The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is drawing to a close on December 3, but one particular piece of baseball history featuring the iconic Babe Ruth has already become a highlight. This isn’t the well-known 1914 Baltimore News card but instead a rare 1921 Frederick Foto card that showcases the legendary baseball figure. As of Sunday evening, early competitive bids have pushed the card’s value to an impressive $110,000. Only six of these cards, dating back a century, are known to exist, and this particular card has received a grade of 2 from SGC, further emphasizing its rarity and vintage condition.
Over the years, the value of this specific card has seen a considerable increase, with its sale brokered by REA in 2015 for a mere $42,000, which is now just a fraction of its current bid. What makes the Frederick Foto card even more unique is its obscurity in comparison to the already scarce Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which included both major and minor league players, remains surrounded by mystery to this day. A complete checklist of the series is yet to be confirmed. The absence of numbering on these cards adds an extra layer of difficulty in determining a full set, although it is estimated that there are over 100 cards in the series.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with producing these cards, though the quality of the production leaves much to be desired. The players’ photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, featuring the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand on the front. The reverse side of the cards is blank. While the size of these cards is generally consistent with tobacco cards from that era, there are often inconsistencies, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.
Collectors have debated the exact dating of the series, with 1921 being the widely accepted year of issue, although there are some disagreements regarding the precise timing.
The Babe Ruth card from this series is particularly noteworthy. Not only does it display him with the ‘N.Y.’ insignia of the Yankees, but it also intriguingly shows him wearing a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before his iconic tenure with the Yankees, which began in 1920. This detail adds to its rarity as one of the earliest cards associating Ruth with the Yankees.
A unique attribute of this card is the photograph itself. REA has acknowledged that this specific image of Ruth cannot be found on any other card or in any other type of media, making it a truly singular representation of the baseball legend.
The auction for this rare and significant piece of baseball memorabilia will conclude on December 3, and it is already generating excitement amongst collectors and historians alike. This card’s rarity, its historical significance, and the captivating image of Babe Ruth make it a definite treasure for baseball enthusiasts.
