Babe Ruth Cards
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Sport Baseball Babe Ruth Sport cards
See also : Sport Baseball Babe Ruth Sport cards
1914 Baltimore News
1
red
2023 SOLD for $ 7.2M by Robert Edward
In early 1914 George Ruth has not even reached his majority when the manager of the Baltimore Orioles in the so called International League appreciates his skills and offers him a first contract. He is 19 years old. His fellows nickname him Jack Dunn's Baby. From then and forever he will be the Babe. He makes his first professional appearance on March 7.
Jack Dunn was arguably a good businessman : as early as July 4 he transferred George to a major league club. Ruth makes his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on July 11.
During this short period, the local publisher Baltimore News had time to publish a baseball card of "Ruth, pitcher". The back announces the schedule from April 21 to September 26. This rudimentary monochrome print is available in two variants, red and blue. The large borders and the paper stock are not conducive for a good preservation.
Ten copies are known. A blue card is graded VG-EX 4 by PSA.
A red copy graded VG 3 by SGC with a provenance from the heirs of the original owner was sold for $ 7.2M by Robert Edward on December 3, 2023, lot 1 illustrated in the pre sale release shared by Sports Collector Digest. It had been on loan from 1998 at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore
Another red example, in poor condition, graded PR 1 by PSA, was sold for $ 450K by Robert Edward on May 18, 2013, lot 1. It is illustrated in the pre sale release shared by AuctionPublicity.
Jack Dunn was arguably a good businessman : as early as July 4 he transferred George to a major league club. Ruth makes his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on July 11.
During this short period, the local publisher Baltimore News had time to publish a baseball card of "Ruth, pitcher". The back announces the schedule from April 21 to September 26. This rudimentary monochrome print is available in two variants, red and blue. The large borders and the paper stock are not conducive for a good preservation.
Ten copies are known. A blue card is graded VG-EX 4 by PSA.
A red copy graded VG 3 by SGC with a provenance from the heirs of the original owner was sold for $ 7.2M by Robert Edward on December 3, 2023, lot 1 illustrated in the pre sale release shared by Sports Collector Digest. It had been on loan from 1998 at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore
Another red example, in poor condition, graded PR 1 by PSA, was sold for $ 450K by Robert Edward on May 18, 2013, lot 1. It is illustrated in the pre sale release shared by AuctionPublicity.
One of the world’s rarest baseball cards - the 1914 Baltimore News #BabeRuth Rookie - is coming to REA's Fall Auction beginning Nov 17. One of only 10 examples in existence, it's expected to sell for upwards of $10 million or more!https://t.co/nCyrxWAE1v #thehobby pic.twitter.com/qNOCdfuMDr
— RobertEdwardAuctions (@REAOnline) November 6, 2023
2
for reference
blue
shared by PSA cards through Wikimedia.
1916 MLB rookie
Intro
The earliest trading card displaying "Ruth - pitcher" is a poor quality monochrome local edition by the Baltimore News. Ruth left Baltimore in July 1914 to make his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox.
The MLB rookie card of the future super-champion, published in 1916, is much more satisfactory. He was caught in action, watching where is the ball which he just threw. He has not yet retrieved his balance and the slightly angled view makes him appear slimmer than life. The monochrome sepia print is very neat. He is already identified by his famous nickname 'Babe Ruth'.
Who produced this legendary image ? Original inscriptions are absent, which is often the case when the publisher's main clients are companies that use the back side for their advertising. The Sporting News is not the editor but one of such advertisers, like the Standard Biscuit Company. The real author appears to be a Chicago photographer named Felix Mendelsohn, almost a namesake of the musician.
The American Card Catalog, which defined the denominations of all series in 1939, did a commendable job but without resolving such ambiguities. So Babe Ruth's rookie card is in the M101-4 and M101-5 series with a Sporting News or blank back and D350 with a Standard Biscuit back.
The three series have about 200 positions each. For the 30 players identified with the same position number, it is impossible to know if a card belongs to M101-4 or -5. The Ruth card has the number 151 in all three. M101-5 may be earlier than M101-4.
