They were handed out to youngsters at a department store in the northern U.S. 108 years ago next month. Only a small number of survivors still exist from the 200-card set distributed through Gimbel’s but now a fresh-to-the-hobby copy of the best one in the set—Babe Ruth’s rookie card—is about to come up for auction.
Bonhams in New York says it will offer a PSA 5 1916 Gimbel’s Ruth that’s been in the same family since the present owner’s grandfather acquired it as a ten-year-old growing up in Milwaukee.
The card is one of only five authenticated and graded by PSA. SGC has graded only three over the years. It’s expected to sell for $$250,000-$500,000 when the auction opens next week.
It wouldn’t be surprising if bidding surpasses the high end of the estimate. In 2021, an SGC 2 copy sold for $313,200 via Heritage Auctions. In 2016, an SGC 4 netted $216,000 at Robert Edward Auctions.
Like many rare cards of Ruth and other icons, values have skyrocketed over the last 20 years. In 2006, the last PSA 5 was sold through SCP Auctions for what is considered a bargain price today–$29,015.
The Ruth card is part of a wide-ranging set called M101-4, produced by Chicago area photographer and publisher Felix Mendelsohn. The fronts of the cards show players in uniform. What’s on the back depends on how and where they were distributed. Some are blank. Some carry an ad for The Sporting News. Others were purchased by businesses for use in various promotional events.
As we wrote back in 2015, Gimbel’s gave the cards away in sets of 20 to youngsters who came to the store’s Boy’s Clothing section. Ten weekly visits would have resulted in a complete set, but it’s safe to say now that few families made the trek that often. Fewer than 200 total Gimbel’s cards have been graded between PSA and SGC.
The Ruth card exhibits some light corner wear but is otherwise in excellent condition. Of the five graded by PSA, four have now been given the EX 5 rating. SGC’s three copies were graded 2, 4 and 5.5.
Bidding in Bonham’s Fine Books and Manuscripts auction will take place from March 31 through April 10 when it will conclude in a live format.
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