An exceedingly rare and highly sought-after 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, which features Babe Ruth in his debut season, is set to be auctioned later this month. This piece of baseball memorabilia is one of just ten such graded postcards known to exist, making it a remarkable find for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The auction house, Heritage Auctions, is getting ready to present this item in its highly anticipated February Platinum Auction. This card is the highest-graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card, earning a PSA rating of 6. It carries a pre-sale estimate that suggests it could fetch upwards of $1 million, a testament to its rarity and historical significance.
The postcard itself showcases the Red Sox team, labeled as the “American League Champions,” indicating it was likely issued before or during the 1915 World Series. Babe Ruth is prominently featured in the back row of the team photograph, marking his impressive debut season.
During the 1915 World Series, the Red Sox played their games at Braves Field, the stadium that belonged to the city’s National League team. This decision was made due to Braves Field’s larger seating capacity compared to Fenway Park, which was still relatively new at the time.
On the postcard, each member of the Red Sox team is identified by surname and playing position. Ruth is shown standing next to Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher. Interestingly, Mays would later join Ruth in playing for the 1920 New York Yankees and is infamous for a tragic incident where his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that year. The card also features Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper, adding to its historical significance.
This auction follows the recent sale of a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card, which fetched a staggering $7.25 million. It is worth noting that both the 1914 and 1915 cards have the same graded population of ten each, emphasizing their rarity and desirability among collectors.
Heritage Auctions has described this 1915 postcard as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the hobby’s auction market. Its rarity and historical value make it a highly anticipated item for baseball history collectors and fans of Babe Ruth alike.
Prospective bidders and interested parties should mark their calendars for February 2nd, as that is when the auction bidding will commence. This event is sure to be a milestone for baseball history collectors and admirers of Babe Ruth, as they vie for the opportunity to own a piece of rare sports memorabilia.
