A piece of baseball history is about to make waves in the collector’s world as a rare Babe Ruth trading card from 1914 is set to be auctioned off, with the potential to command an astronomical price. This historic card, one of only ten known copies in existence, will be offered by Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in its highly anticipated Fall Catalog Auction.
The card in question, which has been graded SGC 3 (VG), is a 1914 Baltimore News card that showcases a young 19-year-old Babe Ruth during his minor league days with the Baltimore Orioles. What sets this card apart is not only its depiction of the future baseball icon but also its unique back, which features the team’s schedule.
The significance of this upcoming auction cannot be overstated. It has been more than a decade since a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card has been made available to the public, and this particular card is celebrated as the finest specimen to grace the auction stage in over fifteen years.
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, doesn’t hold back in emphasizing the card’s importance: “The Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card stands as the pinnacle of baseball cards,” he asserts. “This isn’t merely a rare sports memorabilia item; it’s a seminal piece of Americana, representing the dawn of the Babe Ruth legend—a figure who is synonymous with baseball itself.”
According to the SGC Population Report, the card is in exceptional condition within its class and is outranked only by a singular PSA 4 in the entire collectibles sphere.
This particular card boasts a remarkable journey. In June 2021, it was acquired by a passionate collector from Florida for a staggering $6 million, including a fractional ownership opportunity via the Collectable platform. However, the collective ownership was dissolved earlier this year.
The provenance of this card can be traced back to a single Baltimore family, where it remained for a century until it was sold earlier in this decade. It was exhibited at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum for the public’s enjoyment from 1998 until earlier this year. Fans of the Great Bambino and memorabilia collectors will have the opportunity to view the card once more before the auction. REA is organizing a public display of the card alongside a blue variant on November 15, from 2-4 PM. Additionally, exclusive private viewings will be held on the evening of November 15, and later in New York City on November 29.
Enthusiasts who wish to witness this rarity in person can contact REA for an invitation to these exclusive events.
The Babe Ruth card is set to shine among a vast collection of 4,000 lots in the auction, which will run from November 17 to December 3. Reflecting on the trajectory of sports memorabilia, one can’t help but consider REA’s sale of a PSA 1 example of the same card in 2012 for over $450,000—a sum that now pales in comparison to the recent record-breaking $12.6 million sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.
Dwyer perfectly 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 once-in-a-lifetime chance for collectors. The Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card represents not just a valuable collectible but also the genesis of an American sports legend. Its value transcends the physical card itself; it serves as a tangible representation of the enduring legacy of Babe Ruth and a bygone era of baseball that continues to captivate the imagination of fans and collectors alike. The auction of this card is more than a simple transaction—it’s a historic event, celebrating the indelible impact of one of the most iconic figures in sports history. With so few examples in existence and the market for rare sports cards reaching unprecedented heights, this auction could very well witness the card achieve a staggering eight-figure selling price, setting a new benchmark in the world of sports collectibles.