A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world, as one of the rarest Babe Ruth cards is set to be sold at Robert Edward Auctions (REA). The 1914 Baltimore News card, depicting a young 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles, is expected to command a price as legendary as the player it portrays.
This particular card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is a highly sought-after artifact due to its unique back featuring the team’s schedule. Only ten known copies of the 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card exist, making it a significant rarity in the world of sports memorabilia. This card holds immense value not only for its imagery but also for its representation of the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, emphasizes the card’s importance, stating, “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards. It represents not just a rare sports memorabilia item, but a piece of Americana that symbolizes the illustrious career of Babe Ruth, who is synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, this card is in top-tier condition within its class, outranked only by a singular PSA 4 example in the entire collectibles sphere. Its remarkable condition adds to its allure and further increases its value.
The journey of this card is as fascinating as the player himself. In June 2021, it was sold to a collector in Florida for an astonishing $6 million, along with fractional ownership through the Collectable platform. However, the ownership arrangement was dissolved earlier this year.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a Baltimore family, where it remained for over a century before its recent sale. It was exhibited at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, allowing fans and collectors to marvel at this rare treasure. Prior to the auction, REA is organizing public and private viewings, providing an opportunity for enthusiasts to witness this historical artifact firsthand.
The Ruth card will steal the spotlight in a grand auction featuring a collection of 4,000 lots that will run from November 17 to December 3. Looking back at the trajectory of sports memorabilia sales, it’s worth noting that in 2012, a PSA 1 example of the Ruth card was sold for over $450,000. However, in today’s market, where the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently fetched a staggering $12.6 million, the value of the Ruth card is expected to soar.
Dwyer sums up 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 auction presents a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire this historic piece.”
The upcoming auction is not just a chance to acquire a valuable collectible. It represents the genesis of an American sports legend and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate fans and collectors alike. With only a handful of examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unparalleled heights, this auction could set a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles, potentially fetching eight figures for the iconic Babe Ruth card.