A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world as one of Babe Ruth’s most coveted trading cards hits the market. The 1914 Baltimore News card, featuring a 19-year-old Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles, will be auctioned by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction.
What makes this card truly special is the combination of its rarity and pristine condition. Graded SGC 3 (VG), it is one of only ten known copies in existence and is considered the finest specimen to be offered for sale in over fifteen years. With its unique back design showcasing the team’s schedule, this card is not just a valuable collectible but a piece of Americana that represents the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, emphasizes the card’s significance: “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 that symbolizes the rise of Babe Ruth, a figure synonymous with the sport.”
The card’s condition sets it apart from others in its class, with the SGC Population Report ranking it second only to one PSA 4 card in the entire collectibles sphere. Its journey adds to its allure. While it was previously part of a fractional ownership opportunity through the Collectable platform, it recently entered the private collection of a Floridian collector for a staggering $6 million. Its provenance can be traced back to a Baltimore family, where it remained for a century before being sold earlier this decade.
Fans and collectors will have the chance to view this prized artifact at a public display organized by REA on November 15. Exclusive private viewings will also take place in New York City on November 29. To secure an invitation to these select events, interested individuals can contact REA.
The Ruth card will be the star of a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, which runs from November 17 to December 3. When considering the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it’s worth noting that a PSA 1 example of the same card sold for over $450,000 in 2012. Today, where the market for rare sports cards is reaching unparalleled heights, with a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card selling for $12.6 million, the potential value of this Ruth card is astronomical.
Dwyer captures the essence of the card’s allure, saying, “This is the dream card, the one that every collector aspires to hold. Its rarity is such that those who possess one are loath to part with it. This might well be the only opportunity to acquire one for many years.”
Indeed, the upcoming auction represents a unique and historic opportunity for collectors. The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card is not simply a valuable collectible; it marks the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value goes beyond the physical card itself; it is a tangible representation of Babe Ruth’s legacy and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate fans and collectors. With so few examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards soaring, this auction could easily lead to an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
