Poll: Final Hammer Price - 1914 BN Babe Ruth vs the 1952 Rosen Topps Mantle

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

As a reminder, this card was graded as a '3', while most of us, including myself, thought this looked like a '1' or '1-1/2'. I think a true Vg card would have attracted even more high rollers and go for quite a few more McMillions.

Brian

^ THIS. As I studied the photo of the Ruth with the other Baltimore News cards from the same collection of the family, the red of the Ruth looked decidedly tired. I shan't jump on the grenade about why this is so, but I would think the bidders / potential bidders weren't blind to the card's appearance in contrast to its brothers, either

I was among the individuals who voted the BN Ruth would not sell for as much as the SGC 9.5 Gem Mint '52 Topps Mickey Mantle. No big deal there, but just a reminder the Mantle is a gem, whereas the recent REA BN Ruth looked the worse for wear, AND over-graded. It is a great card, and sold for well over 15 times the previous example sold. Further, that sale was the prime condition Baltimore News Ruth. Just as Mr. Mint Alan Rosen pounded the table in one of his 2 books-----in home buying, the key is "LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION". In card collecting, Alan stressed, the key is "CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION".

Yes, the Baltimore News Babe Ruth is rare, regally rare, all day and all night. Nevertheless, a lesser condition example may not get the bucks Ruth fans think. It didn't.

That BN Ruth is by all means a great card---just as it is. It's obviously just not a $12.7 million card. Don't let it ruin your day, or year. Besides, just around the corner might come a better Baltimore News Babe, and the sparks will fly. I hope. --- Brian Powell (I was not an underbidder.)