Sports Cards

Rare 1921 Babe Ruth Frederick Foto Card Up for Auction

The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is set to conclude on December 3, yet an uncommon piece of baseball history featuring Babe Ruth has emerged as a highlight well before the final gavel. This isn’t about the well-documented 1914 Baltimore News card, but rather a scarce 1921 Frederick Foto card depicting the legendary baseball figure.

As of Sunday evening, competitive early bids have propelled the card’s value to $110,000. The card, one of just six known to exist from the past century, holds a grade of 2 from SGC, indicating its rare vintage condition.

This particular card has seen a notable increase in value over the years, with REA having brokered its sale for $42,000 back in 2015—a fraction of its current bid. What sets the Frederick Foto card apart, even more, is its obscurity when compared to the already scarce Baltimore News card.

The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, is shrouded in such mystery that a complete checklist remains unconfirmed. The cards in the series aren’t numbered, adding to the challenge of determining a full set, though it’s estimated to comprise over 100 cards.

The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with issuing these cards, which unfortunately, were not the epitome of quality production. Player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, displaying the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. The reverse side of these cards is blank.

Their size is generally in line with tobacco cards from the era, though inconsistencies are common, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.

The exact dating of the series has been a topic of debate among collectors, with 1921 being the widely accepted year of issue, though some disagree on the precise timing.

The card of Babe Ruth from this series is particularly noteworthy, not only because it features him with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees but also intriguingly depicts him in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees beginning in 1920. This detail adds to its rarity as one of the earliest cards showing Ruth associated with the Yankees.

A unique attribute of this card is the photograph itself; REA has recognized that this specific image of Ruth does not appear on any other card, nor can it be found in any other type of media—a singular representation of the baseball legend.

The auction for this rare slice of baseball memorabilia will wrap up on December 3, and it is already shaping up to be a noteworthy event for collectors and historians alike. Bidders are eagerly vying for the chance to own this scarce Babe Ruth Frederick Foto card, with its unique image and obscurity making it a truly special piece of baseball history. Collectors and enthusiasts alike are anxiously awaiting the final price at which this rare card will be sold.

Source

Related Posts

Collector’s Dream: Shohei Ohtani’s 1/1 Superfractor

The sports card community is buzzing with excitement as a remarkably rare 1/1 Shohei Ohtani Superfractor autograph card has been unearthed from the much-anticipated “2024 Topps 50/50: Shohei…

Fanatics and Sotheby’s Sports Card Sales Reach $2 Million

Fanatics and Sotheby’s recently concluded their second joint endeavor, a sports card auction that raked in an impressive $2 million from the sale of just 11 cards. The…

Superman Trading Cards Surge with New Movie Hype

The world of trading cards has been abuzz following the announcement of a new Superman movie. This revelation has sent collectors into a frenzy, eagerly searching for the…

Whatnot: The Live-Stream Revolution in Collectibles

The resurgence of baseball cards has found a modern home in Whatnot, a vibrant live-stream shopping network disrupting the world of collectibles. Armand Wilson, the VP at Whatnot,…

Topps Launches Graphite Tennis Trading Cards

Topps is known for its iconic baseball cards, but the company is venturing into new territory with the launch of Topps Graphite Tennis. Breaking into the world of…

Heist at Strongsville Hotel: Baseball Cards Worth $2.1 Million

Two individuals were handed down sentences for their involvement in a $2.1 million baseball card heist at a Strongsville hotel. Jacob R. Paxton, 28, and Jason Bowling, 51,…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *