Babe Ruth is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time and his baseball cards are some of the most valuable in the hobby. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of Ruth’s notable baseball cards and their estimated values.
1914 Baltimore News (R320) – This is Babe Ruth’s earliest known baseball card and was issued during his time in the minor leagues with the Baltimore Orioles. The card pictures a young Ruth at age 19 before he made his major league debut in 1914. In poor conditioned, this rare early Ruth card can sell for around $10,000. A nicely centered example in near mint to mint condition could be worth $150,000 or more given how early in Ruth’s career it captures him.
1915 Cracker Jack (R321) – Ruth’s first major league card was issued during his rookie season with the Boston Red Sox in the popular Cracker Jack baseball card series. The card pictures Ruth wearing a Red Sox uniform and cap. In worn condition, a 1915 Cracker Jack Ruth will sell for around $3,000-$5,000. High grade specimens in near mint to mint condition with sharp corners and no creases have sold at auction for $100,000 or more. This is one of the key cards for any serious Babe Ruth collection.
1916 Sporting News (R322) – Another early Ruth rookie card issued shortly after his breakout 1915 season. Like the 1915 Cracker Jack, it pictures Ruth as a member of the Red Sox. Low grade copies can sell for $2,000-$3,000 while a pristine near mint or mint example would be worth $50,000+. This is another essential Ruth card for collectors.
1916 T206 Gold Border (R323) – Considered one of the most iconic baseball cards of all-time, the 1916 T206 set featured Babe Ruth in the early days of his Red Sox career. The card stands out for its beautiful gold border design. Low grade copies sell for $5,000-$10,000 today while a true gem mint example could reach $250,000 at auction given the rarity, condition, and historical significance of the set. This is a true “holy grail” card for many collectors.
1918-19 Delineator 2 (R324) – Issued during Ruth’s early Yankees years after being sold by the Red Sox, this card pictures Ruth batting right-handed. Lower grade copies sell for $1,000-$2,000 today. Nicely centered near mint or mint copies could fetch $15,000-$25,000.
1920 W516-1 Old Mill (R325) – This is one of Babe Ruth’s earliest cards as a member of the New York Yankees after breaking the single season home run record. It pictures Ruth in a Yankees uniform. Lower grade copies sell for $2,000-$4,000 today while a pristine near mint or mint example could reach $40,000 at auction given the rarity and condition.
1921 W515-1 Sporting News (R326) – Issued after Ruth led the league in home runs for the second straight season, this card captured Ruth dominating in the early 1920s. Lower grade copies sell for $1,000-2,000 today. Near mint or mint specimens have sold for $15,000 or more.
1921 W515-2 Exhibits (R327) – Another key Ruth card from 1921 showing him in a Yankees uniform. Lower grade copies sell for $1,000-$2,000. Nicely centered near mint or gem mint specimens could reach $10,000+ given the condition.
1922 W515-4 W514-1 Exhibits (R328) – Issued after Ruth set the all-time single season home run record with 59 in 1921, this card captured him at the peak of his powers. Lower grade copies sell for $1,000-$2,000 today. Near mint or gem mint copies have sold for $10,000 or more.
1933 Goudey Baseball (R329) – One of Ruth’s most iconic cards, issued near the end of his career after moving to the Boston Braves. It pictures a smiling Ruth holding a bat. Lower grade copies sell for $500-$1,000 today. Nicely centered near mint or gem mint specimens in the $3,000-$5,000 range.
As you can see, Babe Ruth baseball cards represent some of the most historically significant and valuable cards in the hobby given his status as arguably the greatest baseball player of all time. While his earliest minor league and rookie cards from 1914-1916 are incredibly rare and can sell for over $100,000, there are still many key Ruth cards from his playing days that can be acquired for more reasonable prices depending on the grade. With such a long and illustrious career spent mostly with the Red Sox and Yankees, Ruth has many iconic cards that continue to attract collectors and command strong prices decades after he retired. Studying the different issues and tracking recent auction results is key to understanding the value of any Babe Ruth card in a collection.
