1915 Boston Red Sox Real-Photo Team Postcard with Babe Ruth Rookie

Sold For:

$114,000

Year:

1915

Auction:

2024 Summer

Lot #:

799

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Presented is a rarely offered example of one of the great treasures of all Babe Ruth cards and all baseball postcards: the classic "American League Champions" 1915 real-photo postcard of the Boston Red Sox dating from Babe Ruth's rookie season. The postcard pictures the Boston Red Sox in a posed team photo that includes Babe Ruth, who is seen standing in the back row. Each member of the club is identified in print atop his image, including Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper, Joe Wood, and manager Bill Carrigan. "The Boston Red Sox - American League Champions - Season 1915" appears in white letters below. This postcard has long been recognized as one of the premier baseball postcards in the collecting world, as well as representing one of the very few cards which can truly lay claim to being Babe Ruth's rookie card. In addition to its great rarity, this may be the very first card featuring Babe Ruth with the Boston Red Sox in the major leagues. (The traditional M101-4/5 card of Ruth dates from 1916.) The card (5.5 x 3.5 inches), which has not been addressed or mailed, displays outstanding picture quality and contrast. There is a tiny surface crease visible on the left border, light corner wear, and evidence of album removal on the reverse. Encapsulated as Authentic by PSA (submitted by REA). This is truly a stunning example of one of Ruth's most important cards, and one that would be among the highlights of even the most advanced baseball-card or baseball-postcard collections. Opening Bid $10,000.