A rare piece of baseball history has been unearthed in Danvers, Massachusetts—the 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card. This valuable find has sent shockwaves of excitement through the vintage card collecting community.
The remarkable discovery was made at a family estate sale in Danvers, where a passionate collector named Jeff Gross encountered a visitor with a trove of baseball cards. Among the collection of over 100 cards were two Babe Ruth rookie cards from his early days as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
Gross marveled at the significance of the find, highlighting that in 1916 Babe Ruth was not yet the iconic home-run-hitting legend known today but a young, skinny pitcher for the Red Sox. The Babe Ruth rookie card, part of a rare promotional series from Morehouse Bakery in Lawrence, is considered a collector’s dream due to its historical value.
The Morehouse Bakery cards are particularly prized for the unique advertising printed on the back, which sets them apart and enhances their rarity. PJ Kinsella of Robert Edward Auctions noted that the Babe Ruth rookie card, in better condition, is estimated to fetch a minimum of $500,000 when it goes under the hammer.
Assisting the card’s current owner with the sale, Gross is preparing for the upcoming auction and plans to mark the occasion with a bid-watching party alongside the lucky owner and his wife. The excitement surrounding the find has sparked humor, with Gross jesting about the lottery-like fortune the card owner has stumbled upon.
This discovery adds to a year filled with astonishing baseball card finds in Massachusetts, including the unearthing of an unopened pack of 1952 Bowman baseball cards during a home demolition in Chatham earlier in 2024. The valuable pack, still sealed, could also be valued up to a million dollars.
The spotlight remains on the Babe Ruth rookie card—a significant artifact from baseball’s golden era and a testament to the thrill of uncovering hidden treasures. The hunt for rare cards continues at Baseball Card Castle in Cranberry, where each new shipment brings anticipation and enthusiasm.
The search for elusive cards has intensified, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation among collectors. Customers like Joe Balcik are eager to try their luck, while others like Georgia Krastek have a personal mission attached to their hunt.
Interest in the card chase has grown exponentially since the Pirates announced their unique offer, attracting a diverse range of participants beyond seasoned collectors. Grandparents and grandchildren alike are joining in on the quest, fueling the buzz around the hunt.
At Baseball Card Castle, owner Jeff Patton is working tirelessly to meet the growing demand for cards and ensure that every collector has a chance to participate. The anticipation and hope surrounding the card chase continue to bring fans, families, and collectors together in a shared pursuit of something extraordinary.
The journey for rare and valuable baseball cards is not just a hobby but a phenomenon that has united a community of enthusiasts in an exhilarating chase for treasures from the past.
