Babe Ruth is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and his legendary status and iconic career have made some of his vintage baseball cards incredibly valuable collectors items. Ruth played for 22 seasons between 1914 and 1935, primarily for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, and dominated the game like no other player before him. He set numerous career records that still stand today, including home runs (714), runs batted in (2,213), extra base hits (1,330), and total bases (5,721). Given his unparalleled accomplishments on the field and his larger-than-life persona off it, Ruth cards from the early 20th century have become hugely sought after by collectors and can fetch millions of dollars at auction for the rarest examples in pristine condition.
One of the most expensive Babe Ruth cards ever sold is his 1914 Baltimore News baseball card, which achieved a record price of $5.2 million when it was auctioned off by SCP Auctions in 2016. This is widely considered the key card to the entire Babe Ruth collection due to its immense rarity—it is believed there are only about 50 copies known to exist in all grades. What makes this particular example so valuable is not just its status as one of the earliest documented Ruth cards from his playing days in Baltimore, but also its condition—it grades PSA Authentic NM-MT 8, meaning it is both authentic and near mint to mint quality. At the time of sale, it surpassed the previous record for a single sports card ($3.12 million for a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner in 2007) and set a new standard for what collectors are willing to pay for the best of the best.
Another exceedingly rare and expensive Ruth card is his 1915 Cracker Jack card, often referred to as the “holy grail” of the hobby. Like the 1914 Baltimore News issue, it is believed only 50-100 of these were printed during the one year it was issued as an insert in Cracker Jack boxes. The finest known PSA 8 copy of the 1915 Cracker Jack Babe Ruth card sold for $5.2 million in 2019, achieving the highest public auction price for any sports card at the time. Other high-dollar examples include a PSA 5 copy that went for $2.88 million in 2016 and a PSA 6 that sold for $1.26 million in 2018. The immense rarity and superior condition of the PSA 8 example that broke records in 2019 demonstrate just how coveted and valuable this early depiction of Ruth has become for serious collectors.
While the 1914 Baltimore News and 1915 Cracker Jack issues are undoubtedly the two most important Ruth rookie cards, there are several others from his early playing career that can also fetch millions. His 1916 Sporting News card, which was issued as part of a larger set, sold for $1.08 million in January 2016 for a PSA 8 copy. Another key Ruth rookie is his 1918 Boston Red Sox Real Photo Postcard, which like the 1914 and 1915 issues, was only produced in small quantities. A PSA 8.5 example of the 1918 Ruth card sold at auction for $1.265 million in 2021. Even common issues from Ruth’s Boston and early Yankees years that grade high can sell for six figures—a PSA 8 copy of his 1920 W516 Old Judge card went for $657,250 in a 2013 auction.
Beyond Ruth’s true rookie cards from 1914-1918, some of his most iconic and high-dollar issues come from later in his career with the Yankees during their dynasty years of the 1920s. His 1920 W515 Yankees card, which was part of the larger W515 set depicting players from multiple teams, has achieved prices up to $649,000 for top-graded specimens. Another highly valued Ruth Yankees issue is his 1921 W516 card, considered a key post-rookie card since it was one of the earliest to picture him in pinstripes. A PSA 8 copy of the 1921 W516 Ruth sold for $657,250 in 2016. Issues like his 1923 W517 and 1924 W513 cards can also reach six figures for pristine PSA 8-9 examples due to their visual connection to Ruth’s peak years in pinstripes.
While the cards discussed above represent the true high-end, multi-million-dollar territory for rare Babe Ruth rookies and key early issues, there are still plenty of other collectibles from his career that routinely sell in the five and six figure range. For example, autographed items like signed photos, balls, and bats regularly make $100,000+ at auction. Even common cards from the 1920s-30s that grade well, such as 1933 Goudey and 1934 Goudey Ruths, have achieved prices up to $50,000 for mint PSA 9 specimens. The immense historical significance and larger-than-life persona of Babe Ruth have cemented him as one of the most iconic figures not just in baseball but in all of American popular culture. As a result, any collectibles directly tied to the legendary “Sultan of Swat” almost certainly hold tremendous value, especially those in pristine condition from his formative early playing days.
