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The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card

MantleMarisFordBerraMantleMarisFordBerra Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Alright, I guess with the recent auction results of this card going for over half a million dollars it's very safe to call this the 2nd most valuable card in the hobby behind only the T-206 Wagner. In fact, the only card to ever sell for more than this price is the PSA 8 Wagner. With this in mind, I wanted to start a thread to learn a bit more about this card.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but this card is relatively new to the hobby. I do not recall hearing or reading about this card 10-20 years ago like I read about the Wagner, Plank, '33 Lajoie, Magie error etc... I'm curious as to how it was discovered and why after all these years so many seem to have surfaced. I do not know how many of these are out there, but I do know there are two different versions, one with a blue border and one with a red border. Seems like there are quite a few of these floating around considering they were unknown not too long ago.

Just curious as to everyone else's thoughts on this card & any info anyone might have about this card & series in general.

Comments

  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    They've been around for awhile...but they have not been as popular as they currently are. Always have been rare. In the 1980s....there were a handful of these circulating among some of the hobby's elite...although the true value of these was not appreciated...as money alone at that time was not able to pry examples away from those that had them (I think $10k was closer to the "value" of these 20-30 years ago).

    I think there are less than 20-25 of these floating around...some of which have surfaced only in the last few years due to the high value realized by some of the examples that have hit Lifson's auction.

    Marc
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • gumbyfangumbyfan Posts: 5,168 ✭✭✭
    I found one mixed in with some reprints in a dumpster down the road from my pawn shop a while back. I may smell like kitty litter, but I'm rich!!!
  • AUPTAUPT Posts: 806 ✭✭✭
    Probably way fewer than 20-25 known. You could have all the money in the world and I'll bet you couldn't find 10 of these.

    Also they are NOT Babe Ruth's rookie card by the usual hobby definition, considering they are a minor league, regional issue.
  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,631 ✭✭✭✭
    It's a very cool card, no matter how you look at it. I agree that it is a pre-rookie, or minor league card, and that Ruth's Sporting News issues are his true rookies. Ruth cards have always been super desirable, as have rookie cards, so it's very surprising to me that Ruth rookies took so long to take off in terms of value.
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • fkwfkw Posts: 1,766 ✭✭
    The 1914 Baltimore News set is oldschool, they (along with the 1910 set) have been around and known of for along time. The reason you didnt hear about them that often is because examples of the set are extremely rare and mainly collected by specialists. The Ruth card (true rookie, as in 1st card... ie. rookie card) puts this set on the map, otherwise you wouldnt hear of the Baltimore News cards that often unless you specialize in rare obscure "type cards".

    They are very rare, Ive owned 4 examples from this set in 27 years, and I am always looking for them.

    The 1914 cards show players from 1 of 2 teams, the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League (3rd Major League), and the Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern League (A Minor League, includes Ruth). There are 13 Terrapins and 12 Orioles in the set. They can be found in red tint or blue tint.

    There are roughly 10 total cards "discovered" of the 1914 Balt. News Ruth.

    The T206 Wagner, Plank, R319 Lajoie, etc. are far more common so you cant compare them.

    The only well known rare/high$ card that can be compared as far as value and rareity is the T206 Joe Doyle. And IMO the Joe Doyle is still the second most $$ card, 8 years ago a PSA-2 sold for $180+K. If ever an example in PSA-5+ hit the market, it will be the next $1 Million card.

  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    When you get into pre war issues regionals can and are considered rookies.

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>
    The only well known rare/high$ card that can be compared as far as value and rareity is the T206 Joe Doyle. And IMO the Joe Doyle is still the second most $$ card, 8 years ago a PSA-2 sold for $180+K. If ever an example in PSA-5+ hit the market, it will be the next $1 Million card. >>



    I'm not sure I would make that statement....Doyle is in a different class than Ruth, for any of a variety of reasons. Please do not forget the timeline:

    PSA 2 Doyle - $178+K, year 2000
    PSA 3 Doyle - $64+K, year 2003

    One grade higher sold for >60% less three years later. I'm sure if one hit the market now, it would go for an arm and a leg....but given that there are less than five Doyle's circulating, and at least one of those auctions was essentially a pissing contest between Olbermann and someone else...I don't think that it is a fair statement saying that Doyle is the second most expensive card.

    Marc
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • MantleMarisFordBerraMantleMarisFordBerra Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭
    I thought Olberman's Doyle was proved to be a fake? Seems I recall hearing a story about how when he got the card he let his limo driver look at it and the limo driver said something to the effect of, "Are you sure that N.L. isn't glued on there?"

    Anyone else recall the specifics of that?
  • MantleMarisFordBerraMantleMarisFordBerra Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭
    I thought Olberman's Doyle was proved to be a fake? Seems I recall hearing a story about how when he got the card he let his limo driver look at it and the limo driver said something to the effect of, "Are you sure that N.L. isn't glued on there?"

    Anyone else recall the specifics of that?
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Yep that is what I heard as well. I think MR. Mint sold it to him and then he (Rosen) tried to sue SGC
    over it.

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
      Yes -- the Doyle Olbermann purchased from Mr. Mint that was graded by SGC was a fake. Lawsuit ensued.
        Nonetheless, in today's present world, Olbermann owns a different (and legitimate) Doyle card.
        I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
      1. RedHeart54RedHeart54 Posts: 2,285 ✭✭✭
        Ha! I'd forgotten about that Doyle debacle!

        With regard to the Ruth is one version (red or blue) considered more scarce than the other?
      2. jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭
        How were these cards originally distrubuted?
      3. shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,631 ✭✭✭✭


        << <i>When you get into pre war issues regionals can and are considered rookies. >>



        Yes, but minor league cards are not.
        "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
      4. stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
        Our forum has been sorely missing threads like this one.

        Thanks for sharing.

        image
        So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
      5. WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
        Yes, but minor league cards are not.


        It is all a matter of opinion.

        Steve
        Good for you.
      6. DavidPuddyDavidPuddy Posts: 3,488 ✭✭✭
        Are there any pictures of this card available? I've never seen it.
        "The Sipe market is ridiculous right now"
        CDsNuts, 1/9/15
      7. fkwfkw Posts: 1,766 ✭✭
        image
      8. mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
        image
        I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
      9. RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
        Skinny guy!
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