1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth Rookie Brings $200,000

January 26, 2012 By Editor

A PSA 7-graded blank back 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth smashed all records for the issue early Thursday morning when it sold at auction for $200,168. Goodwin & Company sold the card in its first auction of 2012.

One of three at the PSA 7 level, the card represents one of the six highest graded Ruth cards from the issue that pictures him as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

According to the auction house, rising prices for Ruth rookie cards has been a trend..and with good reason if you compare them to other high priced cards.

The combined SGC and PSA “Pop” charts list approximately 85 Eddie Plank T206 encapsulated specimens against only some 70+ examples for the Babe Ruth rookie card (including “blank backs” and all back advertisements). Plank cards in VG condition have been selling in the $60-70,000 range at auction, much higher than the 1916 Ruth cards.

Of course, the Plank is associated with the famous T206 set which has thousands of die-hard collectors pursuing at least part of it. As the auction company stated in its listing, however, the M101 Ruth represents baseball’s most famous icon.

Recent sales have included $42,000 for a “VG-3”; $65,000 for an “EX+ 5.5”, and $75,000 for a “VG-EX+ 4.5”.

High grade examples of the 1916 Sporting New Ruth are very rare. The card sold overnight generated 19 bids and the final price included a 19% buyer's premium.