Babe Ruth Trading Card

Babe Ruth would probably chuckle if he could see the price his baseball cards fetch on the open market. Fans of The Babe have always pursued better trades when it comes to obtaining a baseball card with The Sultan of Swat on the front.

Of the many cards bearing Babe Ruth's image, the most valuable is No. 53 in the 1933 set produced by Goudey. It is valued as high as $10,000, depending on condition. The card has a yellow front, with a photo of The Babe with a bat resting on his shoulder. The text on the front says: George Herman (Babe) Ruth and carries a small banner at the bottom that reads "Big League Chewing Gum." The cards are color art reproductions of either portraits or action photos. The complete set has four Babe Ruth cards and two Lou Gehrig cards, swapping for either would be a better trade.

Whys is Babe Ruth's card sought more than others of his era? Primarily it is because of his persona; Babe Ruth was one of the most identifiable people in the world during his day. He made a fortune playing baseball and spent lavishly on his lifestyle, putting out a lot of money on food, alcohol and women. The Babe was popular among kids and adults during his reign as home run king. He played hard and produced on the field, never letting his lifestyle affect his performance for the Yankees.

Ruth was the home run slugger who revolutionized the game. Until he came along the game was controlled by punch-and-judy hitters and strong pitchers. Once Ruth began hitting home runs the game changed to one dominated by power; it was a better trade in styles and help make baseball the nation's most popular game. Despite spending his early years as a pitcher, Ruth left the game as the all-time home run king. His 714 career mark was broken by Hank Aaron in 1974, but that did not detract from Ruth's record or popularity.

This card apparently has been popular counterfeiters. A Canadian group issued some advice on how to tell the real thing from a fake:

• Look for a glossy finish on the front surface
• The green text on the back of the card should be solid
• If under magnification the text looks dotted, you probably have a reprint

Be careful what you buy. The Babe wouldn't want any of his fans to get rooked by someone seeking to make better trades by less-than-honest measures.