Charlie Grimm - 1933 Goudey #51
1933 Goudey #51 Charlie Grimm
Low number: this card was printed on press sheets 1-2 (#1-40 plus #45-52), which saw shorter distribution than the rest of the 1933 run — low numbers are noticeably scarcer.
About Charlie Grimm
Charles John "Jolly Cholly" Grimm was born August 28, 1898, in St. Louis. He broke into pro ball with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916, reached the majors that July, and after a stint in the minors returned with the 1918 Cardinals. A slick-fielding first baseman, he starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1919-1924) and then the Chicago Cubs (1925-1936), leading National League first basemen in fielding percentage seven times; Bill James later called him "perhaps the best ever" at the position. Over 20 seasons Grimm hit .290 with 2,299 hits, 79 home runs and 1,077 RBI, batting .389 in the 1929 World Series. Named Cubs player-manager on August 2, 1932, he rallied the club to the NL pennant that year and was still at the helm entering the 1933 season pictured on this card, en route to a second pennant in 1935. A gifted banjo player and singer who serenaded fans and teammates before games, his sunny showmanship earned him the nickname "Jolly Cholly." He later managed the Braves and a third Cubs pennant winner in 1945, finishing with 1,287 career managerial wins.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 270 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 199 | 5 |
| SGC | 130 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 98 | 9 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-03. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1933 Goudey Charlie Grimm card?
It is card #51 of the 1933 Goudey (R319) Baseball set - the 240-card, 2-3/8 by 2-7/8 inch color-art set issued in 1933 with Big League Chewing Gum. It pictures Charlie Grimm as manager of the Chicago Cubs.
Is the 1933 Goudey Charlie Grimm #51 a rookie card?
By modern catalog convention, yes. 1933 Goudey is treated as the hobby's first major nationally distributed gum set, so nearly every card in it carries the rookie-card (RC) designation - a modern label applied retroactively, since many of these players had earlier tobacco, caramel, or strip cards.
How many cards are in the 1933 Goudey set?
240 numbered cards, though collectors usually count 241 collectible cards because #6 Jimmy Dykes exists in an error and a corrected version. Only 239 numbers were in 1933 packs - #106 (Nap Lajoie) was printed in 1934 and issued by mail.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-04.