1934-1936 Diamond Stars: #60 Charley "Red" Ruffing

Sunday, April 3, 2022

#60 Charley "Red" Ruffing - New York Yankees

Charles Herbert Ruffing

New York Yankees

Pitcher

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 205

Born: May 3, 1905, Granville, IL

Major League Teams: Boston Red Sox 1924-1930; New York Yankees 1930-1942, 1945-1946; Chicago White Sox 1947

World Series Appearances: New York Yankees 1932, 1936-1939, 1941-1942

Died: February 17, 1986, Mayfield Heights, OH (80)

Hall of Fame Induction: 1967

Red Ruffing, often credited with inventing the slider, enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and was one of the Yankees' most dominating pitchers during their mid-1930s dynasty. Ruffing pitched for seven seasons with the Red Sox before a May 1930 trade to the Yankees altered the trajectory of his career. Working with a new pitching motion, Ruffing became one of the club's top pitchers and won at least 20 games in four straight seasons. He led the league with 21 wins in 1938, and matched the 21-win mark in 1939. Ruffing was named to six All-Star Games and won six World Series rings as a member of the Yankees. He was a clutch pitcher for the club in the postseason, going 7-2 in ten starts, pitching eight complete games with a 2.52 ERA. Ruffing had a lifetime record of 273-225, with an ERA of 3.80 and 1,987 strikeouts. Also an excellent batter, he was often called upon to pinch-hit and earned a lifetime batting average of .269 with 36 home runs and 273 RBIs.

Ruffing would later serve as a coach for the Indians (1951) and Mets (1962), and he also worked a number of years in the Indians front office. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967, his final year of eligibility.

Building the Set

March 6, 2022 from The Philly Show (Dean's House of Cards) - Card #47

I wrote about this show over at The Phillies Room, and admittedly the focus of my morning was putting a huge dent in the remaining cards needed for our 1965 Topps set. But shortly after entering the showroom floor, my attention was drawn to a table containing open binders with DeLong and Goudey cards from the 1930s. I thought this dealer would also have some Diamond Stars cards for sale, and my assumption was correct. I soon found a decent amount of Diamond Stars in a binder, in varying conditions, and from all three series of the set.

The backs of the cards had two prices listed - one fairly high and one relatively reasonable. The dealer, Larrie Dean, told me it was my choice which price I paid. Appreciating that sort of sense of humor, I set out to find three or four cards and I told Larrie I'd be opting to pay the lower of the two prices.

This Ruffing card was one of four cards purchased from Dean's House of Cards from Midlothian, Virginia. Based on the lower of the two prices on the back of the card, it cost me $80, and it turned out to be the most expensive single card I purchased at the show.

Variations Available

1 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1935 copyright

The Card / Yankees Team Set

Lou Gehrig (#130) was famously omitted from this Diamond Stars set, although he may be making a cameo as the Yankees first baseman behind Ruffing on this card. Gehrig started all 149 games for the club at first base in 1935 and Jack Saltzgaver was the only other Yankee to spend time at first base that season - 13 innings over six games. The tip on the back of the card attempts to solve the mystery of an ineffective pitcher, and the occasional off day when a pitcher seems to have his best "stuff." A quote purporting to be from Ruffing himself warns, "I am always wary when I feel good."

I believe this is the only card in the set featuring both the player's actual first name and his nickname on the front of the card.

1935 Season

Ruffing formed a formidable one-two punch atop the Yankees starting pitching rotation along with Lefty Gomez (#118). While the Yankees slipped to a second place finish in 1935, Ruffing was 16-11 with a 3.12 ERA in 30 games. He struck out 81 in 222 innings pitched, and threw a team-leading 19 complete games. His 5.2 WAR for 1935 was second on team behind Gehrig's 8.4 WAR.