An exceedingly rare and highly sought-after 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, featuring none other than Babe Ruth in his debut season, is scheduled to be up for auction later this month. This piece of baseball memorabilia is one of only ten graded postcards known to exist, making it an extraordinary find for collectors and fans alike.
Heritage Auctions, a renowned auction house, plans to showcase this item in its highly anticipated February Platinum Auction. Notably, this postcard holds the distinction of being the highest-graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card, receiving a PSA rating of 6. Experts estimate that it could fetch over $1 million in the auction.
The postcard itself depicts the 1915 Boston Red Sox team, labeled as the “American League Champions,” suggesting that it was issued during or before the 1915 World Series. The team photograph prominently features a young Babe Ruth in the back row.
During the World Series that year, the Red Sox played their games at Braves Field, the stadium belonging to the city’s National League team. This decision was made due to Braves Field’s larger seating capacity compared to Fenway Park, which was still relatively new at the time.
On the postcard, each member of the Red Sox team is identified by their surname and playing position. Notably, Ruth can be seen standing next to Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher. Mays would later join Ruth in playing for the 1920 New York Yankees and is infamously remembered for a tragic incident in which his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that year. The card also features legendary Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper.
This auction follows closely on the heels of the recent sale of a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card, which fetched an astounding $7.25 million. Interestingly, both the 1914 and 1915 cards have the same graded population of ten each, further emphasizing their rarity and value.
Heritage Auctions describes this 1915 postcard as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the hobby’s auction market, highlighting its exceptional rarity and historical importance.
Prospective bidders and interested parties should mark their calendars as the auction bidding is set to begin on February 2nd. This event promises to be a momentous occasion for collectors and fans of Babe Ruth, offering them a chance to own a truly iconic piece of baseball history.
