Picture this: A dusty attic in Northeast Ohio, a place where forgotten memories and bric-a-brac gather cobwebs as they await rediscovery. But amidst the memorabilia of yesteryears, a surprise of legendary proportions was waiting its turn to bat—a collection of vintage baseball cards, headlined by the one and only Babe Ruth. Sitting quietly in an old cigar box, these cards weren’t just pieces of cardboard—they were pieces of history, and they were about to make quite the splash.

The sellers of this collection, siblings wishing to remain anonymous, found this treasure trove while sorting through their late parents’ possessions. When they first laid eyes on the cards, they had a gut feeling they had stumbled upon something significant. They didn’t just hit the nail on the head; they hit a home run. Their decision to auction the cards turned out to be a masterstroke. Partnering with Stark County’s Kiko Auctions, the family saw this once-dusty stash transformed into a sparkling gem that would be admired and wanted by collectors far and wide.

The Canton Repository did a deep dive, unveiling the numbers that would set the stage for this headline-grabbing event. The online auction ran from May 28 to June 2, diligently showcasing 623 lots to the eager eyes of collectors and enthusiasts. The majority of these were baseball cards, with a sizable portion representing the renowned 1933 Goudey Big League Gum set.

For those less immersed in the fine nuances of card collecting, the 1933 Goudey series holds a special place in collectors’ hearts. It was a trailblazer, the first to pair a pack of baseball cards with that ultimate sweetener—a stick of gum. Legend has it that this novel pairing catapulted the set’s fame to stratospheric heights. Filled with Hall of Famers and icons of the game, the set is considered a cornerstone of any serious collection. It’s the stuff of folklore and a testament to the timeless appeal of America’s pastime.

By the time the virtual gavel fell, the auction had reeled in an impressive $120,699 in winning bids. Tack on a 10% internet premium and state sales tax at 6.5%, and the total amount reached over $140,000. It wasn’t just a good day at the auction—this was the kind of day that stories are made of, stories that will be told for generations, much like the exploits of Babe Ruth himself.

Among the winning bids, one particularly sharp-eyed collector (identified by their user ID) made waves by acquiring a significant portion of the collection. The pièce de resistance was a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card, dazzling with its iconic red background, which alone fetched a handsome $8,000. In total, five Babe Ruth cards changed hands for a combined sum of $35,250 before the requisite fees and taxes were applied. While the condition of these cards varied, they had not been professionally graded—a detail that introduces a tantalizing element of risk into the proceedings. But this unpredictability is precisely what infuses the vintage card game with its electric charm.

The drama of this discovery and the subsequent auction isn’t just about dollars or storied players memorialized on fragile cardboard. It’s the romance of America’s pastime, the whisper of nostalgia that breathes life into what some might see as mere ephemera. These cards, long hidden away in a sleepy Ohio attic, have awakened a shared love that transcends generations.

While these siblings may have wished to keep their identity close to the vest, they have unwittingly gifted the world with a reminder of the enduring allure of baseball and its legends. From an unassuming attic to the wide reach of the internet, these relics seemed to say, “We are still here,” enticing even the most casual observer to appreciate the rich tapestry of baseball and the lore that surrounds it.

Simply put, this remarkable find and its journey to auction remind us that treasures of the past can resurface when we least expect them. While the physical cards may belong to new owners, the story they tell belongs to all of us, echoing the great Babe Ruth himself, forever in the hearts and minds of fans who understand the true magic of the game. And who knows what other secrets lie in waiting, tucked away in attics and basements, simply waiting for the right moment to step into the spotlight?

Babe Ruth Attic Find