A piece of baseball history is set to make waves in the auction world this month. Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is preparing to offer one of the most sought-after trading cards of all time: Babe Ruth’s inaugural card. This rare artifact, one of only ten known copies, will be part of REA’s Fall Catalog Auction, which starts today.
The card in question is a 1914 Baltimore News card, graded SGC 3 (VG). It features a young, 19-year-old Babe Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. What sets this card apart is not only the imagery of the future baseball icon but also its unique back, which includes the team’s schedule.
The significance of this auction cannot be overstated. It has been over a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been available in the public market. Moreover, this particular card is considered the finest specimen to ever hit the auction stage in the past fifteen years.
According to Brian Dwyer, President of REA, this card holds immense importance. “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards,” he states. “It’s not just a rare sports memorabilia item; it represents the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend – a figure synonymous with baseball itself.”
In terms of condition, the card is top-tier within its class, as noted by the SGC Population Report. It is outranked only by a single PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere.
The journey of this card is as fascinating as the player it portrays. In June 2021, it was acquired by a collector in Florida for a staggering $6 million, with fractional ownership offered through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved earlier this year.
The card’s provenance dates back to a Baltimore family, where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade. It was later exhibited at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum for public enjoyment until earlier this year. Fans and collectors will have the opportunity to view the card once more 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 November 15 and 29 in New York City.
For those eager to see this rarity in person, contacting REA for an invitation to these select events is necessary.
The Ruth card will shine bright among approximately 4,000 lots in the auction, scheduled to run from November 17 to December 3. Looking back at the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it’s hard not to consider REA’s 2012 sale of a PSA 1 example of the card, which fetched over $450,000. Today, however, the market has reached unprecedented heights, with a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently selling for a record-breaking $12.6 million.
Dwyer 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 chance for collectors. The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card represents not only a valuable collectible but also the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value surpasses the physical card itself; it embodies the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to capture the imaginations 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 so few examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction could very well propel the card to an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.