Auctions
Babe Ruth ‘Sincerely’ signed 1933 Goudey card, 1952 Mantle gem headline REA Fall Auction
Babe Ruth autographs have been valuable assets on the sports collectibles market for decades, especially personal signatures with a special message from the Babe.
A signed 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth card (PSA FAIR 1.5) sold for $307,500 in the Fall Catalog Auction at REA. The rare signature, signed “Sincerely/Babe Ruth,” in black fountain pen across the front of the iconic Ruth card makes it one of the most interesting signed Bambino cards to come to auction in recent years and is now one of the highest sales of such an item.
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The auction was headlined by a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (SGC NM 84) that sold for $369,000.
“We’re very excited about both the strong results across this event as well as the number of new records that were set, particularly among the top sales,” said REA President Brian Dwyer. “This is a testament once again to the incredible material that our consignors continue to bring us and a great sign that the hobby remains strong at the end of another milestone year for collectibles.”
Ruth factored into another top sale when a rare 1921 Koester Bread complete set in its original album sold for $190,650. The set, which includes Ruth’s card, was found by a longtime antiques dealer at an old convenience store in New York earlier this year.
Rounding out the top sales in REA’s final event of the year were: a 1952 Topps Mantle (SGC EX+ 5.5) for $202,950; a 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson (PSA GOOD+ 2.5) for $190,650; and a 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb (PSA EX 5) that sold for $166,050. All three were records for the card in its respective grade.
Other record-setting sales included: a 1933 R319 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie (PSA EX 5) for $159,900; Joe DiMaggio’s 1934 and 1935 Zeenut PCL throwing and batting rookie (no coupon) cards—the first two cards ever issued of the Yankee Clipper—for $119,925 and $116,850, respectively; and a 1935 R331 National Chicle Football #34 Bronko Nagurski Rookie (SGC EX+ 5.5) for $86,100. Each is a record for the card in its respective grade. Additionally, a 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie (SGC MINT 9) sold for $159,900, a record for the SGC grade.
Other notable sales from REA’s Fall Catalog Auction include:
• 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle Gray Back (PSA 9) $159,900.
• 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan Rookie (SGC 9.5, MBA Silver Diamond) $116,850.
• 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait (PSA 8) $98,400.
• Rare 1971 Topps Third Series unopened wax box (BBCE) $92,250.
• 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie (PSA 7) $89,175.
• Signed 1939 R334 Play Ball #92 Ted Williams Rookie (PSA/DNA GEM MINT 10) $89,175.
• 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie (PSA 7) $86,100.
• 1957-1958 Topps Basketball complete set (80): #14 PSA Set Registry (7.00 GPA) $41,820.
• 1969 Topps Football First Series unopened wax box (BBCE) $40,590.
REA’s first event of 2026 will be its January Auction that will run from Jan. 8-18.
