The fall event at Robert Edward Auctions is attracting attention in the sports memorabilia world, with a rare piece of baseball history stealing the spotlight well before the final bids are placed. This time, it’s not the famous 1914 Baltimore News card, but rather a scarce 1921 Frederick Foto card depicting the legendary baseball figure Babe Ruth. The bidding for this card, one of just six known to exist, has already reached an impressive $110,000 as of Sunday evening. Graded at a 2 by SGC, this card is not only valuable but also in rare vintage condition.
What makes the Frederick Foto card even more unique is its relative obscurity compared to the already scarce Baltimore News card. The 1921 series, which featured both major and minor league players, remains shrouded in mystery, with a complete checklist yet to be confirmed. These cards are not numbered, making it even more challenging for collectors to assemble a full set. However, it is estimated that the series comprises over 100 cards.
The Frederick Foto Service of Sacramento, California is credited with issuing these cards. However, the quality of production was far from perfect. The player photographs were simply glued onto cardboard, with the player’s name, team, and the Frederick Foto brand displayed on the front. The reverse side of these cards remains blank. While the size of the cards generally resembles tobacco cards from that era, inconsistencies are common, likely due to crude production techniques or subsequent trimming. These variations often result in cards with disproportionately large white borders.
Determining the exact release date of the series has been a subject of debate among collectors. While 1921 is widely accepted as the year of issue, some experts disagree on the specific timing.
What makes the Babe Ruth card from this series particularly noteworthy is the combination of his ‘N.Y.’ insignia, representing the Yankees, on the front, and his depiction in a Red Sox uniform, the team he played for before joining the Yankees in 1920. This adds to its rarity as one of the earliest cards associating Ruth with the Yankees, making it immensely sought-after by collectors.
Another unique attribute of this card is the photograph itself. Robert Edward Auctions has noted that this specific image of Ruth does not appear on any other card, nor can it be found in any other type of media. It stands as a singular representation of the baseball legend.
With the auction set to conclude on December 3, this rare slice of baseball memorabilia is already generating excitement among collectors and historians alike. The bidding war for this 1921 Babe Ruth card is shaping up to be quite a noteworthy event in the world of sports collectibles.
