An exceedingly rare and highly sought-after piece of baseball history is set to be featured in an upcoming auction later this month. The 1915 Boston Red Sox team postcard, which notably includes Babe Ruth in his debut season, is one of just ten graded postcards known to exist, making it a remarkable find for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The auction house, Heritage Auctions, is gearing up to present this historic item in its highly anticipated February Platinum Auction. Notably, this postcard is the highest-graded example of any Babe Ruth rookie year card, receiving a PSA rating of 6, and is expected to fetch upwards of $1 million.
The postcard itself is a depiction of the 1915 Red Sox team, proudly labeled as the “American League Champions,” giving us clues to its issuance time frame, likely before or during the 1915 World Series. The iconic Babe Ruth is prominently featured in the back row of the team photograph.
During that year’s World Series, the Red Sox played their games at Braves Field, the stadium belonging to 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 the time.
On the postcard, each member of the Red Sox team is identified by surname and playing position, providing historical context. Notably, Ruth is standing next to Carl Mays, another rookie pitcher who would later join Ruth in playing for the 1920 New York Yankees. Mays is infamously remembered for a tragic incident in which his pitch struck and killed Cleveland player Ray Chapman in August of that year. The postcard 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 an astounding $7.25 million. Interestingly, both the 1914 and 1915 cards have the same graded population of ten each, further adding to the rarity and value of these collectibles.
Heritage Auctions has described this 1915 postcard as one of the most significant trading cards ever to be offered in the hobby’s auction market, emphasizing its rarity and historical significance.
Prospective bidders and interested parties should mark their calendars as the auction bidding is set to commence on February 2nd. This event will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment for baseball history collectors and fans of the legendary Babe Ruth alike. Be prepared to witness an intense bidding war for this exceptional piece of baseball memorabilia.
