1934 Goudey #29 Larry French
About Larry French
Lawrence Herbert French started his pro career with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1926, and the Pittsburgh Pirates purchased his contract in December 1928 for a reported $50,000 and three players. The left-handed screwball specialist became a Pirates workhorse, throwing more than 260 innings every year from 1930 through 1934 and posting a career-best 2.72 ERA in 1933. Card #29 in the 1934 Goudey set — his recognized rookie card — catches French in his final Pittsburgh season, a 12-18 mark on a fifth-place club under new player-manager Pie Traynor even though he “led the staff in practically every category.” He moved to the Chicago Cubs in 1935, led the National League in shutouts that year and again in 1936, made the 1940 All-Star team, and worked in three World Series — 1935, 1938, and 1941 — without ever landing on the winning side. Known for a sharp screwball and pointed bench jockeying, he retired after the 1942 season three wins short of 200, then served in the U.S. Navy through the Normandy invasion and into the Korean War. One baseball historian later called him the best pitcher outside the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 236 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 26 | 35 | 52 | 104 | 4 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 49 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-14. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1934 Goudey Larry French card?
It is card #29 of the 1934 Goudey (R320) Baseball set - the 96-card, 2-3/8 by 2-7/8 inch color-art set issued in 1934 with Big League Chewing Gum. It pictures Larry French with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Is the 1934 Goudey Larry French #29 a rookie card?
By modern catalog convention, yes. Sheet 1 of the set reused returning 1933 subjects, but most of the remaining cards picture players getting their first major gum card - 63 of the 96 are rookie cards.
How many cards are in the 1934 Goudey set?
96 cards, printed on four 24-card press sheets. 84 fronts carry the blue 'Lou Gehrig says' strip and 12 carry the red 'Chuck Klein says' strip (#80-91). The high numbers #73-96 are the scarcest cards.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (SABR). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-08-23.