Top 10 Babe Ruth Cards of All-Time
Babe Ruth is a player who needs no introduction and Babe Ruth cards are equally important in the hobby. Widely considered one of the greatest baseball players in history, Ruth was a star before athletes were stars. His dynamic personality and the ease with which he seemingly dominated the sport, earned him a legion of fans and collectors. As such, Babe Ruth cards are among the most sought-after collectibles in the hobby.
Originally a pitcher when he entered the league with the Boston Red Sox, Babe Ruth cemented his legacy in baseball lore as a power hitter for the New York Yankees. The 1918 trade that brought him from Boston to New York grew to mythical proportions as the Red Sox failed to win a World Series for 86 years after he left the team. "The Curse of the Bambino" was eventually broken in 2004, when Boston finally prevailed as World Series Champions. In 1921, Babe Ruth set the single-season home run record with 59. He would better that total in 1927, knocking in 60 home runs. This record would stand for 34 years until Roger Maris bested it by one home run in 1961.
When Babe Ruth finally hung up his cleats for good, he was a seven-time World Series champ and was named AL MVP in 1923. He also led the AL in total home runs for 12 seasons and total RBI for six seasons. Ruth was only named an All-Star on two occasions, but the All-Star game did not originate until 1933 and Ruth retired in 1935. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. Unfortunately, Babe Ruth died only a decade later in 1948 after a battle with cancer.
Many of the baseball cards from Babe Ruth's playing days are obscure offerings with a limited release. However, the ones that surface in good condition generally sell for huge amounts. The following list aims to identify some of the most valuable Babe Ruth cards in existence. Because rarity and condition greatly affect value, historical significance was also factored into this list.
Due to the incredible values seen in Babe Ruth cards, narrowing down the list to just 10 meant that a few popular cards did not make the cut. Obviously, there are other notable Babe Ruth cards beyond these examples.
While time may reveal other hidden gems, the following list represents something of a dream checklist for many Babe Ruth card collectors. All the cards are worth a small (or large) fortune, and prices generally start in the thousands and can escalate very quickly. Please note that reprints are very common across the board.
Top Babe Ruth Cards to Collect
Shop for available cards or check completed sales prices on eBay using the links below. Bolded sets go straight to detailed profiles.
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth
The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card is the very first card for "the Bambino," and easily his most valuable. The set centered around the two professional baseball teams based in Baltimore at the time. This included the Baltimore Terrapins from the Federal League and the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. Baltimore was also Ruth's hometown and at this time he was a virtually unknown minor leaguer for the Orioles.
The image shows a very young Babe Ruth, fresh out of St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. The cards were issued with blue or red fronts, and there were also back variations.
One key example of this card is the SGC 3 card that sold for $7.2 million.
1916 M101-4 / M101-5 Babe Ruth #151
As the first card to show Babe Ruth as a pro, the M101 is also significant for many collectors. The image shows the lean pitching phenom as a member of the Boston Red Sox. While not his "official" rookie card, this is the card that is widely viewed as the true Babe Ruth rookie card. There is some confusion because it was originally it was thought that the M101-5 set was issued in 1915 and the M101-4 set was issued in 1916. However, the M101-4 features an identical front and is now believed to have been released only a few months after the M101-5. The consensus is that both are equally considered to be Babe Ruth rookie cards.
Although the set is commonly associated with Sporting News, 18 different advertisers are featured on the backs of these cards and there are also blank backs. Several advertisers overlapped between the two releases. While both Ruth cards are #151, most of the other players do not have the same card number for both sets.
1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy / H801-8 Boston Store Babe Ruth #147
Another card included in virtually identical sets, the Babe Ruth cards found in 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy and 1917 H801-8 Boston Store are both number 147. The only true difference comes from the advertisers on the card backs. The card design greatly mirrors the M101-4 and 5 of the previous year. Once again, Ruth is shown in a pitching stance.
1921 Frederick Foto Babe Ruth
Not generally thought of amongst the top Babe Ruth cards, the 1921 Frederick Foto card is a very unique collectible. Showcasing a photo-quality image of Ruth, it lists "the Babe" as a member of the New York Yankees, despite showing him in a Boston Red Sox uniform. Although some may question its designation as a card, it deserves a place on this list based on value and rarity.
1921 E121 American Caramel Series of 80 Babe Ruth #82
Using the same image and design as the 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy and H801-8 Boston Store cards, this Babe Ruth card lists his team as the New York Americans. There are actually three variations of this card that all list different names. The version shown below uses simply Babe Ruth. Another version also has Babe Ruth, but "Babe" is listed in quotations. The third version features his official name, George Ruth. HA sold an SGC 86 (NM+) version for $19,418.75 in 2013.
1932 R328 U.S. Caramel Babe Ruth #32
1932 U.S. Caramel is a multi-sport set that includes golfers, boxers and baseball players and Babe Ruth is the last card in the set. The red background immediately catches the eye, as does the profile shot of a relaxed Babe Ruth, sporting the iconic NY ball cap. The general design is similar to the 1933 Goudey Baseball.
1933 R306 Butter Cream Confectionery Babe Ruth #23 SP
The 1933 R306 Butter Cream Confectionery card is one of the rarest options for Babe Ruth card collectors. With just a few documented examples in existence, it seems that only two remain by virtue of bad luck after the third was accidentally thrown away.
The card is very narrow, with dimensions of 1-/4" x 3-1/2". The card backs offer two variations that deal with a promotion for collecting all 30 cards. One version references September (SEPT), and the other shows October (OCT).
1933 R319 Goudey Base Ruth #53 (yellow), #144 (field), #149 (red), #181 (green)
While many Babe Ruth cards were released before 1933 Goudey Baseball, these four cards are the only official rookie cards for "the Sultan of Swat." Card #53 (yellow) and card #149 (red) both feature the same image of Ruth. Card #181 (green) showcases a different close-up image of Ruth, while card #144 shows him warming up, with a field and several structures in the background. Card #53 is the rarest and most condition-sensitive.
Understandably, this Babe Ruth card with a yellow background is also the most valuable. In 2021, a PSA 9 version sold for $4.2 million.
1933 R338 Goudey Sport Kings Gum #2 Babe Ruth
Arguably one of the best designs from Babe Ruth's playing days, 1933 Sport Kings includes 18 different sports in its varied checklist, with only three baseball players. Like 1933 Goudey, the Sport Kings card showcases a colorful and detailed sketch of Ruth, with a light green background. Current collectors may recognize the design, which is the same used for base cards in the modern Sportkings Series.
Babe Ruth Cut Signature Autographs
Although the more recent Babe Ruth cards do not normally intrigue collectors in the same way as his original cards do, one of the few exceptions is cut signature autograph cards. These extremely low-numbered cards perfectly fuse old school and new school, creating a very valuable chase for collectors.
The most sought-after and valuable versions usually contain a jersey or bat piece, in addition to the cut signature.
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Cardboard Picasso
The 1933 Goudey #149 will always be my favorite. That blood orange just looks great!