A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world as one of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading cards is set to go under the hammer. This rare artifact, one of only ten known copies, will be offered by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction, which opens today.
The card in question is a 1914 Baltimore News card, graded SGC 3 (VG), featuring a young 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. Not only does it showcase the future baseball icon, but it also boasts a unique back with the team’s schedule.
The significance of this auction cannot be overstated. 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 celebrated as the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in over fifteen years.
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’s not just a rare sports memorabilia item; it’s a seminal piece of Americana, representing the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure who is synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, the card is in top-tier condition within its class and is outranked only by a singular PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere.
The story of this card’s journey is as fascinating as the player it portrays. In June 2021, it entered the private collection of a passionate fan from Florida, who acquired it for an astonishing $6 million and offered fractional ownership through the Collectable platform. However, as of January this year, the collective ownership arrangement was dissolved.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a single Baltimore family, who held onto it for a century before its earlier sale this decade. It was publicly displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans of the Great Bambino and memorabilia collectors will have a chance to view the card once more before the auction. REA has organized a public display of the card, along with 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 another viewing event in New York City on November 29.
For those eager to witness this rarity in person, contacting REA for an invitation to these select events is highly recommended.
The Babe Ruth card will undoubtedly be the highlight among the vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, which will run from November 17 to December 3. Reflecting on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, we can’t help but recall REA’s 2012 sale of a PSA 1 example of the card for over $450,000—an amount that is now overshadowed by recent record-breaking sales like the $12.6 million price tag on a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.
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 loath to part with it. This might well be the only opportunity to acquire one for many years.”
Indeed, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 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 transcends the physical card itself; it’s 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’s a historic event, celebrating the enduring impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. With only a few examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction could potentially achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
