1914 Baltimore News card research...

[Wesley]

What is the known population for the Baltimore News Babe Ruth card now? I noticed that REA did not have one this year.

[insidethewrapper]

PSA has graded 2 Ruth's and SGC has 4 Ruth's graded. They come in blue or red. I'm not sure how many of each have been discovered or graded by color .
Seem like an ad in the Newpaper would be available if someone did the research.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Wesley

What is the known population for the Baltimore News Babe Ruth card now? I noticed that REA did not have one this year.

I know of ten examples. Nine are in private hands and one is in the Babe Ruth Museum. There was an 11th, but according to REA, it was lost by its owner.

The last one that REA had in 2009 was the same example that they sold in 2006, so it has been 2-1/2 years since they have offered a fresh example.

[barrysloate]

I believe there are two collectors who have both a blue and a red, leaving only five others possessing one.

I had one on consignment about 15 years ago but it was very low grade with significant paper loss. It originated from a Hunt Auction. I think that is the lowest graded one known, and I assume it is part of the population Kevin cites.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I believe there are two collectors who have both a blue and a red, leaving only five others possessing one.

I had one on consignment about 15 years ago but it was very low grade with significant paper loss. It originated from a Hunt Auction. I think that is the lowest graded one known, and I assume it is part of the population Kevin cites.

Barry. Yes, that is the same info that I have. Two collectors have two. The Babe Ruth Museum has one and five other collectors have a specimen.

I have accounted for the one that you offered on your list. I have it orginally being offered by Hunt via auction in 1999 and then being offered by you via direct sale in 2001.

Also, I have been told that the Copeland specimen was originally auctioned by Alan Rosen/ Mr. Mint in the 80's.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Kevin:

Sorry I can't provide any useful info on that card set but I have done a little bit of research on the newspaper itself as I have a Baltimore American News issue dated the day after Opening Day, 1914 which indicates that the Orioles won their opener yesterday and includes a team photo including Babe Ruth, who would make his professinal baseball debut the following day, April 23, 1914 for the Orioles. The Baltimore American and the Baltimore News operated as two separate newspapers during that era although they would go on to merge forces later. In case anyone would like to see a scan of that newspaper page, here it is:

[barrysloate]

I didn't realize I offered the one I had nine years ago. It feels longer.

[Jewish-collector]

I could be wrong, but I believe of the 11 known Ruth cards, 6 are the blue variation and 5 are the red variations.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

I could be wrong, but I believe of the 11 known Ruth cards, 6 are the blue variation and 5 are the red variations.

Alan, I know of 10 examples - 6 blue, and 5 red. I do not know what color the lost one is.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I didn't realize I offered the one I had nine years ago. It feels longer.

I remember getting a little mailer about 10 yrs ago, advertising one for sale for 20k, that was missing a chunk of it, I think it was on the left side. Are you guys counting that one too? I think the flyer might have come from Jerry Smolin?? (but maybe not)

I might be able to find the flyer but am not sure if I still have it.

[oldjudge]

When is the first time a mention of one of these cards appears in print? I always find it interesting that some card sets go so long (Just So also) without being discovered.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Leon

I remember getting a little mailer about 10 yrs ago, advertising one for sale for 20k, that was missing a chunk of it, I think it was on the left side. Are you guys counting that one too? I think the flyer might have come from Jerry Smolin?? (but maybe not)

I might be able to find the flyer but am not sure if I still have it.

Leon, that was the one that Barry had for sale. He was on his own then.

[danmckee]

My dad was the first to catalog these cards and the Washington Times with Bob Lemeke in the early 1990s. Dan

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by danmckee

My dad was the first to catalog these cards and the Washington Times with Bob Lemeke in the early 1990s. Dan

Dan, two of my favorite issues.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Baseball Rarities

I know of ten examples. Nine are in private hands and one is in the Babe Ruth Museum. There was an 11th, but according to REA, it was lost by its owner.

Are you sure you're not confusing that with the 1933 R306 Butter Cream Confectionery Babe Ruth, which Barry Halper accidentally threw out?

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

Are you sure you're not confusing that with the 1933 R306 Butter Cream Confectionery Babe Ruth, which Barry Halper accidentally threw out?

No, a Baltimore News Ruth was lost by its owner. I know of the Butter Cream Ruth story as well. This Baltimore News Ruth was lost by its owner who already had it in his possession.

[Gary Dunaier]

Bumping this 6-year-old thread to ask a question about the back of the card.

I notice on the back of the Suggs card, there's a space for the name of the owner to be written. There's no such space on the back of the Ruth card. Is that because the Terrapins' schedule was shorter than the Orioles', and they needed something to fill the space?

And does the fact that the space is preceded by the phrase "This Card is Given to" (bold added) provide any clues as to the cards' distribution?