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, 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
1916 M101-4 #151 Babe Ruth
Most remember Ruth as a portly fellow, but in 1916, he was a lean, mean, pitching machine, yet to add on any extra weight. The 1916 M101-4 / M101-5 #151 Babe Ruth card showcases “The Babe” in his younger days and is regarded by some as one of his rookie cards. During his pitching days, Ruth boasted an impressive 2.28 lifetime ERA and even achieved over 20 wins in two seasons, including 1916.
1916 W-UNC Big Head Strip Card Babe Ruth
This Basquiat of a Ruth card is one of the earliest strip cards ever produced. Landing one of these is like a 16th seed winning the NCAA Tournament. There’s always a possibility but it most likely won’t ever happen.
1928 Fro-Joy Champions Series #1 Babe Ruth
Ruth’s larger-than-life persona opened doors to numerous brand opportunities, including the Frozen Joy Ice Cream Company. During “Cone Week” from August 6-11, 1928, Fro-Joy released a set of six cards featuring its spokesperson, “The Babe,” to enhance the brand’s appeal. And did it work? Absolutely. With Ruth’s endorsement, the cards undoubtedly boosted Fro-Joy’s popularity. One can only imagine how Ruth would have dominated the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) space as a college baseball player.
1921 Oxford Confectionary Babe Ruth
Supposedly there are less than 30 1921 Oxford Confectionary Babe Ruth’s left in existence. That alone deserves a spot on this list.
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth
From Baltimore’s St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys to the hometown team’s farm system, Ruth’s rags to riches story almost sounds like a subplot on the HBO classic, The Wire. The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth stands as Ruth’s very first card and has sold for as much as $7.2 billion. There are rumblings it could one day exceed Mickey Mantle’s ’52 Topps card. Be on the lookout.
