What would a 1914 Baltimore Ruth sell for today?

[ullmandds]

Best way to see one is to go to the babe ruth museum in baltimore...I saw theirs when I used to live there. I believe it's on loan...technically.

[scottglevy]

I actually remember bidding on this card as a kid - sitting next to my dad of course. He gave me the paddle and said “keep it up until it reaches $5k and then give it to me”. It was a live auction - maybe Sotheby’s or Christie’s. We were the only remaining bidder in the room ...but someone was on the phone topping anything we came up with. We were the underbidder - but it wouldn’t have mattered - the winner was going to pay whatever he needed to ... and dad and I just couldn’t compete with that. Also multiple thousands for a card at a time where mid-grade Cobb portraits could be purchased under $100 sure seemed like a ton of money. Pretty surreal to be an underbidder at one point.

[Popcorn]

Originally Posted by scottglevy

I actually remember bidding on this card as a kid - sitting next to my dad of course. He gave me the paddle and said “keep it up until it reaches $5k and then give it to me”. It was a live auction - maybe Sotheby’s or Christie’s. We were the only remaining bidder in the room ...but someone was on the phone topping anything we came up with. We were the underbidder - but it wouldn’t have mattered - the winner was going to pay whatever he needed to ... and dad and I just couldn’t compete with that. Also multiple thousands for a card at a time where mid-grade Cobb portraits could be purchased under $100 sure seemed like a ton of money. Pretty surreal to be an underbidder at one point.

That’s amazing, thanks for sharing.

[h2oya311]

Wow Scott! To be that close! How amazing...I’m sure you and pops wished you had raised that paddle a few more times (just in case the other bidder backed down)...

[Baseball Rarities]

I know 10 different examples. About 15 years ago, it seemed like REA had one in every auction. I think that they had 4 different examples within a fairly short time span. REA noted that they are aware of an 11th example, but it was supposedly lost by its owner. Can you imagine?

It is my favorite card in the hobby.

[MVSNYC]

Scott, awesome story...thankfully I know that you and your dad raised the paddle higher on other gems.

I also remember in the early 2000's, it did seem like REA had one every year (and T210 Jacksons).

I think a BN Ruth would easily be in the $3-5M range today.

[brass_rat]

Originally Posted by scottglevy

I actually remember bidding on this card as a kid - sitting next to my dad of course. He gave me the paddle and said “keep it up until it reaches $5k and then give it to me”.

Scott, I always love reading your stories. Thanks for sharing. I hope all is well.
Steve

[clydepepper]

I think Tatis, Jr. could afford it now.

[Schlesinj]

The shares from the Collectible Ruth is being bought back for a equivalent value of $8.83 million.

[Hankphenom]

I know someone who sold two BN Ruths, one for $1,000 and one for $8,000. And his dad came across another one in a retail shop, passed on it for $1,000, then went back the next day to snag it and of course it was gone. So they let THREE of them slip through their fingers! But all that was in a different time, like Scott's story of being the underbidder in an auction. What if that one other bidder wasn't after it?

[notfast]

Originally Posted by Schlesinj

The shares from the Collectible Ruth is being bought back for a equivalent value of $8.83 million.

While it may be worth that much, that fractional collectable crap is just that…crap.

They sold 1% of “ownership” for $60k. Owner bought it out for $88.2k.

Apparently that magically makes the card worth $8.83m.

I’m going to do this to all my cards now.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by notfast

While it may be worth that much, that fractional collectable crap is just that…crap.

They sold 1% of “ownership” for $60k. Owner bought it out for $88.2k.

Apparently that magically makes the card worth $8.83m.

I’m going to do this to all my cards now.

I also hate the fractional ownership and I do not believe that it gives a true valuation since a buyer would have full ownership of their card for their collection or investment

I think it would be higher over by millions.