A piece of baseball history has recently been unearthed in Danvers, Massachusetts—a 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card from his early days as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. This card, part of a rare promotional series from Morehouse Bakery in Lawrence, has long been the stuff of collectors’ dreams. Its discovery has sent shockwaves of excitement through the vintage card collecting world.
Jeff Gross, a dedicated collector of rare baseball memorabilia based in Newburyport, shared the remarkable story of the find. It all started at a family estate sale in Danvers, where Gross struck up a conversation with a visitor about baseball cards.
Gross vividly remembers asking, “Do you have Babe Ruth Morehouse Bakery cards?” The visitor, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that his father had collected the Morehouse Bakery series and had stored over 100 cards, including two Babe Ruth rookie cards, in boxes for decades.
“Babe Ruth in 1916 was just a slim, left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox, not the home-run-hitting Yankee legend we know today,” Gross explained, highlighting the historical significance of the find.
The Morehouse Bakery cards hold particular value due to the advertising printed on the back. PJ Kinsella of Robert Edward Auctions emphasized that this unique feature enhances their rarity and worth.
Kinsella mentioned, “The Morehouse Baking ad on the back is what truly makes this collection special.” The Babe Ruth rookie card, in better condition, is expected to command a minimum of $500,000 when it goes under the hammer.
Gross, an experienced collector, is guiding the card owner through the sale process. The auction is set to kick off on Friday, and Gross plans to celebrate with the card’s owner by hosting a bid-watching party.
Amid jokes and excitement, Gross remarked, “Someone asked me, ‘Does he know he just hit the lottery?’ And I said, ‘He does now.'” Humorously, he added, “Maybe we should just keep hosting yard sales and see if the next million-dollar collection rolls in.”
This discovery adds to a year filled with remarkable baseball card finds in Massachusetts. Earlier in 2024, an unopened pack of 1952 Bowman baseball cards was uncovered during a home demolition in Chatham. This sealed pack could also hold a value of up to a million dollars.
Currently, the focus is on the Babe Ruth rookie card—a rare relic from baseball’s golden age and a testament to the lasting excitement of uncovering hidden gems.
The hunt for prized baseball cards is an ongoing adventure filled with anticipation at Baseball Card Castle in Cranberry. The store’s owner, Jeff Patton, expressed the unique nature of the current card chase.
“This is day eight of an odyssey that’s unlike any card journey we’ve experienced,” Patton shared.
Excitement is palpable among collectors ready to try their luck. Customers like Joe Balcik of Monroeville are optimistic about the potential rewards, aiming to seize the moment by selecting cards from different parts of the collection.
On a personal quest for an autograph, Georgia Krastek of McCandless, a devoted Pirates fan, shared her experience attending games and striving to obtain an elusive signature.
Since the Pirates introduced their enticing offer, interest in the card has surged, attracting a diverse range of participants beyond seasoned collectors.
As Patton noted, “Now it’s not just the regular collectors; grandmas and grandpas are coming in, saying, ‘I want to get my grandson or granddaughter in on this.'”
With a prize as thrilling as decades of premium seats at PNC Park, the enthusiasm is contagious, with participants envisioning the possibilities a win could bring.
Patton continues to work diligently to meet the growing demand, ensuring customers have access to new card shipments.
While the sought-after card remains elusive for now, the dream persists for every collector opening a pack and hoping for a stroke of luck.
Throughout this journey, fans, families, and collectors are united in pursuit of something truly extraordinary—the thrill of the chase.
