Hey there, baseball card fans! Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of Babe Ruth cards? Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been collecting for years, this guide is for you. We’re going to look at 10 awesome Babe Ruth cards that both beginners and experts will love.
Babe Ruth was one of the best baseball players ever. He hit lots of home runs and was really famous. His baseball cards are very special and many people want to collect them. Some of these cards are really old and rare, which makes them very valuable.
In this guide, we’ll talk about different Babe Ruth cards. We’ll tell you what they look like, how much they might cost, and why they’re important. We’ll also give you tips on how to start collecting these cards.
Remember, collecting baseball cards is fun! It’s a great way to learn about baseball history and maybe even make some money someday. But the most important thing is to enjoy the cards you collect.
Let’s get started with our top 10 list of Babe Ruth baseball cards!
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth Rookie Card
This is the most famous Babe Ruth card. It’s from when he was just starting to play baseball.
What it looks like: The card shows a young Babe Ruth in his Baltimore Orioles uniform. He looks very different from the Babe Ruth most people know!
Why it’s special: This is Babe Ruth’s first ever baseball card. It’s very rare – only about 10 of these cards exist today.
How much it costs: This card is very, very expensive. A good condition card could cost millions of dollars!
Estimated PSA grade: Most of these cards are in poor condition. A PSA 1 (Poor) or PSA 2 (Good) is more common.
This card is amazing because it shows Babe Ruth before he became famous. He was only 19 years old when this card was made. Back then, no one knew he would become one of the best baseball players ever.
The card is part of a set that was given out at Baltimore Orioles games. It’s printed on thin paper, which is why many of them got damaged over time.
If you ever see one of these cards, you’re very lucky! They almost never come up for sale. In 2021, one of these cards sold for $6 million! That’s more than most houses cost.
For most collectors, this card is just a dream. But it’s fun to know about it and see pictures of it. It’s a big part of baseball history.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53
This is one of the most popular Babe Ruth cards. It’s from when he was playing for the New York Yankees.
What it looks like: The card has a big picture of Babe Ruth’s face. He’s wearing a Yankees hat and looking to the side. The background is yellow.
Why it’s special: This card is from a very famous set of baseball cards. It’s one of four Babe Ruth cards in the set.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition can be worth a lot.
Estimated PSA grade: You can find this card in many different grades. A PSA 5 (Excellent) or PSA 6 (Excellent-Mint) is pretty common.
The 1933 Goudey set is one of the most famous baseball card sets ever made. It has lots of great players, but Babe Ruth is the star. This card, number 53, is one of the best in the set.
What makes this card cool is how colorful it is. The bright yellow background really makes Babe Ruth’s picture stand out. You can see details like his red face and the stitching on his hat.
This card is easier to find than the 1914 rookie card, but it’s still rare. Many people collect it because it shows Babe Ruth when he was at the top of his game with the Yankees.
If you want to start collecting Babe Ruth cards, this is a good one to look for. It’s expensive, but not as much as some others. You might be able to find one in okay condition for a few thousand dollars.
Remember, even if you can’t buy this card, you can still enjoy looking at pictures of it. It’s a great piece of baseball history!
1932 U.S. Caramel Babe Ruth #32
This card is from a smaller set, but it’s still very popular among Babe Ruth collectors.
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth swinging a bat. He’s wearing his Yankees uniform. The background is plain.
Why it’s special: This card is from a smaller set, which makes it rarer than some other Babe Ruth cards.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition are valuable.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in lower grades. A PSA 3 (Very Good) or PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is interesting because it has both baseball players and other famous people. Babe Ruth’s card is the most wanted one in the set.
What’s cool about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth in action. Many cards just show a player’s face, but this one shows Ruth doing what he did best – swinging a bat!
The card is smaller than most modern baseball cards. It’s about the size of a playing card. This made it easier for kids to carry around and trade with their friends.
One thing that makes this card special is its rarity. Not as many of these were made compared to some other Babe Ruth cards. This means that when one comes up for sale, collectors get very excited.
If you’re thinking about collecting Babe Ruth cards, this is a good one to know about. It might be hard to find, but it’s an important part of any Babe Ruth collection.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144
This is another card from the famous 1933 Goudey set. It’s different from the #53 card we talked about earlier.
What it looks like: This card shows Babe Ruth’s full body. He’s holding a bat and looking straight ahead. The background is red.
Why it’s special: This card is part of the same set as the #53 card, but it shows a different picture of Babe Ruth.
How much it costs: Like the #53 card, this one can cost tens of thousands of dollars in good condition.
Estimated PSA grade: You can find this card in many grades. A PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) or PSA 5 (Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1933 Goudey set is so famous that it has four different Babe Ruth cards! This one, #144, is special because it shows Ruth’s whole body instead of just his face.
