A piece of baseball history is about to hit the auction block, and it may just command a price as legendary as the player it depicts. The highly sought-after 1914 Baltimore News trading card featuring a young Babe Ruth is set to be auctioned off this month by Robert Edward Auctions (REA), and experts believe it could achieve an eight-figure selling price.
This particular card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is one of only ten known copies in existence. It showcases a 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. What makes this card even more unique is the fact that it features the team’s schedule on the back, adding to its historical significance.
The auctioning of this card is a momentous occasion for collectors and sports enthusiasts alike. It has been more than a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been available on the public market, and this specific card is considered 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. It’s not 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 is in top-tier condition within its class and is outranked only by a singular PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere. Its remarkable condition adds to its desirability and potential selling price.
The journey of this card is as fascinating as the legacy of the Babe himself. In June 2021, it was acquired by a collector in Florida for a staggering $6 million, with fractional ownership opportunities offered through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved in January of this year.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a Baltimore family who owned it for a century before its earlier sale in the 2010s. It was then displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum for public enjoyment from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans of the Great Bambino and memorabilia collectors will have the chance 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, allowing enthusiasts to get a closer look at this historic artifact. Exclusive private viewings will also be held on the evening of November 15 and later in New York City on November 29.
Collectors should mark their calendars as the Ruth card will undoubtedly be the star of the auction, which features a vast collection of 4,000 lots running from November 17 to December 3. Looking back at the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it’s worth noting that in 2012, REA sold a PSA 1 example of the Ruth card for over $450,000. However, that sum pales in comparison to the record-breaking $12.6 million sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in today’s market.
Dwyer perfectly encapsulates the allure of the Ruth card, saying, “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 to own a piece of history. The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card represents not just a valuable collectible but the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value goes beyond the physical card itself—it stands as 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. This auction 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 handful of these cards in existence and the market for rare sports memorabilia reaching unprecedented heights, it would not be surprising if this auction sees the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
