An incredibly rare and highly sought-after 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, featuring baseball legend Babe Ruth in his debut season, is set to be the star attraction of an upcoming auction. With only ten such graded postcards known to exist, this find is a remarkable opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The prestigious auction house, Heritage Auctions, will present this historic item in its highly anticipated February Platinum Auction. Notably, this card holds the highest graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card and has received a PSA rating of 6. The pre-sale estimate suggests that it could fetch upwards of $1 million at auction.
The postcard itself showcases the Red Sox team, described as the “American League Champions,” a clear indicator of its possible issuance before or during the 1915 World Series. In the team photograph, Babe Ruth stands prominently in the back row.
During the World Series that year, the Red Sox played their games at Braves Field, the stadium of the city’s National League team. This decision was made due to Braves Field’s larger seating capacity, eclipsing that of Fenway Park, which was a relatively new construction at the time.
Each member of the Red Sox team is identified by surname and playing position on the postcard. Notably, Ruth is shown standing next to Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher. Mays would later join Ruth to play for the 1920 New York Yankees, but is unfortunately remembered for a tragic incident in which his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that same year. The card also features Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper.
This auction follows the recent sale of a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card, which fetched an astonishing $7.25 million. Interestingly, both the 1914 and 1915 cards have the same population of ten each in their graded category.
Heritage Auctions has described this 1915 postcard as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the hobby’s auction market, emphasizing its rarity and historical value.
Prospective bidders and fans of Babe Ruth should mark their calendars, as the auction bidding is scheduled to commence on February 2nd. This momentous event promises to captivate baseball history collectors and fans alike, eager to lay their hands on a piece of Babe Ruth’s rookie season legacy.
