon to set completionists and those seeking early singles.
-Hall of Famers like Carl Hubbell, Lefty Gomez and Bill Terry had especially iconic 1934 Goudey cards that regularly sell for collector premiums today.
-The set came as 18-card sheets inserted inside bubble gum packs, a packaging format that set the standard for decades of issues.
-Goudey commissioned well known American illustrator John W. Bateman II to create original pen and ink drawings for the card backs, lending visual interest.

While production was relatively low for a modern set at approximately 60,000 packs made, Goudey’s 1934 offering proved there was staying power in a dedicated sports card line beyond just a novelty or seasonal promotion. Its innovations like player photography, stats and bio information established collectability standards still used today. Prices for high grade 1934 examples in the thousands of dollars show their iconic status among early 20th century baseball memorabilia. The set deserves its landmark reputation as ‘the first modern card issue’ for greatly furthering the growth of baseball as America’s national pastime through accessible collectible cards of its superstar players.

The 1934 Goudey Baseball Card set was truly a groundbreaking landmark that introduced enduring innovations to the world of sports card collecting while showcasing the era’s biggest MLB stars. Its creative format and presentation established crucial standards for baseball cards that paved the way for decades of growth and endearment with young fans following. As one of the earliest predominantly ‘player card’ issues, 1934 Goudey helped cement cards as important agents of the game’s promotion and culture that remain beloved by enthusiasts worldwide today.

1934 BATTER UP BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1934 Batter Up baseball card set is one of the key issues from the early era of modern baseball cards. Produced by the Batter Up Company, the 1934 set marked a transition point between the classic tobacco cards of the early 20th century to the gum and candy cards that became the standard in later decades. With its focus on active major league players from that season, the 1934 Batter Up issue captured the sport at a fascinating moment in its history.

The idea of including sports cards as incentives to promote tobacco products had been around since the late 1880s. It was the iconic T206 Honus Wagner card from 1909-1911 that is largely credited with sparking sustained interest in collecting baseball cards as a hobby. In the following years, several tobacco brands like American Caramel, Sweet Caporal and Iran Leaf issued colorful multi-player baseball cards. By the early 1930s the Great Depression had cut deeply into tobacco sales and card production had virtually ceased.

It was into this vacuum that the Batter Up Company stepped with their 1934 baseball card set. Unlike earlier tobacco issues, Batter Up cards were inserted in bubble gum packs as a kid-friendly promotional item rather than related to smoking. The gum was said to provide “extra chewing satisfaction and enjoyment.” Each wax-paper wrapped pack contained a single card along with a stick of Dynamite gum. Depicting that year’s top big league sluggers and hurlers, the cards were meant to get young fans excited about the upcoming season.

The 1934 set contains 167 individual player cards and spans all 16 major league clubs of the time. Some of the biggest stars featured included Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Earl Averill, Lefty Gomez and Chuck Klein. Uniforms and logos are sharply rendered in full color. The front of each card displays a large action photo of the player along with their name, position and team. Short bios on the back provide career highlights and stats from the 1933 season. Conditioned are generally lower than vintage tobacco issues due to the thinner cardboard stock used for gum cards.

Several factors make the 1934 Batter Up set so iconic and valuable among collectors today. It represents a true transition point between tobacco and candy/gum insert cards. It was one of the last pre-war issues to feature many of the game’s biggest stars from the 1930s before several retired or their careers were interrupted by World War II military service. Rosters also included visual representations of defunct franchises like the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics before they relocated. Perhaps most importantly, limited production means high-grade specimens from the set are quite rare surviving over 85 years later.

Pricing for 1934 Batter Up cards very substantially based on condition, player and scarcity. Lower-tier commons may sell for $25-50 in poor shape while all-star rookie cards can reach $500 or more graded high. The true keys of the set are even scarcer and more sought after. The Lou Gehrig PSA 8 just sold at auction for over $27,000. Other expensive individual cards include Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Earl Averill and Chuck Klein when graded highly. Even run-of-the-mill cards have shot up sharply in value in recent years as set collectors seek to complete their rookie collections of 1930s legends.

For historians, the 1934 Batter Up issue also serves as a unique time capsule. It brought the national pastime into the midst of the Great Depression via its promotion of chewing gum and baseball cards. The set featured the last glimpses of iconic ballplayers before wartime service or retirement changed the sporting landscape. Perhaps most remarkably, it helped keep the fledgling hobby of sports card collecting alive during tough times, inadvertently preserving the memories and imagery of a storied baseball era for future generations of fans. The 1934 Batter Up cards remain a cherished link to baseball’s storied past.

The 1934 Batter Up set deserves its place among the most historically significant early issues for collectors, researchers and fans alike. Coming at a transitional moment, it bridged eras between tobacco and modern-style candy/gum cards. Roster highlights the biggest stars and teams of the 1930s in their uniforms. Limited production means high grades are especially rare and valuable today. It serves as a nostalgic window back to a special time in baseball before World War II that is cherished by collectors for its pivotal yet increasingly scarce place in the growth of sports cards as a genuine American pop-culture phenomenon.