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DIZZY DEAN BASEBALL CARDS

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Dizzy Dean was one of the most colorful and charismatic pitchers in baseball history during the 1930s and early 1940s. Known for his antics on and off the field as well as his incredible pitching performances, Dean captured the attention of fans across America. Not surprisingly, his popularity led to the production of numerous baseball cards featuring his image in the 1930s and 1940s. These early Dizzy Dean baseball cards provide a fascinating look at one of the game’s true characters during the golden age of baseball card collecting.

Dean first appeared in baseball cards in 1933 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. That year, Dean’s rookie card was issued by Goudey Gum Company as part of their famous 1933 baseball card set. Sporting a photo of Dean in a Cardinals uniform from his rookie season of 1932, the 1933 Goudey Dizzy Dean card quickly became a highly sought after item among collectors. With its classic design and image of the rising pitching star, the 1933 Goudey Dean rookie established itself as one of the most iconic cards from the 1930s. Today, high grade examples of this historic rookie card can sell for well over $10,000, a true testament to Dean’s enduring popularity and importance in the early days of baseball cards.

In addition to his 1933 rookie, Dizzy Dean appeared in several other 1930s Goudey baseball sets including 1934, 1935, and 1939 issues. These subsequent Goudey Dean cards continued to feature photos of the pitcher in a Cardinals uniform and helped track his career progression with St. Louis. While not quite as rare as his rookie, graded high copies of Dean’s 1934-1935-1939 Goudey cards still command prices in the thousands of dollars. The sets not only chronicled Dean’s on-field success but also captured the growing fanfare surrounding his entertaining public persona in the latter half of the 1930s.

Aside from Goudey, Dizzy Dean also appeared in 1930s issues from National Chicle, Diamond Stars, and Play Ball brands. His 1935 and 1936 cards from National Chicle are particularly notable for showing Dean without a baseball cap, revealing his trademark buzz cut hairstyle. Dean’s 1934 Diamond Stars card also stands out for its unique design which placed the pitcher in a circle frame. Throughout the late 1930s, Dean remained one of the most in-demand players annually featured across various card manufacturers of the time. His cards from this era are still highly collectible today and often realize big prices at auction.

Dean’s baseball card appearances took an interesting turn following his 1934 trade from the Cardinals to the Brooklyn Dodgers. While he only pitched one season for Brooklyn in 1935, Dean’s 1935 cards from Goudey and other brands showed him wearing Dodger blue rather than the St. Louis red. This was notable as it marked one of the earliest card sets to rapidly update a player’s uniform and team after a mid-season trade. Dean’s 1935 cards were truly snapshot images that captured his brief time in Brooklyn before he was shockingly dealt again, this time to the Chicago Cubs.

After the 1935 season, Dizzy Dean was surprisingly traded by the Dodgers to the Cubs. He would go on to have his greatest success with Chicago, leading them to the National League pennant in 1935 behind his 30 wins and 2.46 ERA. Dean’s performance that season made him the cover athlete for the 1936 Diamond Stars baseball card set. Featuring a photo of Dean in a Cubs uniform, the 1936 Diamond Stars Dizzy Dean was one of the more iconic cards of its era. It perfectly captured Dean at the peak of his fame following his 1935 NL MVP and championship season with Chicago. Graded high examples today are among the most valuable Dean cards on the collecting market.

Dean had one final major baseball card appearance during his playing career, which was cut short by injury in 1937 at the young age of 30. In 1939, Dean was included alongside many other stars of the 1930s as part of Goudey’s final baseball card production prior to a long hiatus from the hobby. By then, Dean had retired as a player but remained a popular broadcaster and public figure. The 1939 Goudey issue was the last card to feature Dean in a uniform, preserving his baseball legacy for collectors. It also marked the end of Dean’s regular run of new cards issued during his Hall of Fame pitching career of the 1930s.

After hanging up his cleats, Dizzy Dean remained a beloved personality within the game and continued attracting new fans through his work as a broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals radio network in the 1940s and 1950s. While he did not have any new baseball cards produced during this post-playing period, Dean’s earlier 1930s and 1940s cards from his playing days retained their popularity with collectors. They served as nostalgic reminders of Dean the player and his unforgettable antics on the field. For many fans and collectors who never saw Dean pitch, his vintage baseball cards from the 1930s and 1940s Goudey, Diamond Stars, and National Chicle issues were their only connections to one of baseball’s original superstars and showmen.

