1915 M101-5 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth Rookie PSA NM 7

Sold For:

$44,062

Year:

1915

Auction:

2008 Spring

Lot #:

477

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Graded NM 7 by PSA. Extraordinary example of Babe Ruth's rookie card, universally regarded as one of card collecting's most recognizable and highly prized baseball card rarities. It would be hard for a piece of cardboard to symbolize more history, more essence of American sport, than this Sporting News rookie card of Babe Ruth. Ruth had only pitched in four games with Boston in 1915 but fortunately impressed the card manufacturer enough to warrant inclusion in this major issue. The distinction between the rookie status of the M101-4 and M101-5 Ruth cards, which feature the very same image and card number, has been blurred since it has been discovered that both sets were actually issued in 1916. It is our opinion that both qualify for the equivalent status as Ruth's first Major League card. (Note: The 1914 Baltimore News card of Ruth featuring him as a minor leaguer, of course, predates both the M101-4/5 issues.) The rookie card of Babe Ruth is one of the most significant cards in all of card collecting. Although this card was issued with a blank reverse or with one of many different regional advertisements on the reverse, the set has always been referred to as issued by The Sporting News in honor of its most prominent sponsor. This is an outstanding Near Mint example, with superb clarity, flawless surface, perfectly fresh, crisp, and flawlessly clean, both front and back, and some minor print snow related to the manufacturing process. The closest examination of the corners under magnification reveals the most minute touch of wear at tips. Centered to the top right border (the card is often plagued by serious centering problems), with a crisp, flawless image of a slender Ruth in his pitching follow-through. The blank-back reverse is perfectly clean. This is an outstanding high-grade example of one of the most significant and highly prized of all baseball cards. The SMR value for the assigned grade is $50,000. A higher-quality PSA NM 7 of this card was offered in REA's April 2007 auction and sold for a record $82,250. Reserve $10,000. Estimate (open). SOLD FOR $44,062.50