
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors is about to unfold as a piece of baseball history prepares to hit the auction block. Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is offering one of the only ten known copies of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading card in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction. This historic item, graded SGC 3 (VG) and dating back to 1914, features a youthful Babe Ruth during his early days with the Baltimore Orioles, a minor league team. Notably, the card also showcases the team’s schedule on the reverse side.
The significance of this auction cannot be overstated. It has been over a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been available in the public market, and the card up for auction is recognized as the finest specimen to appear in 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 represents not only a rare sports memorabilia item, but also a seminal piece of Americana that symbolizes the beginning of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, this card is among the top-tier in its class and outranked by only a singular PSA 4 card in the entire collectibles sphere. Its condition is exceptional and highly sought-after by collectors.
This specific Babe Ruth card has had a storied journey leading up to the auction. In June 2021, it was sold for a staggering $6 million and included fractional ownership opportunities via 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 hundred years before being sold earlier in this decade. It was displayed to the public at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum until earlier this year. Fans and collectors will have a chance to view the card once more before the auction, as REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside a blue variant on November 15, from 2-4 PM. Exclusive private viewings will also take place on November 15 and later in New York City on November 29, by appointment only.
The Ruth card is set to steal the spotlight among a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the upcoming auction, which will run from November 17 to December 3. Looking back at the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it is clear that the market has seen significant growth. In 2012, REA sold a PSA 1 example of the Ruth card for over $450,000—a sum that is dwarfed by recent record-breaking sales, such as the $12.6 million achieved for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.
Dwyer 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.”
Indeed, the upcoming auction presents a historic event that celebrates the enduring impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. The Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card is not just a valuable collectible; it represents the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value goes beyond the physical card itself, serving as a tangible representation of the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate fans and collectors alike. With only a few examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction has the potential to witness the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.