The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is set to conclude on December 3, yet an uncommon piece of baseball history featuring Babe Ruth has emerged as a highlight well before the final gavel. This isn’t about the well-documented 1914 Baltimore News card, but rather a scarce 1921 Frederick Foto card depicting the legendary baseball figure. As of Sunday evening, competitive early bids have propelled the card’s value to $110,000. The card, one of just six known to exist from the past century, holds a grade of 2 from SGC, indicating its rare vintage condition.
This particular card has seen a notable increase in value over the years, with REA having brokered its sale for $42,000 back in 2015—a fraction of its current bid. What sets the Frederick Foto card apart, even more, is its obscurity when compared to the already scarce Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, is shrouded in such mystery that a complete checklist remains unconfirmed. The cards in the series aren’t numbered, adding to the challenge of determining a full set, though it’s estimated to comprise over 100 cards.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with issuing these cards, which unfortunately, were not the epitome of quality production. Player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, displaying the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. The reverse side of these cards is blank. Their size is generally in line with tobacco cards from the era, though inconsistencies are common, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.
The exact dating of the series has been a topic of debate among collectors, with 1921 being the widely accepted year of issue, though some disagree on the precise timing.
The card of Babe Ruth from this series is particularly noteworthy, not only because it features him with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees but also intriguingly depicts him in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees beginning in 1920. This detail adds to its rarity as one of the earliest cards showing Ruth associated with the Yankees.
A unique attribute of this card is the photograph itself; REA has recognized that this specific image of Ruth does not appear on any other card, nor can it be found in any other type of media—a singular representation of the baseball legend.
The auction for this rare slice of baseball memorabilia will wrap up on December 3, and it is already shaping up to be a noteworthy event for collectors and historians alike. The competitive early bids and the card’s scarcity have propelled its value to $110,000, a significant increase from its previous sale price of $42,000 in 2015. With only six known to exist, the 1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth card holds immense historical and monetary value.
Collectors and historians are particularly fascinated by the obscurity of the Frederick Foto series. Unlike the Baltimore News card, which is already scarce, the 1921 series remains shrouded in mystery, with no confirmed complete checklist. The cards, lacking numbering, make it challenging to determine a full set, but it is estimated to encompass over 100 cards. Adding to this intrigue is the less-than-perfect production quality of the Frederick Foto cards. The player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, displaying the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. Inconsistencies in size and large white borders are common, making each card unique.
Of all the cards in the series, the Babe Ruth card stands out for several reasons. Not only does it feature Ruth with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees, but it also depicts him in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees. This adds to the card’s rarity as one of the earliest cards showing Ruth associated with the Yankees. Moreover, the photograph itself is one-of-a-kind. The specific image of Ruth on this card does not appear on any other card or in any other media, making it a truly singular representation of the baseball legend.
As the auction for this rare piece of baseball history comes to a close on December 3, collectors and historians eagerly await the final result. The competition for the 1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth card has already driven its value to an impressive $110,000, highlighting its significance in the world of sports memorabilia.