Still worse : the denomination M101, from -1 to -7, gathers alongside -4 and -5 Sporting News supplements and postcards plus photos later published under an FM copyright, although no other joint operation between the magazine and Mendelsohn is known.
The MLB rookie card of the future super-champion, published in 1916, is much more satisfactory. He was caught in action, watching where is the ball which he just threw. He has not yet retrieved his balance and the slightly angled view makes him appear slimmer than life. The monochrome sepia print is very neat. He is already identified by his famous nickname 'Babe Ruth'.
Who produced this legendary image ? Original inscriptions are absent, which is often the case when the publisher's main clients are companies that use the back side for their advertising. The Sporting News is not the editor but one of such advertisers, like the Standard Biscuit Company. The real author appears to be a Chicago photographer named Felix Mendelsohn, almost a namesake of the musician.
The American Card Catalog, which defined the denominations of all series in 1939, did a commendable job but without resolving such ambiguities. So Babe Ruth's rookie card is in the M101-4 and M101-5 series with a Sporting News or blank back and D350 with a Standard Biscuit back.
The three series have about 200 positions each. For the 30 players identified with the same position number, it is impossible to know if a card belongs to M101-4 or -5. The Ruth card has the number 151 in all three. M101-5 may be earlier than M101-4.
Still worse : the denomination M101, from -1 to -7, gathers alongside -4 and -5 Sporting News supplements and postcards plus photos later published under an FM copyright, although no other joint operation between the magazine and Mendelsohn is known.
1
blank back NM7 by PSA
2021 SOLD for $ 2.4M by Mile High Card
An M101-4-151 with blank back rated NM 7 by PSA was sold for $ 2.4M on November 11, 2021 by Mile High Card, lot 1.
An M101-5-151 with blank back also rated NM 7 by PSA was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on August 27, 2016, lot 80001.
An M101-5-151 with blank back also rated NM 7 by PSA was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on August 27, 2016, lot 80001.
Consignments are absolutely phenomenal at the 41st National Sports Collectors Convention this amazing card will be in our Fall auction consign at booth 612/614 @milehighcard pic.twitter.com/viPLfEp3Jj
— Mile High Card Co (@milehighcard) July 31, 2021
2
blank back NM7 by PSA
2025 SOLD for $ 1.37M by Heritage
From the population of 2 M101-4-151 with blank back graded NM 7 by PSA, a card has been sold for $ 2.4M on November 11, 2021 by Mile High Card, lot 1. See above. The other example was sold for $ 1.37M by Heritage in February 22, 2025, lot 80009.
The most underrated card in The Hobby?
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) February 6, 2025
It doesn't get the coverage Wagner's T206 or Mantle's 1952 Topps do but there's no doubting the importance of Babe Ruth's 1916 Sporting News rookie
And there's no finer example, this NM 7 is a pop two, none higherhttps://t.co/noKyDlxCuT pic.twitter.com/4JNL5zAS3b
3
Sporting News NM 7 by SGC
2023 SOLD for $ 1.77M by Heritage
An M101-4-151 Babe Ruth rookie card with a Sporting News back has been graded NM 7 by SGC. Its centering is better than usual for this edition.
It was sold for $ 1.77M by Heritage on February 25, 2023, lot 80012. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
It was sold for $ 1.77M by Heritage on February 25, 2023, lot 80012. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
4
Sporting News EX-MT6 by PSA
2022 SOLD for $ 1.5M by Goldin
An M101-4-151 with The Sporting News back, graded EX-MT 6 by PSA, was sold for $ 940K by Memory Lane on March 20, 2021, lot 1, and for $ 1.5M by Goldin on April 30, 2022, lot 5.
This card is perfectly centered with sharp corners. A small stain in a corner prevented a higher level. It is bested in PSA database by one NM-MT8 and one NM7.
