
In an exhilarating event for sports memorabilia enthusiasts, a rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth baseball card was sold for an astonishing $7.2 million on Sunday night. This remarkable sale positions the card as the third most valuable sports card ever sold. With fifteen bids placed, including one on the auction’s final day, the card received widespread attention across the nation.
Measuring 2 5/8″ by 3 5/8″, the card depicts a 19-year-old Babe Ruth as a member of Baltimore’s minor league team. Originally distributed with the newspaper as part of a set featuring player images on the front and team schedules on the back, this particular card received a grade of 3 (VG) from SGC. Although the final sale price fell short of the estimated $10 million, the identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
The significance of this sale stems not only from the rarity of the card but also from its history. Prior to this auction, the card had not been offered for over a decade. It was also the highest-rated copy to appear in an auction in more than 15 years. Brian Dwyer, the President of Robert Edward Auctions (REA), believes that this card may not be available for purchase again for many years to come, making this a unique opportunity for collectors.
With the distinction of being the highest-graded example on the SGC Population Report, this card stands as the second-best example in the hobby, surpassed only by a single PSA 4 graded card. Its journey to the monumental sale started when a private collector in Florida acquired it for $6 million in June 2021, along with a small ownership stake sold to users of the Collectable fractional shares platform. However, these shares were liquidated earlier this year.
For over a century, the card remained in the possession of a family from the Baltimore area. From 1998 until earlier this year, it was displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, further enhancing its historical significance.
The auction of this Babe Ruth card not only marked a high point for the card itself but also for REA and the entire sports memorabilia collecting hobby. Brian Dwyer emphasized the significance of this event, describing it as a “watershed moment.” REA is proud to have brought this incredibly significant card to auction, potentially for the last time in many years.
Besides the Babe Ruth card, the auction included fourteen other cards from the same set, including one of Jack Dunn, the man credited with discovering Ruth. However, these cards did not meet their reserve prices.
Ranking among the most expensive sports cards ever sold, the Babe Ruth card now only trails the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 9.5, which sold for $12.6 million, and a T206 Honus Wagner card, which fetched $7.25 million.
Notable items in the auction also included a 1933 R319 Goudey #149 Ruth graded PSA 8 that sold for $396,000, one of the only six known copies of the 1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth (SGC 2) that sold for $168,000, a PSA 7 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card and a 1955 Bowman Mantle PSA 9, both sold for $246,000, a 1997-1998 Skybox Metal Universe Championship Precious Metal Gems Basketball #23 Michael Jordan #14/50 BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 valued at $240,000, and a 2013 Tom Brady game-used Patriots jersey photomatched to four games, which sold for $264,000.
This auction has been a record-breaking event for REA, as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. With a total of 93,151 bids placed by a record number of bidders, the auction generated over $22.1 million in sales. The sale of this rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card not only underscores the enduring appeal of sports memorabilia but also highlights the significant value attached to items associated with legendary figures like Babe Ruth. It serves as a testament to the deep passion and investment collectors have in preserving and valuing sports history.