On this card, you can see Babe Ruth in his famous batting stance. He’s holding his bat and looking ready to hit a home run. The bright red background makes the picture really stand out.
One cool thing about this card is that you can see Ruth’s uniform clearly. You can even read “Yankees” on his jersey. This makes the card feel more real, like you’re really seeing Babe Ruth on the field.
Collectors like this card because it shows a different side of Babe Ruth than the #53 card. Having both cards in a collection is a big deal for Babe Ruth fans.
If you’re just starting to collect Babe Ruth cards, you might want to look for this one or the #53. They’re both great cards that show different things about Babe Ruth.
1934 Goudey Babe Ruth #61
This card is from the year after the famous 1933 Goudey set. It’s another great Babe Ruth card.
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s head and shoulders. He’s wearing his Yankees hat and uniform. The background is green.
Why it’s special: This card is from Babe Ruth’s last full season with the Yankees. It’s also part of a smaller set than the 1933 Goudey cards.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition are valuable.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in middle grades. A PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) or PSA 5 (Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1934 Goudey set is smaller than the 1933 set, but it still has some great cards. This Babe Ruth card is one of the best in the set.
What’s interesting about this card is that it shows an older Babe Ruth. He was 39 years old when this card came out. You can see that he looks a bit different from the earlier cards.
The green background on this card is really bright. It makes Babe Ruth’s picture stand out. You can see details like the wrinkles on his face and the “NY” on his hat very clearly.
This card is special because it’s from near the end of Babe Ruth’s career. He only played one more year with the Yankees after this. So this card shows him when he was still one of the best players in baseball, but also near the end of his amazing career.
For collectors, this card is a great addition to any Babe Ruth collection. It’s not as famous as some of the earlier cards, but it’s still very valuable and important.
1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth
This card is from early in Babe Ruth’s career with the Yankees. It’s a bit different from the later cards we’ve talked about.
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s full body. He’s standing with a bat, wearing his Yankees uniform. The picture is black and white.
Why it’s special: This is one of the earliest cards showing Babe Ruth as a Yankee. It’s from a smaller set, which makes it rarer.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition are valuable.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in lower grades. A PSA 2 (Good) or PSA 3 (Very Good) is pretty common.
The E121 American Caramel set is interesting because it was made by a candy company. Kids would get these cards when they bought candy!
What’s cool about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth early in his time with the Yankees. He had just been traded from the Boston Red Sox the year before. This was when he was starting to become really famous.
The card is black and white, which was common for cards back then. Even though it’s not in color, you can still see a lot of details. You can see Ruth’s famous stance and the way he held his bat.
One thing that makes this card special is its age. It’s over 100 years old! Not many of these cards have survived in good condition. That’s why even cards that don’t look perfect can be worth a lot of money.
For collectors, this card is a great piece of baseball history. It shows Babe Ruth at a time when he was becoming the legend we know today. If you’re interested in the early part of Ruth’s career, this is a card to know about.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #149
This is the third Babe Ruth card from the famous 1933 Goudey set that we’re talking about. It’s another great card of the Bambino!
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s upper body. He’s wearing his Yankees uniform and hat. The background is yellow, like the #53 card.
Why it’s special: This card is part of the same set as the #53 and #144 cards, but it shows a different picture of Babe Ruth.
How much it costs: Like the other 1933 Goudey cards, this one can cost tens of thousands of dollars in good condition.
Estimated PSA grade: You can find this card in many grades. A PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) or PSA 5 (Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1933 Goudey set is so famous that collectors often try to get all four Babe Ruth cards from it. This #149 card is the third one in the set.
What’s interesting about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth looking straight at you. It’s like he’s making eye contact with whoever is looking at the card. This makes the card feel very personal.
The yellow background is the same as the #53 card, but the picture of Ruth is different. On this card, you can see more of his uniform. You can even see part of the Yankees logo on his chest.
One cool thing about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth’s famous smile. He was known for being friendly and fun, and you can see that in this picture.
For collectors, having this card along with the other 1933 Goudey Ruth cards is a big deal. It’s part of telling the whole story of Babe Ruth’s career through baseball cards.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #181
This is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards from the 1933 Goudey set. It’s another great card of the Sultan of Swat!
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s upper body. He’s wearing his Yankees uniform and hat. The background is green.
Why it’s special: This is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set. It completes the set of Ruth cards from this famous series.
How much it costs: Like the other 1933 Goudey cards, this one can cost tens of thousands of dollars in good condition.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in middle grades. A PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) or PSA 5 (Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1933 Goudey set is really special because it has four different Babe Ruth cards. This #181 card is the last one, and it’s just as cool as the others.
