Mik 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 NEW YORK -- Some will call it an act of desecration, others will say it's simply the state of the business. A Babe Ruth game-worn New York Yankees home jersey from 1925 was cut on Monday by a card company that will insert swatches of the jersey into packs. The company, Donruss, purchased the jersey -- believed to be one of three Ruth pinstripe jerseys in existence -- at an auction last summer for $264,210. One ceremonial 1-by-1 inch cut of the jersey was made by Donruss president and COO Bill Dully, with Ruth's daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, assisting at the ESPN Zone in New York City. The jersey will immediately go back to the company's headquarters in Arlington, Texas, to be sliced and diced into 2,100 pieces. "When I first heard about it, I had reservations," said the 86-year-old Stevens, who noted that she was comforted by the fact that full jerseys are on display both at the Hall of Fame and the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum in Baltimore, Md. "But, now I realize that it's going to mean so much to people that get these cards, that get the jersey, it's going to make it real special." The company plans to put pieces of the jersey on cards that will be inserted into baseball card sets through 2006. The jersey has no number on the back, as the flannel predated numbering by four years, and has "G.H. Ruth" sewn inside the collar. Greg Schwalenberg, curator of the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum, which currently is displaying a 1930 Ruth jersey on loan, wasn't excited about Donruss' intentions. Schwalenberg said he knows that the act is a demonstration of the reality of the high-priced sports memorabilia market. "Because items like this sell for so much money, it's getting hard for us to get people to donate stuff now," Schwalenberg said. "Who wouldn't want to try to turn it around and make a lot more money off it? But since it's hard to educate the public with a piece of jersey, we certainly wouldn't endorse something like this." Jay O'Neill, a baseball memorabilia collector from West Des Moines, Iowa, stated concerns about how far the industry is willing to go to create collectibles. "I don't mind including swatches from current players," he said. "There are hundreds, if not thousands of game-used articles available for each player. But only three Ruth uniforms! All in the name of the almighty dollar! What's next? Cut up a Revolutionary War uniform of George Washington for Donruss' 2004 Great Presidents series? Maybe pieces of an original Declaration of Independence?" Dully, noting that the creative sales ploy could draw detractors, remains undeterred. "There's always going to be controversy," Dully said. "But something like this is just the reality of the free market and the reality of capitalism." The first opportunity to get a Ruth jersey card will be in Donruss packs in November. Dully said that company officials had faith that Donruss could make a return on its investment from the Ruth jersey based on previous success of putting the cut-up jerseys of legends in their packs. Donruss previously has inserted pieces of a road Ruth flannel in its packs, and also has used diced-up jerseys of football legends such as Doak Walker, Red Grange and Jim Brown. "The bottom line is that items like this were once only available to a couple of people and now it's available to everyone in the United States," Dully said. "People from Tampa to Indianapolis to Sacramento can now hold a piece of Ruth's pinstripe jersey." Prices for packs with the Ruth jersey inserted will range from $2.99 to $150 ----------- 1 of 3? Holy shit, I don't trade cards anymore, but I know that's gonna fetch MUCHO dinero. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 in 96-97 when Upper Deck did the first pieces of Jersey on a card...it was kinda cool, and they were hard as hell to get. Now every card company has just flooded the market with them. I could care about any of them anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 True, but this is the Babe's jersey and one of only three in existence? I can't believe they cut it in the first place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JHawk 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Babe Ruth jersey or no Babe Ruth jersey, I'm not paying $150 for a pack of baseball cards that ends up having the Tigers' back up infielders scattered throughout it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 For a second, I thought George Constanza was trying to get fired by the Yankees again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Watch someone try to buy up all the packs and then have a framed jersey that looks like it met the business end of a paper shredder Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I'll pay $3 to get a chance to wipe my ass with a piece of the Babe's jersey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 For a second, I thought George Constanza was trying to get fired by the Yankees again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I'll pay $3 to get a chance to wipe my ass with a piece of the Babe's jersey You must be a Red Sox fan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Remember the good old days when baseball cards cost .50 a pack, and all they had were plain, regular baseball cards with your favorite players on them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Remember the good old days when baseball cards cost .50 a pack, and all they had were plain, regular baseball cards with your favorite players on them? And you got a hard piece of gum....and the cards smelled like gum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Remember the good old days when baseball cards cost .50 a pack, and all they had were plain, regular baseball cards with your favorite players on them? And you got a hard piece of gum....and the cards smelled like gum. We use to collect the gum and throw it in a large cardboard box at my uncle's house. After a few years his room smelled like stale bubblicious Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Remember the good old days when baseball cards cost .50 a pack, and all they had were plain, regular baseball cards with your favorite players on them? And you got a hard piece of gum....and the cards smelled like gum. And we liked it! WE LIKED IT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I'm not a Red Sox fan...but I too would like to wipe my ass with Babe Ruth's jersey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Remember the good old days when baseball cards cost .50 a pack, and all they had were plain, regular baseball cards with your favorite players on them? And you got a hard piece of gum....and the cards smelled like gum. 50 cents? Why I remember when they were a QUARTER! I don't think they make these anymore, but I have a plethora of stickers, too. Among some of them, a Tommy Kramer All-Pro sticker. I stopped getting cards back in the early '90s. It just wasn't fun for me anymore. Among some of my prizes... Rookie Jerry Rice (topps), LT (topps), Barry Sanders (score) and Mike Singletary (topps) cards. A complete 1987 Fleer baseball card set. And my personal fav. -- Bill Laimbeer's rookie card... