A piece of baseball history is about to make its way to the auction block, and it has the potential to command a price as legendary as the player it depicts. Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is gearing up to offer one of the most sought-after trading cards in the world – Babe Ruth’s inaugural 1914 Baltimore News card – in its anticipated Fall Catalog Auction.
This particular card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is a true rarity among collectors, with only ten known copies in existence. It showcases a youthful 19-year-old Ruth during his days in the minor leagues with the Baltimore Orioles. What makes this card even more unique is its back, which features the team’s schedule.
The upcoming auction holds significant importance for collectors and enthusiasts alike. It has been over a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been available on the public market, and this specific card is celebrated as the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in over fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, emphasizes the card’s paramount significance, stating, “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards. It is not merely a rare sports memorabilia item; it is 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 single PSA 4 in the entire collectibles realm.
The journey of this card is as storied as the career of the baseball icon it represents. In June 2021, it was purchased by a passionate collector from Florida for a staggering $6 million, complete with a fractional ownership opportunity 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 single Baltimore family, where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade. It was on display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum for the public’s enjoyment from 1998 up until earlier this year. Fans and collectors will have the chance to view the card once more before the auction as REA has organized a public display on November 15. Additionally, exclusive private viewings will take place in the evening of November 15 and later in New York City on November 29.
To attend these select events and see this rare artifact in person, interested individuals can reach out to REA for an invitation.
The Ruth card is set to be the star attraction among a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction scheduled to run from November 17 to December 3. Reflecting on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, one cannot help but consider REA’s sale of a PSA 1 example of the same card back in 2012, which fetched over $450,000 – a sum that now pales in comparison to today’s market. Recently, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card shattered records with a staggering $12.6 million sale.
Dwyer perfectly captures the allure of the Ruth card, stating, “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.”
Undoubtedly, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors. The Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card represents not only a valuable collectible but the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value transcends the physical card itself; it serves as a tangible representation of the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to capture the imagination of fans and collectors alike.
This auction is not just 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 examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unparalleled heights, this auction could very well witness the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
