The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is set to conclude on December 3, but one particular item has already caught the attention of collectors. A rare 1921 Frederick Foto card featuring Babe Ruth is garnering early bids, pushing its value to an impressive $110,000. This card, which holds a grade of 2 from SGC, is one of only six known to exist from the past century.
What sets this Frederick Foto card apart is not just its rarity, but also its obscurity when compared to the already scarce Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, remains shrouded in mystery, with a complete checklist still unconfirmed. The cards in the series are not numbered, making it a challenge for collectors to determine a full set, although estimates suggest there are over 100 cards in total.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with issuing these cards. However, the production quality of these cards was far from perfect. Player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, displaying the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front, while the reverse side of the card remains blank. The size of these cards is generally similar to tobacco cards from that era, though inconsistencies are common due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. As a result, many of these cards have disproportionately large white borders.
The exact dating of the series has been a topic of debate among collectors, but the widely accepted year of issue is 1921, although opinions on the precise timing vary.
What makes the Babe Ruth card from the 1921 Frederick Foto series even more exceptional is the fact that it features him with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia as a member of the Yankees, but intriguingly depicts him in a Red Sox uniform—the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees began in 1920. This detail adds to the rarity of the card as one of the earliest cards showing Ruth associated with the Yankees.
Another unique aspect of this card is the photograph itself. Robert Edward Auctions 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, making it a one-of-a-kind representation of the baseball legend.
With the auction for this rare piece of baseball memorabilia set to conclude on December 3, collectors and historians alike are eagerly anticipating the outcome. The current bids have already exceeded expectations, and it is clear that this Frederick Foto Babe Ruth card is a highly sought-after item in the world of sports collectibles.
In conclusion, the rare 1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth card is generating significant interest before the conclusion of the auction. Its scarcity, unique image of Ruth in a Red Sox uniform associated with the Yankees, and the singular representation of the baseball legend make this card a valuable piece of baseball history. Collectors and historians eagerly await the final gavel on December 3 to see who will claim this extraordinary piece of memorabilia.
