A piece of baseball history is about to hit the auction block, and it could fetch a price as legendary as the player it features. One of only ten known copies of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading card is set to be offered by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction, which opens today.
This particular card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is a 1914 Baltimore News card showcasing a young 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. It is not only sought after for its depiction of the future baseball icon but also for its unique back, which displays 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 to the public, and this specific card is considered the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in over fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, doesn’t hold back when discussing the card’s importance: “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards,” he asserts. “This isn’t 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’s condition is top-tier within its class and is outranked only by a single PSA 4 card in the entire collectibles realm.
The journey of this card is just as remarkable as the player it portrays. In June 2021, it entered the private collection of a passionate fan from Florida for a staggering $6 million, complete with an opportunity for fractional ownership through the Collectable platform. However, that shared ownership was dissolved as of January this year.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a single Baltimore family, where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade. It was on display for the public’s enjoyment at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans of the Great Bambino and avid collectors will have the opportunity to view the card once again before the auction. REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside 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 in New York City on November 29.
For those eager to lay their eyes on this rarity, contacting REA for an invitation to these select events is a must.
The Ruth card is poised to steal the spotlight among the vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, which runs from November 17 to December 3. When reflecting on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it’s hard not to consider REA’s 2012 sale of a PSA 1 example of the card for over $450,000—a sum that pales in comparison to today’s market, where a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently shattered records with a sale price of $12.6 million.
Dwyer perfectly captures the allure of the Ruth card: “This is the dream card, the one that every collector aspires to hold. Its rarity is such that those who possess one of these gems are reluctant to part with it. This may well be the only opportunity to acquire one for many years.”
Indeed, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime chance for collectors. The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card represents not only a valuable collectible but also the birth of an American sports legend. Its value goes beyond the physical card itself; it is 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 just a transaction—it is a historic event, celebrating the lasting impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. With only a handful of examples known to exist and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction could very well see the card achieve a staggering eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
