A piece of baseball history was recently unearthed in Danvers, Massachusetts, capturing the attention of sports enthusiasts and collectors alike. The discovery of a 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card, hailing from his early days as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, has sent ripples of excitement throughout the world of vintage card collection. The card, a part of a rare promotional Morehouse Bakery series in Lawrence, has long been coveted by collectors for its historical significance.
The remarkable find was shared by Jeff Gross, an avid collector from Newburyport, known for his passion for rare baseball memorabilia. The journey to unveiling this treasured relic began at a family estate sale in Danvers, where Gross engaged in a casual conversation about baseball cards with a visitor. The man, who opted to remain anonymous, revealed that his father had amassed a collection of the Morehouse Bakery series that had been preserved in boxes for decades. Among the collection lay not one, but two Babe Ruth rookie cards, providing a glimpse into Ruth’s early career as a left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox.
Gross emphasized the historical significance of the card, stating, “This is Babe Ruth in 1916, a skinny left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox, predating the home-run-hitting Yankee legend we revere today.” What sets the Morehouse Bakery cards apart is the advertising displayed on the back, a feature noted by PJ Kinsella of Robert Edward Auctions as a factor that enhances their rarity and value. The Babe Ruth rookie card in better condition is estimated to fetch a substantial sum, with projections indicating a starting bid of at least $500,000 when it hits the auction block.
With a wealth of experience in collecting rare memorabilia, Gross has taken on the role of assisting the card’s owner in facilitating the sale. The much-anticipated auction is scheduled to commence on Friday, with Gross intending to commemorate the occasion by hosting a bid-watching party for the owner and his wife. Reflecting on the incredible find, Gross humorously remarked, “Maybe we should just keep hosting yard sales and see if the next million-dollar collection rolls in.”
This discovery in Danvers adds to a series of extraordinary baseball card findings in Massachusetts, including the unearthing of an unopened pack of 1952 Bowman baseball cards in Chatham earlier in 2024. The sealed pack, if authenticated, holds the potential to be valued at up to a million dollars, further accentuating the state’s reputation as a hotspot for unearthing hidden baseball treasures.
The spotlight firmly rests on the Babe Ruth rookie card, serving as a rare artifact emblematic of baseball’s golden era and underscoring the eternal allure of uncovering hidden gems within the world of sports memorabilia. The narrative of this discovery not only celebrates the rich history of the sport but also highlights the unending excitement that comes with exploring and unearthing these precious relics of the past.