Babe Ruth Rookie Card Sells for $4 Million at Auction

NEW YORK — A historic Babe Ruth baseball card broke records by selling for $4.026 million at Heritage Auctions‘ Fall Sports Catalog Auction on Friday. This 1914 Baltimore News rookie card is among the rarest in existence, with fewer than a dozen known copies.

The card captures a young Ruth at just 19 years old, pitching in the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles. Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, noted, “It is also one of the rarest cards of any issued during Ruth’s career, with only 10 examples ever graded and encapsulated.”

This significant piece of baseball history was once displayed at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, where Ruth was born. Known as the “Sultan of Swat,” Ruth transformed baseball first as a star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and then as a legendary slugger for the New York Yankees from 1920 to 1934. He passed away in 1948 at the age of 53.

During the auction, only the second time a Baltimore News Ruth card has sold in a decade, the final bid underscored the intense demand for rare sports memorabilia. The sale is indicative of a booming market for items linked to baseball’s most iconic figures.

This card’s backstory reflects Ruth’s journey from a local pitcher to a national hero, showcasing the beginning of his remarkable career. Collectors have always valued early cards as significant points in Ruth’s life.

With fewer than ten copies in existence, the 1914 Baltimore News card represents a tangible piece of baseball history. Its sale emphasizes Babe Ruth’s ongoing influence and appeal among collectors, making it one of the most sought-after items in the memorabilia market today.