THE SULTAN OF SWAT’S 1916 DEBUT AT LAST TAKES ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AMONG THE HOLY GRAILS OF THE HOBBY
Written by Robert Wilonsky.
Within their respectable group, the Heritage Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction, which proceeds to extended bidding on February 25 and 26, presents many notable rookie cards as always.
An impeccable 10 signature with a grade of BGS Near Mint-Mint+ 8.5 is being presented here, which belongs to the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket rookie card of an already retired Tom Brady, with the card being numbered 67/100. Additionally, there is a signature set marked as 10, graded BGS Near Mint-Mint+ 8.5, and this particular autographed patch card is numbered 12 out of a limited edition of 23, featuring LeBron James from the 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection. Included in the iconic 1952 Topps collection, which marks the debut of the Commerce Comet, is a Mickey Mantle card graded as Near Mint-Mint 8 by PSA.
“The highest amount ever paid for any sports item, card, or memorabilia remains the $12.6 million spent by one collector on the Mantle 9.5 Mint+ SGC. Over the months, there has been a long-standing tussle between investors and collectors to acquire this particular item, especially the high-graded examples of the Mantle ’52 card, which are highly coveted by all.”
There is something so symbolic about the image on the front of the 1916 Ruth card, and, eventually, collectors started to realize how special this card is.”
– Joe Orlando, Executive Vice President of Sports, Heritage Auctions
This is the first break of the seven-figure barrier. Heritage has offered more than a dozen rookies over the years, with ads or candy-company or furniture bearing backs. This one is particularly significant as it bears a remarkable Near Mint grade of SGC 7 and boasts a back from the Sporting News M101-4 series. But before the close of the auction, Felix Mendelsohn, the printer-based in Chicago, had already passed the million-dollar mark with three weeks left. Only one rookie card of Babe Ruth’s debut, produced in 1916, had achieved this million-dollar milestone.
“It’s long overdue to consider all the great attributes of the card, which means what the hobby is to collect all the checks and boxes. Orlando Mendelsohn, the Vice Executive President of Joe Sports Auctions Heritage, has extensively written about the series of Ruth rookie cards alongside other early offerings from Hall of Famers in the 1916 M101-5/M101-4.”
Ruth was arguably the greatest player in baseball and the world’s first superstar of the sport. Of course, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this tug of war over him was already heated, considering the context of the war.
“Roger Angell, the great writer, once wrote, ‘He stands alone as the ultimate American sports hero, capable of sustaining all our memories of boyhood and embodying the myth.’
The Ruth rookie card from The Sporting News received surprisingly minimal recognition beyond the hobby, despite being available for relatively affordable prices in the mid-five figures until approximately 15 years ago. In fact, for many decades, baseball’s other highly sought-after items, such as the T-206 Honus Wagner or the 1952 Mantle, were rarely, if ever, mentioned with the same level of excitement as the Ruth rookie card.
“There was a shared delayed response understanding the significance of that card,” Orlando says.
Ivy Chris, the Founder and Director of Sports Heritage, explains why the 1933 Goudey set is significant. The set includes multiple versions of a black-and-white photo of Babe Ruth pitching for the Red Sox in 1916, while he was still playing for them. It also features a round-faced slugger in pinstripes, which is a departure from the larger-than-life image we are accustomed to of Babe Ruth.
“Orlando says he is not yet The Sultan of Swat.”
Recently, collectors could acquire high-grade examples of rookie Ruth for well under six figures, as Orlando and Ivy say. This is because the value of a card tied to the overall popularity of the set in which it was featured, which was the 1952 Topps series or the 1933 Goudey collection, or even the 1914-15 Cracker Jacks and T206 tobacco cards from the turn-of-the-century.
Orlando states that the Mendelsohn collection lacks the renowned reputation of those series. It was not highly popular, and historically, if the cards were not part of a widely collected set, they were treated differently within the hobby. However, people eventually recognized the importance of certain individual cards, even if the complete set was not revered. The image on the front of the 1916 Ruth card holds a symbolic significance, and over time, collectors began to appreciate the uniqueness of this card. It serves as a reminder of various aspects, from ‘The Curse’ to the fact that Ruth had the potential to become a Hall of Fame-worthy pitcher if he did not possess such an exceptional batting ability.
Orlando states that the Winter Heritage’s sports night auction showcased a prominent collection, which included the signed Iron Horse card from the 1925 Exhibits set, featuring Lou Gehrig’s rookie card, making it one of the most valuable and sought-after items in the hobby.
“He states, chuckling, that it is Babe Ruth, a renowned name. However, the Sporting News edition of this card adds a slightly more enticing aspect for numerous collectors due to its association with the world of sports. He expresses that it is a long-awaited occurrence, as individuals have finally come to the realization that they do not require the remaining cards in the set. Orlando once wrote that the 1916 Ruth rookie rightfully belongs on any trading card equivalent to Mount Rushmore.”