In the decades since, Dizzy Dean’s baseball cards have taken on an almost mythical status within the collecting hobby. They are prized possessions that link directly to Dean’s Hall of Fame pitching career and larger-than-life public image during baseball’s golden age. While the rarity and condition of a Dean card will always impact its monetary value, they remain hugely popular with vintage collectors due to Dean’s iconic place within the game’s history and culture. Even after 80+ years, Dizzy Dean’s baseball cards from the 1930s and 1940s still excite and fascinate collectors like few others from that era. They are tangible remnants of one of the most colorful and charismatic figures to ever grace a major league mound.

DIZZY DEAN BASEBALL CARDS FOR SALE

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Dizzy Dean was one of the greatest pitchers of the 1930s and is still considered a baseball legend today. Born in 1910 in Lucas, Arkansas, Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean made his Major League debut in 1930 with the St. Louis Cardinals at just 20 years old. Over his career, which was cut short due to injury in 1937 at just age 32, Dean amassed 150 wins against 83 losses and had a career ERA of 3.02 over 8 seasons, all with the Cardinals. His incredible pitching performances in the 1930s made him one of the biggest stars in baseball and his charismatic personality and country drawl made him a fan favorite as well.

Due to his fame and success on the field in the 1930s, Dizzy Dean appeared in many baseball cards during his playing career as well as after his retirement. Some of the most notable and valuable Dizzy Dean baseball cards that collectors seek out today include:

1933 Goudey Baseball – One of Dizzy Dean’s earliest baseball cards from his early career with the Cardinals. Highly sought after by collectors. Graded gem mint 10 examples have sold for over $20,000. Even low-grade examples in Poor 1 condition still sell for hundreds of dollars.

1934 Goudey Baseball – Another classic early Dizzy Dean card. High grades still command premium prices in the thousands due to the rarity of well-centered and well-preserved examples from this 80+ year old set.

1934 Play Ball Baseball – This Dizzy Dean card was also issued during his breakout years in the mid-1930s. Considered quite scarce in high grades. An SGC 8.5 recently sold for over $1,500.

1935 Goudey Baseball – Perhaps the most iconic of all Dizzy Dean’s cards, featuring his famous windup pose. Even low-grade examples still attract bids in the $100-200 range. Gems have sold for well over $10,000.

1936 Diamond Stars Baseball – Highly colorful and graphic cards that were issued late in Dean’s career. Still quite valuable, with a PSA 8 recently selling for around $500.

1941 Play Ball – Issued after Dizzy Dean had retired, this card captured him at the peak of his fame and success. Can still fetch $100+ even in low grades due to his legendary status.

1952 Bowman Color – One of the first true “vintage” cards featuring color photography. Captured Dean a few years into his post-playing broadcasting career. Even well-worn low-grade examples still attract bids over $50.

1972 Topps – Part of Topps’ very first annual set issued after decades of not having baseball cards. Features a photo of Dean from the 1940s. Low-end copies still sell for $10-20.

In addition to his vintage cards from the 1930s and 1940s, Dizzy Dean has appeared in many modern reprint and commemorative sets over the past few decades as interest in the legends of early 20th century baseball has grown tremendously. Some notable modern Dizzy Dean cards include:

1987 Fleer Greats of the Game – Color reprint set featuring Dean in a Cardinals uniform. Can be acquired for $1-5 in low grades.

1992 Fleer Hall of Famers – Black and white reprint card. Common and affordable at under $1.

1998 Fleer Tradition – Color photo from Dean’s playing days. Low end copies sell for around $3-5.

2000 Fleer Tradition – Similar color action photo style card. Common and cheap, around 50 cents-1 dollar.

2005 Topps American Heritage – Color portrait card. Low end copies around 50 cents to $1.

2007 Topps Allen & Ginter – Mini card featuring Dean in a Cardinals uniform. Generally found for under $1.

2012 Topps Archives – High quality color reprint of Dean’s iconic 1935 Goudey card design. Low end copies $2-5 range.

2014 Topps Allen & Ginter – Mini card. Common and cheap, around 50 cents.

2017 Topps Now – Commemorative card marking the 100th anniversary of Dean’s MLB debut. Low end around $1-2.

For the serious Dizzy Dean card collector, finding high quality vintage examples from his playing days in the 1930s clearly presents the biggest challenge and will require the largest investment. But there are also many affordable modern reprints and commemoratives available that allow any fan or collector to own a piece of one of baseball’s all-time greats – the legendary Dizzy Dean. Whether spending $50 or $5,000, collecting Dizzy Dean cards is a fun way to celebrate and remember one of the sport’s true characters and icons from its early era.