An exceedingly rare and highly sought-after 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, featuring Babe Ruth in his debut season, is set to be the highlight of an upcoming auction later this month. This remarkable piece of baseball memorabilia, one of only ten graded postcards of its kind, is expected to fetch upwards of $1 million, making it a prized find for collectors and enthusiasts.
Heritage Auctions, the renowned auction house, is presenting this item in its highly anticipated February Platinum Auction. This particular card holds the distinction of being the highest-graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card with a PSA rating of 6.
The postcard showcases the Red Sox team, labeled as the “American League Champions,” suggesting that it was issued prior to or during the 1915 World Series. The photograph prominently features Babe Ruth in the back row of the team picture.
During that year’s World Series, 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 compared to Fenway Park, which was still a relatively new construction at that time.
On the postcard, each member of the Red Sox team is identified by surname and playing position. Of particular note, Ruth is shown standing next to Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher. Mays would later join Ruth in playing for the 1920 New York Yankees and is infamously remembered for a tragic incident in which his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that 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 a staggering $7.25 million. Interestingly, both the 1914 and 1915 cards have the same graded population of ten each, further increasing their desirability among collectors.
Heritage Auctions has described the 1915 postcard as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the auction market for baseball history, highlighting its rarity and historical value.
Prospective bidders and fans of Babe Ruth should mark their calendars for February 2nd when the auction bidding begins. This event promises to be a momentous occasion for both collectors and enthusiasts of baseball history, as they have the opportunity to own a true piece of Babe Ruth’s rookie season.
