1934 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie

1933–34 R319 Goudey Napoleon (Larry) Lajoie #106

Description

The 1934 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie (card #106) is one of the most famous contrived-scarcity cards in The Hobby and is widely regarded as the second most significant pre‑war card after the T206 Honus Wagner. Although the 1933 Goudey set advertised a 240‑card checklist, Goudey intentionally withheld card #106 from production, issuing only 239 cards in packs. The missing number led to widespread frustration among young collectors attempting to complete the set.

Distribution

Card #106 was not issued in 1933 packs. In 1934, after receiving numerous complaints (often from parents), Goudey produced a Lajoie card to fill the missing slot. These cards were distributed exclusively by mail to collectors who wrote to the company requesting the missing number. As a result, surviving examples are far scarcer than pack‑issued cards from the era.

Key Facts

• Card #106 was intentionally omitted from 1933 production.
• Lajoie had retired in 1916', making his appearance in the 1934 issue unusual.
• Only collectors who contacted Goudey directly received the card.
• High‑grade examples are extremely rare; a PSA 9 sold for $95,700 in 1999.
• Ungraded copies typically sell for around $30,000, depending on condition.

Checklist Notes

• Although cataloged as part of the '33 set, the Lajoie was printed and distributed in 1934.
• The card uses the 1934 Goudey design, including the “Lou Gehrig says…” banner.
• The card is considered essential for a complete 1933 Goudey master set.