A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world as one of Babe Ruth’s earliest trading cards, dating back to 1914, goes under the hammer. The card, which depicts a young 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles, is a rare artifact and is expected to fetch a price as legendary as the player himself.
The 1914 Baltimore News card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is one of only ten known copies that exist. Not only is it valued for its depiction of the future baseball icon, but it also features the team’s schedule on the back, making it a unique and sought-after collectible.
This upcoming auction is significant on multiple levels. It marks the first time in over a decade that a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been made available in the public market, and this particular card is renowned as the finest specimen to hit the auction stage in more than fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of Robert Edward Auctions (REA), emphasizes the importance of this card: “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards. It’s not just a rare sports memorabilia item; it’s a seminal piece of Americana, representing the beginning of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure who is synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, the card’s condition is top-tier within its class and is outranked only by a solitary PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere.
The journey of this card is as remarkable as the player it represents. In June 2021, it was acquired by a passionate collector from Florida for a staggering $6 million, with fractional ownership available through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved in January of this year.
The card’s provenance dates back to a single Baltimore family, who held onto it for a century before selling it earlier this decade. It was proudly exhibited at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year, allowing fans and collectors a chance to appreciate its historical significance. Prior to the auction, REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside a blue variant on November 15, providing an opportunity for enthusiasts to view it once more. Exclusive private viewings will follow in New York City on November 29.
Collectors and fans alike will be eagerly awaiting the auction, which features over 4,000 lots and runs from November 17 to December 3. In retrospect, one can’t help but recall REA’s sale of a PSA 1 example of the Ruth card in 2012, which fetched over $450,000. Compared to today’s market, where a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently set a record with a $12.6 million sale, that sum seems insignificant.
Dwyer perfectly captures the allure of the Ruth card, stating: “This is the dream card, the one that every collector aspires to hold. Its rarity is such that those who possess one of these jewels are reluctant to part with it. This might well be the only opportunity to acquire one for many years.”
Undeniably, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime chance for collectors. The Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card represents not just a valuable collectible, but it signifies the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value extends beyond the physical card; it symbolizes the legacy of Babe Ruth and an era of baseball that continues to captivate the imaginations of fans and collectors worldwide. This auction is more than a mere transaction; it’s a historic event honoring the enduring impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. With only a handful of examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction could very well witness the card achieving an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
