Jimmie Foxx: Underrated Slugger With Undervalued Baseball Cards

Jimmie Foxx was one of the most under-appreciated players in baseball and sports collectibles history. He equaled or surpassed the production of nearly every slugger not named Babe Ruth, but his baseball card and memorabilia values lag considerably behind Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, et al.

Seldom mentioned when baseball's all-time teams are discussed, Foxx hit at least 30 home runs and tallied 100 or more RBI from 1929 with the Philadelphia Athletics to 1940, his fifth season with the Red Sox. His 20-year total of 534 home runs ranked second to Ruth for many years. His 58 home runs in 1932 fell just two short of Ruth's single-season record. Interestingly, two home runs were taken away from Foxx because of rain and 10 more were lost because of newly constructed outfield screens in Cleveland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia that were not erected until after Ruth hit 60. So if the baseball stars were properly aligned in 1932, Barry Bonds would have eclipsed the magical number of 70 set by Foxx.

The toughest Foxx baseball card to find in reasonable condition is the 1934 Goudey (#1). Firstcards of vintage sets received the brunt of the rubber band damage that decimated so many '50s and '60s baseball cards. A handful of PSA-8 versions exist, selling for $8,200, a remarkable buy considering '34 Goudey PSA-8 Gehrig cards command as much as $15,000.

Foxx, provided Boston with their first bona-fide star since Ruth was sold to the Yankees in 1919. Double XX set Red Sox records for home runs (50) and RBI (175) during his 1938 MVP season. More than just a slugger, Foxx won the Triple Crown in 1933 and excelled defensively, primarily as a first baseman, but also as a catcher, third baseman, and outfielder.

Foxx was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951, but strangely there has been little or no protest over the Red Sox failure to retire his number. Surely someone who is mentioned in the same breathe as Ruth and Gehrig deserves the same elite status as Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Carlton Fisk in Red Sox annals.

Newly acquired Red Sox first baseman Mark Loretta, who recently told the Boston Herald that "Foxx never received the credit he deserved for being one of the game's all-time great sluggers," is honoring Foxx by wearing number 3. Foxx, who played 20 seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics (1925-35), Red Sox (1936-42), Chicago Cubs (1942 and 1944) and Philadelphia Phillies (1945), is arguably the best slugger not to have his uniform retired by any team.

Modern day cards of Foxx are somewhat limited, but affordable. His vibrant '04 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic "Logo Patch" (#SSP-JF) displaying the vintage Philadelphia Athletics logo can be had for under $5 -- a great buy for unique card serial numbered to just 300.