A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the auction world. Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is set to offer one of only ten known copies of Babe Ruth’s inaugural trading card in its Fall Catalog Auction. This highly anticipated event opens today and is expected to fetch a price as legendary as the player it depicts.
The 1914 Baltimore News card, graded SGC 3 (VG), is a rare artifact that showcases a youthful 19-year-old Babe Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. Not only does this card feature the future baseball icon, but it also boasts a unique back that displays the team’s schedule.
The significance of this auction cannot be overstated. It marks the first time in over a decade that a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth card has been available to the public. Moreover, this specific card is heralded as the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in over fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, emphasizes the card’s importance, declaring it the pinnacle of baseball cards. “This isn’t just a rare sports memorabilia item; it’s a seminal piece of Americana,” he states. “It represents the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure who is synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, the card’s condition is top-tier within its class, surpassed only by a solitary PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere. Its exceptional quality further enhances its value and desirability.
The story of this card is as captivating as its subject. In June 2021, it made its way into the private collection of a passionate collector from Florida for a staggering $6 million, complete with a fractional ownership opportunity through the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership came to an end in January of this year.
Prior to its acquisition by the Florida collector, the card had remained in the possession of a single Baltimore family for a century. It was exhibited at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year, delighting fans of the Great Bambino and memorabilia enthusiasts. Those interested will have the chance to view the card once again before the auction, as REA is organizing a public display alongside a blue variant on November 15, from 2-4 PM. Exclusive private viewings will also take place on the evening of November 15 and later in New York City on November 29.
Collectors and fans alike will find the Ruth card to be the star attraction in a vast collection of 4,000 lots at the auction, which will run from November 17 to December 3. Looking back at the trajectory of sports memorabilia, it is impossible not to consider REA’s 2012 sale of a PSA 1 example of the card for over $450,000—an amount that pales in comparison to today’s market, where a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card recently shattered records with a $12.6 million sale.
Dwyer encapsulates the allure of the Ruth card, describing it as the dream card 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,” he explains.
Undeniably, the upcoming auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime chance 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; it embodies the legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate fans and collectors alike. The auction of this card is more than 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 unprecedented heights, it is highly likely that this auction will see the card achieve an eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.
