A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world as one of the rarest sports collectibles hits the market. The auction, hosted by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its Fall Catalog Auction, features one of the only ten known copies of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading card. This 1914 Baltimore News card showcases the legendary baseball player in his early years with the Baltimore Orioles and is famed not only for its depiction but also for its unique back displaying the team’s schedule.
The significance of this auction cannot be understated. It has been over a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card has been made available for sale, and this specific card is heralded as the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in more than 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.”
The card’s condition is top-tier within its class, according to the SGC Population Report, and it is outranked only by a singular PSA 4 card in the entire collectibles sphere.
This card’s journey is as remarkable as the player it portrays. In June 2021, it was acquired by a collector in Florida for an astounding $6 million, with fractional ownership offered through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved earlier this year.
The card’s provenance can be traced back to a Baltimore family where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade. It was displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until recently, delighting fans and memorabilia enthusiasts. Prior to the auction, REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside a blue variant on November 15, offering fans a chance to see this rarity in person. Exclusive private viewings will also take place in New York City on November 15 and November 29.
Collectors will have the opportunity to bid on this prized Ruth card among a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, scheduled to run from November 17 to December 3. When considering the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it’s worth noting that in 2012, REA sold a PSA 1 example of the same card for over $450,000—a sum that now pales in comparison to the recent record-breaking sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card for $12.6 million.
Dwyer encapsulates 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 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card not only represents a valuable collectible but also the birth of an American sports legend. Its value goes beyond the physical card; it symbolizes the legacy of Babe Ruth and an era of baseball that continues to captivate fans and collectors alike. The auction of this card is not just a transaction—it’s a historic event that celebrates 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 easily see the Babe Ruth card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