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 The old gum ruled all. I missed the days before insert's and short prints. I don't collect anymore, but nothing pisses me off more to see that companies now short print rookies so you can't even complete a set. I remember buying a 36 pack box of 1988 Topps for about 8 bucks and having the time of my life sitting all day opening packs and building sets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 You know, I was never a fan of the gum. First of all it tasted like crap. Second of all it always stained the card it was on... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Every time I can remember, though, they seemed to put a shitty card last against the gum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Once upon a time, I was a VERY hardcore Baseball (along with the other sports) card collector. I had the major rookie cards of just about every major star (that was my focus), and I loved how basic everything was. However, once the price of a single pack of baseball cards started going so far up, I said "fuck it". When you add together the overall price for a pack of just a handfull of cards and the overall whoring of the hobby to big business, that was enough for me. I sold all of the cards that I had, and I thank God for it now. My collection was in the thousands when I sold it, back in '99 or so. Not too long after I ditched them, the prices for cards went WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down, seemingly overnight. The $200 or so Mark McGuire 1985 Topps USA rookie card suddenly, out of nowhere, became worth only around $10. I mean, that's fucked up. It happened to cards from every year, and it just pisses me off. The reason for this is because of that PSA bull shit, the "grading" of the cards. That right there, along with the HUGE ass prices for simple packs of Baseball cards, RUINED the hobby that I treasured for so many years. Yes, I'm very bitter. I think I'll go back and re-buy all of the great rookie cards I had at one time, I really do. I mean, what the fuck. I can go get them all for far less now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Oh yeah, about this Babe Ruth jersey being cut up. I couldn't be more angry about that. It's a damn shame that such a piece of history, must be cut up into pieces, and whored out simply because of the big business. Fuck the baseball card industry to hell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I sold all of the cards that I had, and I thank God for it now. My collection was in the thousands when I sold it, back in '99 or so. Not too long after I ditched them, the prices for cards went WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down, seemingly overnight. I still have all my cards -- baseball, football, basketball, hockey, wrestling (and other special-interest brands like ones for movies) in several Rubbermaids. One day when I buy a house I might make some display, but for now I don't regret refusing to sell any of them. These cards, my old video games, my miniature X-Wing Fighter and and TIE Fighter, and my Inhumanoids Tendril figure are all that's left of my childhood... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Well that and jacking off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I sold all of the cards that I had, and I thank God for it now. My collection was in the thousands when I sold it, back in '99 or so. Not too long after I ditched them, the prices for cards went WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down, seemingly overnight. I still have all my cards -- baseball, football, basketball, hockey, wrestling (and other special-interest brands like ones for movies) in several Rubbermaids. One day when I buy a house I might make some display, but for now I don't regret refusing to sell any of them. These cards, my old video games, my miniature X-Wing Fighter and and TIE Fighter, and my Inhumanoids Tendril figure are all that's left of my childhood... I did it mainly out of spite, that and I needed money that Summer for vacation I do plan to get them all back though, especially the really old school cards. My favorites have always been, and always will be, the old cardboard cards. Fuck the super glossy crap, that isn't what it was all about to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Well that and jacking off. That's reserved for childhood? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I still have all of my old cards. I was young when the rookie cards were at their peak, so I didn't want to sell them. Now that they have nose dived, it is worth just hanging onto them til they are considered classic/vintage. I have been debating setting up a database for them (30000+ cards). Ah, the life of the unemployed, let's you do stupid projects like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BobbyWhioux Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Why didn't they cut up his Boston Braves jersey from 1935? Nobody would've missed that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 In regards to the jersey. Part of me thinks it is a disgrace to chop up something like that. But on the other side, thinking of some kid who could never possibly own the real deal. To open up a pack and have a piece is pretty cool. Granted all of the cards will end up in the hands of collectors making the point moot, but there is some good in the idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 21, 2003 You know, I was never a fan of the gum. First of all it tasted like crap. Second of all it always stained the card it was on... The Gum tasted like crap because it was old The trick to getting the gum off the card was brushing your teeth and licking the card...hey, it worked Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 I have been debating setting up a database for them (30000+ cards). Ah, the life of the unemployed, let's you do stupid projects like that. I have a Baseball and Football card price book thingy from about 5 years ago when I cataloged them all. Someday I may go back and do an update. Of course when I first did it, my cat (who was then a kitten) knocked down just every stack of cards I did. Now I have three cats -- I'll have to lock the door to the room my cards would be in. It was funny back then because I pulled cards out of my “common card” boxes with the likes of Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez. Funny who was common back in the day. My personal favorite designs were the 1984 Baseball Fleer set and the 1991(?) Pro Set Football set (the one with borderless cards). I also liked that wooden layout of the 1987 Topps, too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2003 Ah 87 Topps. You could still buy a set for ten bucks. They over-produced the hell out of those cards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
