The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions has taken a surprising turn with the emergence of a rare 1921 Frederick Foto card featuring baseball legend Babe Ruth. With the auction set to conclude on December 3, early competitive bids have already pushed the card’s value to an impressive $110,000. This particular card is one of only six known to exist from the past century and holds a grade of 2 from SGC, indicating its rare vintage condition.
What sets this Frederick Foto card apart is its obscurity in comparison to the already scarce 1914 Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, remains shrouded in mystery, with a complete checklist yet to be confirmed. Unlike the numbered cards of today, these cards had no numbering, making it even more challenging for collectors to determine a complete set. However, it is estimated that the series comprises over 100 cards.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with issuing these cards. Unfortunately, they were not known for their quality production. Player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, featuring the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. The reverse side of the cards is blank. The size of the cards is generally in line with tobacco cards from that era, but inconsistencies are common, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.
Collectors have debated the exact dating of the series, but 1921 is widely accepted as the year of issue, though some collectors disagree on the exact timing.
The Babe Ruth card from this series is especially noteworthy. It features Ruth with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees but intriguingly shows him in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before joining the Yankees in 1920. This detail adds to the card’s rarity as one of the earliest depictions of Ruth associated with the Yankees.
What makes this card truly unique is the photograph itself. Robert Edward Auctions has recognized that this specific image of Ruth does not appear on any other card, nor can it be found in any other type of media. It stands as a singular representation of the baseball legend.
The auction for this rare piece of baseball memorabilia will conclude on December 3, and it is already shaping up to be a noteworthy event for collectors and historians alike. With its rare vintage condition, unique image, and association with Babe Ruth’s early years, it is no wonder that competitive bids have already driven the value of this card to $110,000. As the auction comes to a close, collectors and fans eagerly await the final result of this rare find.
