The 1938 Goudy baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues among vintage baseball card collectors. Produced by the Goudy Gum Company, the 1938 Goudy set featured players from the American and National Leagues in a smaller 2.5″ by 1.5″ size compared to modern cards. With its nostalgic artwork and memorable players from baseball’s Golden Era, the 1938 Goudy set remains a highly sought after issue over 80 years later.

The 1938 Goudy set consists of 133 total cards that were inserted in packs of Goudy gum. Some of the notable Hall of Famers featured include Mel Ott, Hank Greenberg, Dizzy Dean, Jimmie Foxx, and Lefty Grove. Roster changes and call-ups resulted in several variations for some players. The cards featured colorful patriotic artwork on the fronts with player stats and positions on the backs. The smaller size and thinner cardboard stock of Goudy cards from the late 1930s make them more fragile than later issues.

In terms of condition, the 1938 Goudys are graded on the same 1-10 scale used by services such as PSA and SGC. Mint condition 9’s and 10’s from the set can be worth thousands due to the set’s age and limited surviving population in top grades. Even well-centered examples in Good 6 condition still carry value due to demand. The high-grade population reports from third-party grading companies provide collectors a sense of each card’s surviving quantity.

Some of the most valuable and sought after cards from the 1938 Goudy set include the following:

Lou Gehrig (#1): Considered the key card of the set. PSA 10 grades have sold for over $30,000. Even low-grade examples still fetch hundreds due to his iconic status.

Joe DiMaggio (#65): Another highly valuable rookie card. PSA 10’s have sold for over $20,000. Low-grades still hold value due to his fame and the set’s scarcity.

Dizzy Dean (#48): Iconic Cardinals’ hurler. PSA 10’s have sold for over $10,000. Low-grades still sell for multiple hundreds.

Mel Ott (#18): Hall of Fame slugger for the Giants. PSA 10’s have sold for over $7,500. Low-grades still sell for a few hundred.

Hank Greenberg (#37): Power-hitting Tigers’ first baseman. PSA 10’s have sold for over $5,000. Low-grades still sell for a few hundred.

Jimmie Foxx (#17): Hall of Fame slugger known as “Double X”. PSA 10’s have sold for over $5,000. Low-grades still sell for a couple hundred.

Lefty Grove (#19): Legendary A’s southpaw. PSA 10’s have sold for over $5,000. Low-grades still sell for a couple hundred.

Stars like Joe Medwick, Charlie Gehringer, Bill Dickey, and Dolph Camilli also carry value depending on condition. Rarer variations of players like Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx with different uniform numbers can be especially valuable to advanced collectors.

When pricing a 1938 Goudy card, there are several factors to consider such as the player, condition, eye appeal, and centering. Top stars in PSA 9 or 10 condition can be worth thousands, while the same players in low-grades still hold value often in the $100-200 range. More common players may be worth $50-100 in top-grades. Even though 80+ years old, strong demand has kept 1938 Goudy prices relatively stable. With such classic designs and memorable players, this iconic set remains a blue-chip holding for vintage card collectors.

The 1938 Goudy baseball card set is without question one of the most historically significant issues due to its stars, artwork, and place in card collecting lore. Even in lower grades, examples retain value due to the set’s limited surviving population after eight decades of collecting. Condition is critical, as are the bigger stars like Gehrig, DiMaggio, Dean, Ott, Greenberg and Foxx. But the entire 133 card checklist carries value. The 1938 Goudy cards are a true high point of the pre-war era and remain a highly coveted target for dedicated vintage collectors.

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.