A week and a half ahead of the day he was born 130 years ago, one of the most valuable Babe Ruth cards has hit the auction block. The 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Blank Back rookie card, graded PSA Near Mint 7, is the headliner at Heritage Auctions’ newly launched Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction. The company anticipates it will sell for $2.5 million or more. By Tuesday afternoon, the bidding had already reached $808,250, factoring in the buyer’s premium.
This card is one of only two blank-back rookie Ruths graded 7 by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), with none graded higher. A similar card sold for $2.4 million back in 2021. Born on February 6, 1895, Ruth was just 21 years old at the time these cards were printed, serving as a remarkable left-handed pitching ace for the Boston Red Sox. During the 1916 season, he famously faced off against legendary Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson five times, winning four. Ruth boasted an impressive 23-12 record with a 1.75 earned run average (ERA) and nine shutouts. He also pitched a stunning 14-inning complete game during the World Series, leading Boston to the second of back-to-back championships.
The M101-4 and M101-5 baseball cards, developed by Chicago-based sports photographer Felix Mendelsohn, consisted of 200-card sets featuring most major league players active at the time. They measured 1 5/8 by 3 inches, showcasing the players on the front, but varying contents on the back depending on their distribution. Some cards were blank, some contained ads for The Sporting News. An SGC 7 card with the Sporting News advertising back sold at Heritage for $1.77 million earlier this year.
Sharp on the heels of this auction excitement, on February 8, Babe Ruth’s legacy will be celebrated with the installation of a new statue titled “Babe Calls the Shot.” This nine-foot, two-inch statue, created by Plant City artist Blake Emory, will be unveiled at North Shore Park, St. Petersburg. The statue commemorates one of Ruth’s most iconic moments from the 1932 World Series when he pointed to the outfield before hitting his famous home run at Wrigley Field.
Tom Stevens, Ruth’s grandson, is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Kids and Kubs Annual Mayor’s Game on the same day. This event marks the centenary of Ruth’s historic presence during spring training sessions held annually from 1925 to 1935 in St. Petersburg, where he played for the New York Yankees until 1934 and the Boston Braves thereafter.
The statue’s dedication and the auction of Ruth’s baseball card demonstrate how the legacy of the legendary slugger continues to resonate deeply within American culture. While Ruth’s contributions to baseball have been lauded over the decades, events like these serve as reminders of his unparalleled impact and the lasting affection fans hold for him.
Since the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame was established, it has honored many, but the first elective honors on January 29, 1936, included Ruth alongside legends like Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson. The Hall of Fame had its beginnings amid the Great Depression when hopes were pinned on baseball to revitalize local economies, with Cooperstown chosen as its headquarters largely for its potential to attract tourism.
The story of how the Hall of Fame came to be entwines with the mythologizing of Ruth’s legacy; his stature not only within the game but broadly interpreted as part of American folklore continues to grow. While the tales of remarkable games and record-breaking performances might fade over time, the memorabilia — such as the baseball cards being auctioned and such monuments as the statue — offer tactile reminders of his towering influence.
Looking back at his time and the many moments of brilliance encapsulated within, Ruth’s legacy is memorialized not just through sports, but the very cultural fabric of America. The events of this February will undoubtedly create more stories to add to the already rich narrative surrounding the ultimate home-run hitter.
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