What’s neat about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth from a different angle than the other cards. He’s looking off to the side, which gives the card a thoughtful feel.
The green background makes this card stand out from the others in the set. It’s a different color than the yellow backgrounds on two of the other Ruth cards.
One interesting thing about this card is that it shows Babe Ruth’s face very clearly. You can see details like his eyes and the shape of his nose really well.
For collectors, having all four of the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards is a big achievement. This #181 card is an important part of that collection. Even on its own, it’s a great card that shows one of baseball’s biggest stars.
1948 Leaf Babe Ruth #3
This card is a bit different from the others we’ve talked about. It came out after Babe Ruth had stopped playing baseball.
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s face. He’s wearing a Yankees hat. The background is bright red.
Why it’s special: This card came out the same year that Babe Ruth died. It’s a tribute to his amazing career.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition are valuable.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in middle grades. A PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) or PSA 5 (Excellent) is pretty common.
The 1948 Leaf set is famous for having cards of older players, including some who had already retired. This Babe Ruth card is one of the most important in the set.
What’s really cool about this card is how colorful it is. The bright red background makes Babe Ruth’s face stand out. It’s very different from the older, black and white cards.
One interesting thing about this card is that it shows an older Babe Ruth. He had stopped playing baseball a few years before this card came out. So it’s like a look back at his great career.
The card is numbered #3, which was Babe Ruth’s famous uniform number. This makes it even more special to collectors.
For people who collect Babe Ruth cards, this is an important one to have. It’s one of the last cards made of Babe Ruth during his lifetime. It’s a great way to remember one of baseball’s greatest players.
1920 W516-1 Babe Ruth #3
This is one of the earliest cards showing Babe Ruth as a New York Yankee. It’s a simple but important card.
What it looks like: The card shows Babe Ruth’s head and shoulders. He’s wearing a cap but not in a Yankees uniform.
Why it’s special: This is one of the earliest cards showing Babe Ruth as a Yankee. It’s from a small, rare set.
How much it costs: A good condition card can cost thousands of dollars. Even cards in not-so-good condition are valuable.
Estimated PSA grade: This card is often found in lower grades. A PSA 2 (Good) or PSA 3 (Very Good) is pretty common[1].
The 1920 W516-1 set is really interesting for baseball card collectors. These cards were sold in strips that people had to cut apart themselves[2]. That’s why it’s hard to find these cards in perfect condition.
What’s cool about this Babe Ruth card is that it shows him very early in his Yankees career. He had just been traded from the Boston Red Sox. This card captures the moment when Babe Ruth was becoming a big star.
The card is small, only about 1-1/2 inches by 2-3/8 inches[2]. But it has a colorful picture of Babe Ruth. You can see his face clearly, which is neat for such an old card.
One interesting thing about this card is that it’s numbered #1 in the set[3]. This shows how famous Babe Ruth was becoming. The card makers put him first because they knew he was the player kids would want most.
For people who collect Babe Ruth cards, this is an important one to have. It’s from the start of his time with the Yankees, when he was becoming the legend we know today. Even though it’s hard to find in great condition, collectors love this card because it’s such an important part of baseball history.
Conclusion
Wow! We’ve looked at some amazing Babe Ruth baseball cards. From his super rare rookie card to cards from his famous Yankees days, each one tells a part of Babe Ruth’s story.
If you’re just starting to collect, don’t worry if you can’t get the really expensive cards. Even pictures of these cards are fun to look at. You can start with newer cards that show Babe Ruth and work your way up.
For expert collectors, these cards are like treasure. They show different parts of Babe Ruth’s career and are a big part of baseball history.
Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy collecting. Whether you have one Babe Ruth card or many, each one is special because it connects you to one of the greatest baseball players ever.
FAQs For Babe Ruth Baseball cards
Why are Babe Ruth cards so expensive?
Babe Ruth cards are expensive because he was one of the best and most famous baseball players ever. His cards are old and rare, which makes them worth a lot of money.
How can I tell if a Babe Ruth card is real?
It’s hard to tell if an old card is real just by looking at it. If you think you have a real Babe Ruth card, it’s best to have an expert look at it. Companies like PSA can check if a card is real.
Can I buy a Babe Ruth card if I’m just starting to collect?
If you find an old Babe Ruth card, be very careful with it. Keep it in a safe place where it won’t get damaged. You might want to have an expert look at it to see how much it’s worth.
What should I do if I find an old Babe Ruth card?
If you find an old Babe Ruth card, be very careful with it. Keep it in a safe place where it won’t get damaged. You might want to have an expert look at it to see how much it’s worth.
Where can I see real Babe Ruth cards if I can’t buy them?
Many museums have Babe Ruth cards on display. The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, has a great collection. You can also see pictures of rare cards online or in books about baseball cards.