Owning a Babe Ruth rookie card is the ultimate for most vintage card collectors. Whether you call his 1914 Baltimore News card a rookie or the more common 1916 photo that pictures him in a big league uniform for the first time, it’s a major score if you can land one.
Of course, it h
elps to have some serious disposable income.
The latest Ruth rookie card to change hands is a 1916 Weil Baking Company example sold early Thursday morning in Goodwin & Company’s Masterpieces & Uncommon Commons sale. Graded SGC 40, it brought 18 bids after a $5,000 opener and sold for $32,683 including the buyer’s premium.
One of just a handful of Weil Baking Ruth cards ever graded, the Weil ad on the back is always a magnet for serious vintage card hobbyists.
A group of high grade T206 cards also drew some competitive offers, led by a Rube Waddell, graded PSA 9. One of only two 9’s with none graded higher by PSA, the card sold for $28, 970. A T206 Chief Bender, also graded 9 brought $17, 785.
Another rare Babe Ruth card, his 1933 R306 Buttercream, was offered in the auction. The PSA 1 example sold for $22,170.
Among the 19th century issues was an 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Harry Wright, graded SGC 40. It closed with a final realized price of $19,133.
Other sales included:
- 1951 Bowman Ralph Branca PSA 9 $12,470
- 1951 Bowman Joe Page PSA 9 $12,130
- 1960 Topps Hank Aaron PSA 9 $9816
- Charles Conlon Type 1 original Joe Jackson photo $9227
- 1961 Topps set graded PSA 7-9 $9149
- 1971 Topps set graded PSA 8-9 $8388
For complete results, click here.
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