Rare 1914 Babe Ruth photo, signed Mickey Mantle rookie card highlight Lelands Fall Classic

Before he was a dominant pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and the game’s greatest slugger for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth was a young hurler for the minor league Baltimore Orioles.

A 1914 photo of Ruth with his first professional team is up for bid in Lelands Fall Classic Auction, which runs through Oct. 19.

The 1914 Orioles team photo is the earliest known original image of The Bambino as a pro player and the only one in existence. Ruth was a 19-year-old pitcher for the Orioles, a minor league team in the International League, before his contract was sold to the Red Sox. The Ruth photo, which was previously sold by Lelands for a record $190,000 in 2019, is considered one of the most historically significant baseball photos in the hobby.

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Also featured is a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle signed rookie card (PSA PR 1) with a perfect GEM MINT 10 autograph.

Another unique Mantle item up for bid is a one-of-a-kind autograph display signed by Mantle 99 times with an inscription that reads “these pens suck.”

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Other high-end cards featured in the 1,600-lot auction include:

• A 1948 Leaf #8 Satchel Page rookie card graded PSA 7, with only five graded higher.

• A 2020-21 Panini Prizm Gold Prizm #1 LeBron James #7/10 graded PSA 9.

• 1928 R315 Babe Ruth card (SGC MINT 9), one of two and the highest graded.

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• 1998 Upper Deck Game Jersey #GJ20 Michael Jordan “Make -A-Wish” autograph card.

• An unopened 1967 Topps Baseball First Series 48-count Cello box (BBCE).

The auction also featured plenty of unique memorabilia, including:

• Shaquille O’Neal’s 1993 NBA All-Star game-worn, photo-matched uniform (Resolution) from his rookie season.

• Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 American League Most Valuable Player Award.

• An Aaron Judge Yankees 2017 ALDS Game 5 game-worn, photo-matched jersey.

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• Paul Molitor 1978 rookie year Brewers signed, game-worn, photo-matched jersey (MEARS A10).

• A circa 1973-75 Thurman Munson Yankees game-used bat (PSA GU 10).

• A box office ticket stub to Michael Jordan’s 1984 NBA debut.

• Danny Amendola’s 2015 Super Bowl XLIX Patriots signed, game-used helmet.

• Mark Messier 1990 Oilers game-worn, photo-matched jersey (MeiGray and Oilers LOA).

• 1951 Joe Louis-signed fight contract vs. Rocky Marciano in what was Louis’ final fight.

• Circa 1964 Roger Maris Yankees game-worn batting helmet.

• Nolan Ryan’s Angels one-game, game-worn, signed jersey from April 13, 1978.

• 2022 Houston Astros World Series ring.

• Andruw Jones’ 2001 Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

• Barry Bonds #463, #631 and #711 home run balls (three separate lots).

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• A circa 1957 Browns jersey attributed to Jim Brown.

• Novak Djokovic signed, match-used tennis racquet.