Top Babe Ruth Cards to Collect
Welcome to the realm of Babe Ruth’s rookie cards and beyond, where the aura of baseball’s greatest legend permeates every corner. With an unmatched career spanning 714 home runs, a .342 batting average, and a larger-than-life persona that captivated a nation, Babe Ruth’s legacy is unparalleled. As the value of his cards skyrockets, the legacy of the Sultan of Swat continues to shine bright, reminding us all of his enduring impact on the game. This is a list dedicated to preserving and celebrating the timeless legacy of Babe Ruth through the art of collecting his most coveted cards.
Babe Ruth Cards
1921 Schapira Brother Candy Portrait
The marketing tactics employed for the 1921 Schapira Brother Candy portrait would have made the folks on Mad Men jealous. First, Schapira Brother Candy utilized strip cards, a popular collectible at the time, to sell its candy. Secondly, they capitalized on the endorsement of the greatest baseball player and arguably the most marketable athlete on Earth at the time, Babe Ruth. Acquiring one of these portraits required purchasing a significant amount of candy, but the reward of an autographed baseball from Ruth himself made it a sweet deal indeed.
1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth
Gone are the days when even a piece of bubble gum could be bought for 25 cents. However, back in 1921, collectors could snag the 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth card for just a penny. That’s right, a single cent. Exhibit Supply Company made waves by releasing its first dedicated trading card product that year, and collectors likely went wild for the opportunity.
1933 R319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth
In 1933, the Goudey Gum Company released a set that included four Babe Ruth cards, one of which was the 1933 B319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth. While various companies, including Goudey had issued Ruth cards since 1914, some collectors regard the 1933 Goudey cards as his first official rookie cards, despite them being produced toward the latter end of his career. These cards command staggering prices, sometimes reaching into the millions, making them akin to rare diamonds in the world of collecting.
1921 E220 National Caramel
The 1921 E220 National Caramel card captures Babe Ruth in a classic post-swing pose, exuding the power and dominance that defined his career. In 1921, “The Sultan of Swat” continued his reign as the home run king, leading the American League for the fourth consecutive season with an impressive tally of 59 homers—second only to his own record. Happy Hunting!
1932 R328 U.S. Caramel #32 Babe Ruth
The 1932 R38 U.S. Caramel #32 Babe Ruth could be Ruth’s album cover. The image is clean and the red background really offsets the card. “The Sultan of Swat” sounds like the easy choice for The Babe’s mixtape title. Coming to Spotify soon!
