A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the world of collectors, as a legendary Babe Ruth card is set to cross the auction block this month. Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is offering one of only ten known copies of Ruth’s inaugural trading card in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction, which opened today.
The card in question, graded SGC 3 (VG), is a 1914 Baltimore News card, a rare artifact that features a young, 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. Not only does the card showcase the future baseball icon, but it also stands out for its unique back, which displays the team’s schedule.
This auction holds significant importance for collectors and enthusiasts alike. It marks the first time in over a decade that a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been made available on the public market. Furthermore, this specific card is celebrated as the finest specimen to be presented at an auction in more than fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, leaves no room for doubt about the card’s significance: “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards,” he declares. “This is not just a rare sports memorabilia item; it’s a monumental piece of Americana that represents the birth of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, the card’s condition ranks at the top within its class, surpassed only by a singular PSA 4 in the entire realm of collectibles.
This card’s journey has been as remarkable as its image bearer. In June 2021, it joined the private collection of a dedicated fan from Florida for an astonishing $6 million, with fractional ownership available through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved earlier this year in January.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a single Baltimore family, where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade. It was publicly exhibited for fans’ enjoyment at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans of the Great Bambino and avid memorabilia collectors will have one last opportunity to view the card before the auction. REA is organizing a public display of the card, alongside a blue variant, on November 15 from 2-4 PM. Exclusive private viewings will also take place on the evening of November 15, followed by a later viewing in New York City on November 29.
For those eager to behold this rarity in person, REA can provide invitations to these exclusive events.
The Ruth card is set to be the star attraction among the vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, running from November 17 to December 3. Reflecting on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, one cannot help but ponder REA’s sale of a PSA 1 example of the card in 2012, which fetched over $450,000—a sum that pales in comparison to the current market, where a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently shattered records with a staggering $12.6 million sale.
Dwyer encapsulates the allure of the Ruth card, stating, “This is the dream card, the one that every collector aspires to possess. Its rarity is such that those fortunate enough to own one of these gems are reluctant to part with it. This may very well be the only opportunity to acquire one for many years to come.”
Undoubtedly, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime chance for collectors. The Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card represents not only a valuable collectible but also the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value exceeds that of a physical card; it is a tangible representation of the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate the imagination of fans and collectors alike. The auction of this card is more than a simple transaction—it is a historic event, celebrating the enduring impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. With only a limited number of examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction has the potential to witness the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, thereby setting a new benchmark in the realm of sports collectibles.
