Rare Babe Ruth Rookie Card Nears $1M With Weeks Still to Go in Goldin’s Sale

Goldin Auctions sells some amazing items, and one such item up for grabs right now, through March 7, 2026, is a 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth blank-back rookie card graded PSA 7.

The first bid rolled in on February 4, and it has already jumped from $250,000 to $810,000, which is $988,200 with the company’s buyer’s premium, as of February 9.

The auction is taking place during Goldin’s Winter 100 event, which consists of 100 high-end lots pulled from sports, entertainment, and pop culture. It’s an attention-grabbing sale, so expect the price to push into the low seven figures and turn heads when it’s final.

We say this because of the card’s rarity, since only three cards of this kind exist with a higher PSA grade.

Amazingly, this 2026 auction has already more-than doubled (almost tripled) the most recent direct comparison, where a PSA 7 sold for $384,000 via Heritage Auctions. 

The PSA’s auction history shows that the pricing for similar cards is up and down:

• August 2016: $717,000
• May 2017: $552,000
• April 2018: $384,000

Any collector knows, condition is a big driving factor, and the one up for sale right now is one of the best available.

As ESPN highlighted, the ceiling for Ruth collectibles remains strong. For example, a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card sold for $7.2 million in late 2023. 

That isn’t the same card as the one up for sale at Goldin, but it shows the scale of buying power among card collectors. 

Other notable auction lots

While Babe Ruth’s card takes the headlines, Goldin’s Winter 100 event is stacked. Auction Report breaks it down, including a one-of-one 2024–25 Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry Logoman autograph patch card, a 1997–98 Precious Metal Gems Red Michael Jordan, and a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady autograph rookie.

The collectibles aren’t all about retired legends, either. The auction includes a signed Shohei Ohtani Bowman Chrome autograph rookie card numbered to 25. Also up for sale is a game-used Paul Skenes Pirates jersey from Aug. 24, 2025, tied to a standout outing and promoted by Goldin as photo-matched and MLB authenticated.

Lionel Messi’s childhood jersey might be the most unusual sports piece in the sale. beIN SPORTS highlighted that it traces back to his time with Club Abanderado Grandoli in Rosario, Argentina, in 1993, when he was five, and it has been presented as a historic early-career relic.

Collector checklist

If you’re a card collector or thinking about starting, the following information will be helpful. 

• Know what you’re buying inside and out because there are countless variations. Small differences can turn what seems like a smart buy into a disaster. 
• Avoid going on gut instinct, or what sellers tell you. It’s easy to check values on your smartphone. Always use auction records and sale prices. 
• Whenever buying on scarcity, turn to the population (pop) report to make informed decisions. These are available online if you search for the card. 
• Don’t rely on photos. If possible, go and see them firsthand before buying. This gives you a better chance to inspect corners, edges, and the back. Sadly, photos can sometimes hide or wash-out details. 
• If you’re spending a significant amount, check for trimming, recoloring, pressing, and cleaning. Don’t spend big on an altered card by mistake. 
• If you’re buying based on a seller’s story, demand provenance. The story may appeal, but without authentication, photo-matching, or documentation, it’s impossible to prove and shouldn’t spike the value. 

We also recommend checking out the buyer’s premium if purchasing via auction, and always set yourself a limit on what you can spend. I’ve made a number of mistakes regarding the above, and know it’s easy to overspend when trying to build a collection.