The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is set to conclude on December 3, but one particular item has caught the attention of baseball enthusiasts well before the final gavel. It’s not the well-known 1914 Baltimore News card, but rather a rare 1921 Frederick Foto card featuring the iconic Babe Ruth. As of Sunday evening, early bids have driven the card’s value to an impressive $110,000. Only six of these cards are known to exist from the past century, and the card holds a grade of 2 from SGC, marking its rare vintage condition.
This specific card has seen a significant increase in value over the years. In 2015, REA brokered its sale for a mere $42,000, a fraction of its current bid. What sets the Frederick Foto card apart further is its obscurity compared to the already scarce Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, has remained shrouded in mystery, with a complete checklist yet to be confirmed. The cards in the series are not numbered, making it even more challenging to determine a full set, though it’s estimated to comprise over 100 cards.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California, is credited with issuing these cards. Unfortunately, the production quality of the cards leaves much to be desired. Player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, displaying the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. The reverse side of the cards is blank. Their size is generally in line with tobacco cards from the era, but inconsistencies are common, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.
Collectors have long debated the precise dating of the series, with 1921 being the widely accepted year of issue, although some enthusiasts disagree on the exact timing.
The Babe Ruth card from this series is particularly noteworthy, not only because it features him with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees but also intriguingly portrays him in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees beginning in 1920. This detail adds to its rarity as one of the earliest cards showing Ruth associated with the Yankees.
What makes this card even more unique is the photograph itself. The experts at REA have 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. It stands as a singular representation of the baseball legend, capturing a moment in his early career.
The auction for this rare piece of baseball memorabilia will conclude on December 3, and it is already shaping up to be a noteworthy event for collectors and historians alike. The escalating bids and the card’s scarcity have generated considerable excitement and anticipation. As the auction nears its end, it remains to be seen who will be the eventual owner and caretaker of this valuable piece of baseball history.
