It’s not every day that the attic of an Ohio home is likened to the discovery of hidden treasure. But when siblings stumbled upon an old cigar box in their parents’ attic, they were, unbeknownst to them, holding a jackpot of baseball history. Packed within that dusty container was a trove of vintage baseball cards that would later score them a nifty sum at auction: $120,000 to be precise.
The auction, orchestrated by Stark County’s Kiko Auctions, showcased cards brimming with star power, the crown jewel of which was none other than a trove of rare Babe Ruth cards. These cards weren’t just any old collectibles; they were part of the illustrious 1933 Goudey Big League Gum set. For the uninitiated, the 1933 Goudey series is something akin to the Mona Lisa among baseball card collectors. It was the first set to come with a piece of chewing gum, a marketing stroke of genius that catapulted it into the annals of card-collecting history and ensured its place as a must-have in every purist’s collection.
Over a six-day online auction that began on May 28, baseball aficionados from all corners tuned in to watch the bids roll in. Guided by their hunch about the cards’ worth, the family hit a home run with these baseball treasures. According to The Canton Repository, out of the 623 lots offered in this auction, the majority were baseball cards, with more than 200 hailing from the coveted 1933 Goudey set.
When the dust settled on June 2, the auction had successfully garnered $120,699 in winning bids, which, with a 10% internet premium appended alongside a 6.5% sales tax, took the final price to a grand total of over $140,000. Among the varied bidders, one in particular appeared to have a keen eye for pre-war collectibles, walking away with a significant haul of cards.
The pièce de résistance? A rare 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card set against a striking red backdrop that fetched a robust $8,000. Along with four other Ruth cards in the collection, these slices of baseball lore netted a combined $35,250 pre-fees and taxes.
But before you rush into your own attic with dreams of similar windfalls, it’s worth noting that these cards, although time-worn and somewhat fragile, had not undergone professional grading. As any collector knows, the condition and grading of a card can dramatically influence its market value. By choosing not to professionally grade these cards, the siblings inadvertently injected a bit of mystery and a pinch of risk into the mix. For collectors worldwide, it’s this reverie — the possibility of hidden gems and unpolished diamonds — that fuels the thrill of the chase.
In the vast tapestry of America’s baseball history, these cards are not just pieces of cardboard; they are stories and snapshots of an era bygone. As they changed hands virtually, fetching impressive sums, the cards drew together a community bonded by nostalgia, each collector hoping to capture a piece of that forgotten magic.
This saga of an unassuming attic transforming into a figurative vault highlights the timeless allure of baseball’s rich legacy. The Goudey Babe Ruth cards’ journey from a forgotten storage box to internet fame underscores the enduring charm of America’s pastime. So, as the bidders revel in their winnings, somewhere in Ohio, two siblings quietly celebrate a serendipitous discovery that transcended mere monetary gain, connecting past to present through the simple joy of baseball.
