1909 Ramly Baseball Cards Price Guide

The 1909 Ramly baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues among vintage baseball card collectors. Produced by the Ramly Gum Company of Philadelphia, the 1909 Ramly set featured 15 cards depicting players from the National League and American League. With only a small number believed to have survived over the past century, high grade examples from the set can fetch enormous prices when they come up for auction. Let’s take an in-depth look at the history and valuation of cards from the iconic 1909 Ramly baseball card set.

Background on the 1909 Ramly Issue

The Ramly Gum Company was founded in Philadelphia in the late 19th century. In 1909, Ramly began including baseball cards as promotional inserts in their chewing gum product, similar to how most other card manufacturers distributed cards at the time. The 1909 set featured 15 total cards, with each card measuring approximately 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. Players depicted included superstars like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Cy Young. The simple black and white lithographic images on the fronts of the cards showed each player posing or in action shots. The backs contained advertisements for Ramly Gum.

It’s estimated that only 1,000 to 2,000 complete sets of the 1909 Ramly cards were originally distributed. Very few collectors saved the cards in mint condition back then. Most were thrown out or destroyed over the decades. Natural disasters like fires also took a toll on the surviving population. Today, it’s believed less than 50 complete sets still exist in all grades. With such limited surviving quantities and huge demand from collectors, high grade 1909 Ramlys have become among the most valuable vintage card issues.

Grading and Condition Factors for 1909 Ramly Cards

As with any collectible over 100 years old, condition is absolutely critical to a 1909 Ramly card’s value. The two leading third-party grading services that certify the condition and authenticity of vintage cards are PSA and SGC. To receive top grades from these companies, a 1909 Ramly card must be remarkably well-preserved with sharp corners and edges as well as bright color on the image. Even minor flaws or wear can significantly downgrade a card.

PSA/SGC NM-MT 8: To grade at the coveted NM-MT 8 level, a 1909 Ramly would need to be exceptionally well-kept with no creases, folds, or stains. Corners would need to be sharp. Colors would need to be vibrant. These 8’s would represent the finest known examples.

PSA/SGC VG-EX 5: At the VG-EX 5 level, cards can show some minor edge or corner wear but still need to be largely intact. Light creasing is acceptable. Colors still need to be discernible.

PSA/SGC POOR 1: Cards that grade POOR 1 would be badly worn, creased, tattered edges or otherwise deteriorated but still deemed authentic. These low grade cards still hold value due to their scarcity.

Valuation of High Grade 1909 Ramly Cards

Let’s take a look at the current values for some of the most coveted players in top grades from the 1909 Ramly set:

Honus Wagner: The legendary “T206” Wagner is among the key cards. A PSA/SGC NM-MT 8 grade Wagner would be worth over $2 million. Even a lowly PSA 1 in poor shape could fetch $100,000+.

Ty Cobb: One of the greats of the era. A PSA/SGC 8 Cobb would sell for $500,000+. A grade of 5 could still bring $50,000.

Cy Young: The all-time wins leader. A PSA/SGC 8 would be $300,000. A grade of 5 around $25,000.

Tris Speaker: A consistent .300 hitter. A PSA 8 around $150,000. A grade of 5 approximately $10,000.

Eddie Plank: Star pitcher. A PSA 8 around $75,000. A grade of 5 near $5,000.

Minor stars: Even lesser known players in top grades can bring $5,000-10,000. Most anything graded brings $1,000+ due to rarity.

The 1909 Ramly baseball card set occupies a rarefied air in the collectibles world due to the minuscule surviving population and magnificent vintage images. With such a rich history and including iconic players, high grade 1909 Ramlys will likely continue appreciating in value for serious collectors and investors. Proper grading is essential to understand condition and maximize an example’s price potential from this legendary early issue.