Babe Ruth Ticket Stub Sells for $189,100
News related to:Dave Buys Ticket Stubs · 2 min read
Dave Buys Ticket Stubs, a specialist in vintage sports and concert ticket stubs, has highlighted the extraordinary sale of a 1923 World Series ticket stub signed by Babe Ruth, which fetched $189,100 at Heritage Auctions. The stub, which last sold for $71,700 in 2014, has more than doubled in value over the past 12 years.
According to Dave Youhanaie, founder of Dave Buys Ticket Stubs, this sale is a significant milestone in the world of ticket stub collecting. "This is one of the most important sales in the history of ticket collecting," Youhanaie stated. "The 1923 World Series Game Six ticket stub signed by Babe Ruth is one of only two known examples from the game in which the Yankees defeated the New York Giants 6-4 to clinch their first World Series title."
The stub, graded PSA/DNA Mint 9, sold at Heritage Auctions' Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction in Dallas on August 21. Youhanaie explained that the historical context and exceptional condition of the stub contribute to its significant value. "This ticket is about as spectacular as ticket collecting gets," he said. "I can't imagine many tickets I'd rather have sitting in a collection for those 12 years."
The sale of the stub, which increased by $117,000, or 164%, over the past 12 years, invites a comparison between the appreciation of collectibles and other types of investments. Youhanaie noted, "A traditional investment tracking the broader stock market would likely have grown by a similar or larger amount over the same 12 years." However, he pointed out that the transaction costs of buying and selling high-end collectibles are high, making such investments more complex.
Dave Buys Ticket Stubs, which has built a database of more than 300,000 logged ticket stubs dating back to approximately 1909, offers no-obligation cash offers to sellers based on photos submitted through its website. The company covers shipping costs and pays through PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or check.
The company's founder, Dave Youhanaie, emphasized that collectors should primarily buy what excites them. "The financial return is wonderful when it happens, but there is also value in spending years owning and enjoying something extraordinary," he said. "A ticket from the deciding game of the 1923 World Series, signed by Babe Ruth and graded PSA/DNA Mint 9, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The company's process involves applying the same cross-referencing to every submission it receives, whether a stub is graded and signed by a Hall of Famer or sitting loose in a shoebox from a game nobody remembers. Dave Buys Ticket Stubs aims to make the process of selling and researching vintage sports and concert ticket stubs as straightforward and accessible as possible for collectors.
In a broader context, this sale stands as a testament to the enduring appeal and value of rare and significant sports memorabilia. As collectors and enthusiasts continue to seek out and appreciate these historical artifacts, the market for vintage ticket stubs remains an intriguing and potentially lucrative niche within the world of collectibles.