This card is perfectly centered with sharp corners. A small stain in a corner prevented a higher level. It is bested in PSA database by one NM-MT8 and one NM7.
“This is the ultimate card to own!” □
— Ken Goldin (@KenGoldin) April 21, 2022
Current Bid: $610,000 pic.twitter.com/6KjbuOHhUe
5
Sporting News EX-MT 6 by PSA
2021 SOLD for $ 1.45M by Memory Lane
The Ruth rookie card from the Newman collection has a Sporting News back. Graded EX-MT 6 by PSA, it is one of 4 in that grade with 2 higher. It was sold for $ 1.45M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021, lot 3.
A newly discovered M101/ 4 or /5 rookie card of Babe Ruth with an advertisement back by Morehouse Baking Co of Lawrence, Mass was sold for $ 810K by Robert Edward on December 8, 2024, lot 1. It has been graded VG+ 3.5 by PSA. It is crisp and clean, with a better than usual centering. The reverse is stamped Cancelled after a redemption as part of the promotion advertised on the reverse. Only 53 Morehouse Baking examples have been graded by PSA plus 57 by SGC, all players included.
A newly discovered M101/ 4 or /5 rookie card of Babe Ruth with an advertisement back by Morehouse Baking Co of Lawrence, Mass was sold for $ 810K by Robert Edward on December 8, 2024, lot 1. It has been graded VG+ 3.5 by PSA. It is crisp and clean, with a better than usual centering. The reverse is stamped Cancelled after a redemption as part of the promotion advertised on the reverse. Only 53 Morehouse Baking examples have been graded by PSA plus 57 by SGC, all players included.
1933 Goudey
Intro
Inserted in cigarette or tobacco packs, the baseball card falls into disuse during World War I. Some manufacturers of caramel or chocolate candies barely maintain this tradition. Lovers of images prefer postcards.
Goudey Gum Company is a leader in the chewing gum market. The founder of the company retires in 1932. In 1933 the new management includes silkscreen printed cards in the gum packs. The drawing executed from a photograph is simple and the colors are bright. The back includes in full format a short descriptive text beside the identification of the publisher, which was much more attractive at that place than on a postcard.
The most important series is devoted entirely to baseball players under the title of Big League Chewing Gum. Its 240 images are published by Goudey in Boston. 94 of them are renumbered and published in Montreal by World Wide Gum Company which was the Goudey branch in Canada.
The editions released in the same year include a multi-sport series of 48 cards for the Sport Kings chewing gum, 216 Indian views for the Indian chewing gum and two other series of 48 cards : Boy Scouts and Sea Raiders.
The Goudey Big League series, inserted in 1933 and 1934 in the Gum wax packs of that brand, brings a quality glow within the decadence of the 1930s trading cards, in competition with postcards. It is made of 240 positions including four Babe Ruth at position numbers 53, 144, 149, 181. Number 181 is a close-up portrait on which the leaning champion carefully observes an action out of the field of view. This picture is not included in the other series.
In order for young collectors to continue buying the gum, the number 106 of the 1933 series was originally not used. The deception has been discovered. In the following year Goudey created a 1933-106 to provide it to angry fans. This card with the effigy of retired champion Napoleon Lajoie is the rarest in the series and no copy was stained by gum. A 1933-106 graded Mint 9 by PSA was sold for $ 230K by Goldin on October 1, 2016.
A sale dedicated to 1933 Goudey by Heritage on January 24, 2019 highlighted three cards graded Mint 9 by PSA : a Gehrig sold for $ 580K and two Ruth for $ 530K (# 144) and $ 460K (# 181). Two years before, a VG-EX 4 Goudey-Ruth cards did not exceed $ 15K and signed cards were of interest only to specialist collectors.
Goudey Gum Company is a leader in the chewing gum market. The founder of the company retires in 1932. In 1933 the new management includes silkscreen printed cards in the gum packs. The drawing executed from a photograph is simple and the colors are bright. The back includes in full format a short descriptive text beside the identification of the publisher, which was much more attractive at that place than on a postcard.
