In a momentous event in the world of sports memorabilia, a rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth baseball card has been sold for a stunning $7.2 million on Sunday night. This record-breaking sale establishes the card as the third most valuable sports card ever sold. Despite falling short of the estimated auction price of $10 million, the sale still garnered significant attention with fifteen bids, including one on the final day of the auction.
Measuring at 2 5/8″ by 3 5/8″, the card showcases a 19-year-old Babe Ruth as a member of Baltimore’s minor league team. Originally distributed with the newspaper, this card was part of a set that featured player images on the front and team schedules on the back. The card received a grade of 3 (VG) from SGC and has become widely sought after by collectors. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
This remarkable sale marks the first time in over a decade that a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card has been offered at an auction. Additionally, this particular card is the highest-rated example on the SGC Population Report and is considered the second-best example in the hobby, surpassed only by a single PSA 4 graded card.
The journey of this Babe Ruth card to the momentous sale has been a long one. It was acquired by a private collector in Florida for $6 million in June 2021, along with fractional shares sold on the Collectable platform. However, these shares were liquidated earlier this year. Prior to this recent sale, the card had been in the possession of a Baltimore area family for over a century. It was displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum from 1998 until earlier this year, adding to its historical significance.
The auction of the Babe Ruth card holds immense significance not just for the card itself but also for Robert Edward Auctions (REA) and the sports memorabilia collecting hobby as a whole. Brian Dwyer, President of REA, expressed his excitement, stating that this auction was a watershed moment. He believes that it may be the only opportunity to purchase such a significant card for many years to come.
In addition to the Babe Ruth card, the auction featured fourteen other cards from the same set. However, these cards did not reach their reserve prices. The Babe Ruth card now joins the list of the most expensive sports cards ever sold, ranking behind the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 9.5, sold for $12.6 million, and a T206 Honus Wagner card, which fetched $7.25 million.
The auction also showcased other notable items, including a 1933 R319 Goudey #149 Ruth graded PSA 8 that sold for $396,000. Additionally, one of the only six known copies of the 1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth (SGC 2) fetched $168,000. Other top sellers included a PSA 7 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card at $246,000, a 1955 Bowman Mantle PSA 9 also at $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 set a record for REA, celebrating its 30th anniversary. It garnered a total of 93,151 bids from a record number of bidders and generated over $22.1 million in sales. This achievement not only demonstrates the enduring appeal of sports memorabilia but also highlights the tremendous value attached to items associated with legendary figures like Babe Ruth. The sale of the rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card serves as a testament to the card’s rarity, historical significance, and the deep passion and investment collectors have in preserving and valuing sports history.
