---
title: "1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1933-goudey-babe-ruth-53/
category: Sports cards
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53: price, verified sales and population

> The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 is one of four Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey baseball set. Collectors search for it because #53 has its own yellow-background image and its own grade-specific market separate from the other Ruth numbers.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 20 verified sales of the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 as of September 27, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $9,760 for a Base yellow-background #53 PSA 1 on August 24, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.
- The highest verified sale on record is $942,000 for a Base yellow-background #53 PSA 8 on May 22, 2022 at Memory Lane, Inc..

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 8 | — | 0 | $942,000 (2022-05-22) | $942,000 (2022-05-22) | — |
| Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2.5 | — | 0 | $15,600 (2025-07-22) | $15,600 (2025-07-22) | — |
| Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | — | 0 | $10,999 (2025-08-31) | $13,570 (2025-03-12) | — |
| Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | — | 3 | $9,760 (2026-08-24) | $14,145 (2026-08-17) | 318 |
| Base yellow-background #53 | PSA Authentic | — | 0 | $5,206 (2025-07-14) | $5,206 (2025-07-14) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-24 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $9,760 | not stated | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/23317219/psa) |
| 2026-08-17 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $14,145 | not stated | Robert Edward Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/23317219/psa) |
| 2026-08-08 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $12,000 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/23317219/psa) |
| 2026-04-27 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $8,553 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-10-27 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $7,175 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-08-31 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | $10,999 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-08-12 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $5,602 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-08-11 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $6,417 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-07-24 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | $12,544 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-07-22 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $5,501 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-07-22 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2.5 | $15,600 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-07-16 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $6,500 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-07-14 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA Authentic | $5,206 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-06-27 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | $13,131 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-03-12 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | $13,570 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-03-05 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA Authentic | $3,050 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-01-21 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 1 | $3,300 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2025-01-19 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 2 | $12,521 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2022-05-22 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 8 | $942,000 | not stated | Memory Lane, Inc. | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) |
| 2016-11-17 | Base yellow-background #53 | PSA 8 | $203,150 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/1933-goudey-babe-ruth-53-psa-nm-mt-8/a/7165-50501.s) |

## How to identify each version

- **Base yellow-background #53**: Card #53 shows Ruth batting against a yellow background; keep separate from Ruth #144, #149, and #181 in the same 1933 Goudey set.

**Identity note:** The seed identity is correct, but the variant label should identify the #53 yellow-background Ruth, not all 1933 Goudey Ruth cards.

## Why this card matters

The 1933 Goudey set is a central prewar baseball issue, and Ruth appears on four different cards within it. Card #53 is the yellow-background batting pose, so it should not be priced from the other Ruth numbers. Heritage’s PSA 8 lot description notes that #53 is one of the prized Ruth entries and says it is noticeably scarcer than the other Ruth cards at many preservation levels. PSA CardFacts separately tracks #53 with its own auction prices and population table.

## Identifying the exact version

Identify the card by set, number, and image: 1933 Goudey #53, Babe Ruth, yellow background. Do not merge it with Goudey #144, #149, #181, Sport Kings Ruth, or later reprints. Slab labels should be checked for card number, qualifier, and grade. A PSA 8 with no qualifier, a PSA 8 (OC), a PSA 1, and a raw card are different market objects even though the front image is the same basic card.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The observed price spread is mostly grade and eye-appeal driven. PSA CardFacts, opened on 2026-09-26, displayed a PSA 9 population of 1 and PSA 8 population of 15, while the auction-price table showed lower-grade eBay transactions in 2025 and 2026. Heritage’s 2016 PSA 8 sale gives a documented high-grade auction example, but recent lower-grade PSA Auction Prices Realized entries are not substitutes for PSA 8 or PSA 9 comps.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; use multiple checks; avoid destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. For Goudey #53, verify card number, yellow-background art, back design, paper stock, size, and any qualifier on the slab. Check PSA or another grader’s cert page, but also compare the physical holder and card images to the auction or seller photos. PSA states that copied certification numbers can appear on counterfeit inserts, so cert lookup is only one part of authentication.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** All 1933 Goudey Ruth cards share one price. **What the evidence says:** Ruth #53, #144, #149, and #181 are separate cards with separate images, populations, and sales records.
- **Myth:** A PSA 1 sale tells you what a PSA 8 is worth. **What the evidence says:** Grades must be separated; ch03 requires comparable sales by exact grader and grade when available.
- **Myth:** The PSA population count is the print run. **What the evidence says:** PSA population counts graded copies only; ch02 says population is not print run.

## FAQ

### How much is a PSA 1 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 worth from recent sales?

PSA CardFacts showed a PSA 1 auction sale of $8,553 on 2026-04-27, as opened on 2026-09-26 [1].

### How much did a PSA 8 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 sell for at Heritage?

A PSA NM-MT 8 sold at Heritage for $203,150 on 2016-11-17, with Heritage showing the sold price and lot page [2].

### How many PSA 9 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 cards exist?

PSA CardFacts displayed a PSA 9 population of 1 as opened on 2026-09-26, but the page did not expose a separate population snapshot date [1].

### Is #53 the same as the red Goudey Ruth?

No; #53 is the yellow-background Ruth and should be kept separate from the other 1933 Goudey Ruth cards [2].

### Should I use eBay PSA 1 sales to price a raw copy?

Not directly; PSA 1 sales can inform low-grade demand, but raw condition and authenticity must be assessed separately [1,3].

### Are qualifiers important on 1933 Goudey Ruth #53?

Yes; qualifiers such as OC or MK change the comparable pool and should be recorded with the grade [3].

## Sources

1. [1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1933-goudey/babe-ruth-53/20283) (PSA CardFacts)
2. [1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 PSA NM-MT 8](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/1933-goudey-babe-ruth-53-psa-nm-mt-8/a/7165-50501.s) (Heritage Auctions)
3. [PSA Grading Standards](https://www.psacard.com/gradingstandards) (PSA)
4. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)

## How to cite

> 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1933-goudey-babe-ruth-53/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--baseball--1933-goudey-babe-ruth-53.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/