The most important series is devoted entirely to baseball players under the title of Big League Chewing Gum. Its 240 images are published by Goudey in Boston. 94 of them are renumbered and published in Montreal by World Wide Gum Company which was the Goudey branch in Canada.
The editions released in the same year include a multi-sport series of 48 cards for the Sport Kings chewing gum, 216 Indian views for the Indian chewing gum and two other series of 48 cards : Boy Scouts and Sea Raiders.
The Goudey Big League series, inserted in 1933 and 1934 in the Gum wax packs of that brand, brings a quality glow within the decadence of the 1930s trading cards, in competition with postcards. It is made of 240 positions including four Babe Ruth at position numbers 53, 144, 149, 181. Number 181 is a close-up portrait on which the leaning champion carefully observes an action out of the field of view. This picture is not included in the other series.
In order for young collectors to continue buying the gum, the number 106 of the 1933 series was originally not used. The deception has been discovered. In the following year Goudey created a 1933-106 to provide it to angry fans. This card with the effigy of retired champion Napoleon Lajoie is the rarest in the series and no copy was stained by gum. A 1933-106 graded Mint 9 by PSA was sold for $ 230K by Goldin on October 1, 2016.
A sale dedicated to 1933 Goudey by Heritage on January 24, 2019 highlighted three cards graded Mint 9 by PSA : a Gehrig sold for $ 580K and two Ruth for $ 530K (# 144) and $ 460K (# 181). Two years before, a VG-EX 4 Goudey-Ruth cards did not exceed $ 15K and signed cards were of interest only to specialist collectors.
1
# 53 Mint 9 by PSA
2021 SOLD for $ 4.2M by Memory Lane
The star lot of the collection of the late Thomas Newman was a 1933 Goudey # 53 featuring Ruth with bat on shoulder and yellow background. It was sold for $ 4.2M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021, lot 1. It is the only card of this position graded Mint 9 by PSA with none higher and none equal or higher by SGC.
2
# 53 NM-MT 8 by PSA
2022 SOLD for $ 940K by Memory Lane
A 1933 Goudey card # 53 featuring Babe Ruth on a yellow background was sold for $ 940K by Memory Lane on May 21, 2022, lot 1. It is one of 14 units graded NM-MT 8 by PSA.
Its visual brilliance like pack fresh is considered by Memory Lane as better than the Newman example having the only higher grade granted by PSA on this variety, sold for $ 4.2M by the same auction house in 2021.
Its visual brilliance like pack fresh is considered by Memory Lane as better than the Newman example having the only higher grade granted by PSA on this variety, sold for $ 4.2M by the same auction house in 2021.
3
# 144 NM-MT+ 8.5 by PSA
2023 SOLD for $ 1.07M by Heritage
A 1933 Goudey # 144 graded NM- MT+ 8.5 by PSA was sold for $ 1.07M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80018.
4
# 181 Mint 9 by PSA
2021 SOLD for $ 1.27M by Memory Lane
The PSA graded population of the 1933 Goudey # 181 featuring Ruth with resting elbow and green background includes a single Gem Mint 10 and a total of six Mint 9.
Also graded Mint 9 by PSA, the example from the Newman collection was sold for $ 1.27M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021, lot 2.
On August 2, 2018, Goldin sold for $ 320K as lot 21 a copy of the Goudey 1933-181 graded Mint 9 by PSA, very rare in this condition with perfect centering, very fresh colors, very clean edges and the four corners intact. Another Mint 9 example was sold for $ 460K by Heritage on January 24, 2019, lot 50181.
Also graded Mint 9 by PSA, the example from the Newman collection was sold for $ 1.27M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021, lot 2.
On August 2, 2018, Goldin sold for $ 320K as lot 21 a copy of the Goudey 1933-181 graded Mint 9 by PSA, very rare in this condition with perfect centering, very fresh colors, very clean edges and the four corners intact. Another Mint 9 example was sold for $ 460K by Heritage on January 24, 2019, lot 50181.
