Rare Babe Ruth cards, vintage complete sets highlight June auction at REA

It’s been 76 years since Babe Ruth’s iconic No. 3 Yankees jersey was retired during his final appearance at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948.

Since then, the Great Bambino’s legacy has only grown. So has demand for the Babe’s trading cards and memorabilia, with iconic collectibles from the 1920s through the ’30s and ’40s selling for big dollars and record prices.

The June Encore Auction at Robert Edward Auctions, which runs through June 23, features nearly two dozen Ruth items, highlighted by a 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth card (PSA VG+ 3.5) and a 1934 R309-1 Goudey Premium Babe Ruth (SGC FAIR 1.5).

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The auction features seven different 1933 Goudey Ruth cards .

The June auction, which includes nearly 3,300 items, also features more than 50 complete and near-complete sets spanning the 20th century, including top-ranked sets on the PSA Set Registry. Highlighted are a 1950 Bowman Baseball complete set currently ranked No. 10 (6.74 GPA) and complete sets of 1960, ‘61, ‘63, ‘64 and ‘65 Topps Baseball, each with at least a GPA of 8.0.

Among graded sets are a 1960 Fleer Football complete set on 12 uncut strips (132 total cards).

“There is tremendous diversity within this auction, which is a testament to our broad consignor base and the ever expanding nature of our events. We’re excited by this variety and how it will appeal to all different types of collectors,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. “From a range of unopened material and complete high-grade sets to signed pieces and desirable rookie cards across both vintage and modern, this is a loaded event that will lead nicely into our blockbuster Summer Catalog Auction kicking off next month in conjunction with the National.”

Other notable items in REA’s June Auction include:

• 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb (SGC FAIR 1.5).

• 1957 Topps #95 Mickey Mantle (PSA NM-MT+ 8.5).

• 1933 R319 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig (PSA EX 5).

• 1907 Wolverine News Postcard Ty Cobb Batting Rookie (PSA Authentic).

• 1970-1971 Topps Basketball #160 Jerry West (PSA GEM MINT 10).

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• 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Autographs Aaron Judge Blue Wave Refractor #18/50 (PSA GEM MINT 10).

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• A trio of 1909-1913 M101-2 Sporting News Supplements, including: Cy Young/Louis Criger; New York Giants Baseball Club featuring Christy Mathewson; and Boston Red Sox Baseball Club featuring Tris Speaker.

• 1939 R334 Play Ball #92 Ted Williams Rookie (PSA GOOD+ 2.5).

• 1941 Play Ball Paper Complete Set (24) on two uncut sheets with 12 cards per sheet, featuring Hall of Famers Carl Hubbell, Mel Ott, Arky Vaughn, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Joe Cronin, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer, and Red Ruffing.

• 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson High Number (PSA GOOD 2).

• 1958 Topps Football #62 Jim Brown Rookie (PSA EX-MT 6).

• Signed 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Julius Erving/Magic Johnson Rookie (PSA/DNA GEM MINT 10).

• 2018-2019 Panini Prizm Basketball factory-sealed unopened Blaster case (20 Boxes).

• More than 170 cards from the 1910-11 M116 Sporting Life series, most graded Near Mint or better by PSA, including 80 PSA 8s and nine PSA 9s. The collet ion includes a Honus Wagner (blue background) card as well as Eddie Plank and Christy Mathewson (pastel background) cards, both graded PSA EX-MT 6.