An extremely rare and sought-after 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, featuring Babe Ruth in his debut season, is set to be auctioned later this month. With only ten graded postcards known to exist, this piece of baseball memorabilia is a remarkable find for collectors and enthusiasts.
Renowned auction house, Heritage Auctions, will showcase this item in its February Platinum Auction. Considered the highest-graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card, this particular card has received a PSA rating of 6 and is expected to fetch upwards of $1 million.
The postcard depicts the Red Sox team, labeled as the “American League Champions,” indicating its issuance before or during the 1915 World Series. Babe Ruth is prominently featured in the back row of the team photograph.
During that year’s World Series, the Red Sox played their games at Braves Field, the stadium of the city’s National League team. This decision was made due to Braves Field’s larger seating capacity compared to Fenway Park, which was a relatively new construction at the time.
On the postcard, each member of the Red Sox team is identified by surname and playing position. Alongside Ruth stands Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher. Mays would later join Ruth in playing for the 1920 New York Yankees and is famously remembered for a tragic incident in which his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that year. The card also features Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper.
This auction follows the recent sale of a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card, which fetched an astounding $7.25 million. Interestingly, both the 1914 and 1915 cards have a graded population of only ten each.
Described by Heritage Auctions as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the market, this 1915 postcard illustrates its rarity and historical value.
Prospective bidders and baseball history collectors, as well as fans of Babe Ruth, should mark their calendars for February 2nd when auction bidding is set to commence. This event is bound to be a momentous occasion for those interested in owning a piece of baseball history and the legendary Babe Ruth.
