A piece of baseball history is set to cross the auction block this month, with the potential to command a price as legendary as the player it depicts. One of the mere ten known copies of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading card is about to be offered by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its anticipated Fall Catalog Auction.
The card in question is a 1914 Baltimore News card, graded SGC 3 (VG), and is a rare artifact that showcases a youthful, 19-year-old Ruth in his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. Not only is this card sought after for its depiction of the future baseball icon, but it also stands out for its unique back, which features the team’s schedule.
This auction holds great significance for collectors and baseball enthusiasts alike. 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 specific 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. This isn’t merely 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 it’s outranked only by a singular PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere.
The journey of this card is as storied as its image bearer. In June 2021, it entered the private collection of a Floridian aficionado for a staggering $6 million, along with a fractional ownership opportunity through the Collectable platform. However, that collective 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 its earlier sale this decade. It was displayed to the public at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans and collectors will have one more chance to view the card before the auction, as REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside a blue variant on November 15.
In addition to the public display, exclusive private viewings will take place on the evening of November 15 and later in New York City on November 29. Those interested in witnessing this rarity in person can contact REA for an invitation to these select events.
The Ruth card is set to be the star among a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction running from November 17 to December 3. Looking back on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it is noteworthy to mention that REA sold a PSA 1 example of the Ruth card in 2012 for over $450,000. However, this amount pales in comparison to recent record-breaking sales, such as a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card that fetched a staggering $12.6 million.
Dwyer captures the allure of the Ruth card, explaining, “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 Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card represents not just a valuable collectible but also the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value transcends the physical card; it is a tangible representation of the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to capture the imagination of fans and collectors alike. The auction of this card is more than a simple transaction—it is 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 unparalleled heights, this auction could very well see the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
