In a captivating twist of fate, an unassuming attic in Northeast Ohio held the key to a remarkable discovery that left the world of sports memorabilia enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. Like a scene straight out of a classic treasure hunt tale, a simple cigar box, tucked away amidst dusty trinkets and long-forgotten memories, was revealed to contain a fortune in vintage baseball cards. Among these relics were cards featuring none other than the legendary Babe Ruth, culminating in a jaw-dropping $120,000 sale during a recent online auction orchestrated by Stark County’s very own Kiko Auctions.
The unsuspecting sellers were a pair of siblings, who have elected to remain anonymous, perhaps hoping to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst the sudden burst of fame their discovery might have provoked. It was while they were sorting through their late parents’ belongings—a bittersweet task every offspring must face—that they unearthed the box brimming with these cherished collectibles. Auctioneer Jack Kiko recalled that there was a sense of intrigue mixed with expectation; the family had an inkling that this hefty pile of history held value, and boy, were they spot on.
The Canton Repository dug through the records and crunched the statistics of what turned out to be a dynamic auction. The event, running from May 28 to June 2, featured an impressive 623 lots, with an overwhelming majority being baseball cards. Hidden amongst this sea of nostalgia were over 200 cards from the iconic 1933 Goudey Big League Gum set—a towering giant in the pantheon of card collections.
For those unfamiliar with the illustrious history of baseball cards, the 1933 Goudey set was revolutionary. As the first of its kind to include a stick of gum in each pack, it played a pivotal role in skyrocketing the popularity of baseball cards as a cultural phenomenon. Peppered with Hall of Fame players, this set is nothing short of essential for the devoted collector.
When the digital gavel echoed its last across cyberspace, an astounding $120,699 worth of winning bids had been accumulated. This sum, impressive in itself, swelled to over $140,000 with the addition of a 10% internet premium and a 6.5% sales tax, a steep yet evidently justified price from eager bidders. One bidder, whose identity might as well be cloaked in mystery, emerged as a major player in the auction, likely securing a significant portion of the treasure trove.
Among the glittering jewels of American sports history was the top-charting 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card—a card that sports a crimson backdrop—which fetched a laudable $8,000. In their entirety, the five Ruth cards stood out as the crown jewels, amassing a combined sale price of $35,250 before any additional fees or taxes. The thrill of the chase and the gamble inherent in collecting such cards, especially those that hadn’t seen the scrutiny of professional grading, became an allure in their own right. While the condition of the cards varied, this risk was accepted willingly, the thrill of vintage card collection weaving its way through each strategic bid.
Moving from a shadowy corner of an Ohio attic to the digital auction rooms accessed by enthusiastic collectors worldwide, this discovery of baseball relics—loved and hidden, then cherished and shared—is a tribute to how America’s pastime continues to embolden and enchant, hitching a ride on our collective nostalgia and hitting proverbial homeruns straight out of history’s ballpark. As baseball remains not just a game but a profound thread in the fabric of American life, these cards stand as storied witnesses to a sport forever intertwined with camaraderie, legends, and dreams, ready to inspire the legacy bearers of yesteryears into tomorrow’s caretakers.
