1916 M101-4 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth Rookie

Sold For:

$54,000

Year:

1916

Auction:

2018 Fall

Lot #:

651

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Very presentable example of Babe Ruth's rookie card, universally regarded as one of card collecting's most recognizable and highly prized baseball-card rarities. This is a card that is a classic in any condition, and it is a great pleasure for us to be able to offer an authentic example in any grade. It would be hard for a piece of cardboard to better symbolize the history, the 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. 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! This is a very attractive, technically sheet-cut example. We are very familiar with this particular card as this is the second time we have had the privilege of offering it at auction. This card originally appeared on an uncut sheet of M101-4 Sporting News that we offered as lot #478 in REA's Spring 2010 auction. The cut is done so well that if you were not aware of it you might not even notice; it is otherwise in Vg+ condition, but it has rightfully been encapsulated as "Authentic" by SGC. The card displays a crisp image, strong corners, and a few light surface creases. It is still a very striking card with tremendous eye-appeal. The blank back is clean. Recent auction results have signaled a tremendous increase in demand (and prices realized) for all items related to Ruth, and the offered card is at the top of any list of important items around which to build a collection. This is a rather exciting card in that it is a relatively affordable example of one of the most famous and highly prized of all baseball cards, potentially available at a fraction of the cost of a numerically graded example sharing virtually all of the same qualities. Reserve $10,000. Estimate (open).