Costco Is Selling Signed Babe Ruth Cards for $20K. Should You Buy One?

Recently, I was getting lost on Costco's website when I came across a category I had never seen before -- Sports Memorabilia & Collectibles. It sounded unusual, but definitely not as bizarre as the products that I found.

If you already know this, then live vicariously through my surprise because I had no idea Costco sells autographs from famous athletes ranging from Mickey Mantle to Cristano Ronaldo to Tom Brady. And though I saw plenty of other names I recognized, one stood out immediately: Babe Ruth.

An index card with a legend's autograph

As if Costco hadn't already blown my mind with other strange products -- like greenhouses -- the warehouse is selling a limited supply of three-by-five index cards with Babe Ruth's autograph.

The price? $19,999.99.

For about the same cost as a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, you can own the Big Bambino's autographed name. The index card comes encapsulated in a tamper-proof case and has been certified by the Beckett Authentication Services, a reputable third-party company that authenticates autographs. The autograph itself is a mint 10, meaning it's one of the best examples of Babe Ruth's signature and is bold enough to see with the naked eye.

Should you buy it for $20K?

From what I can gather online, the price for Babe Ruth's autograph swings wildly from a few thousand dollars for a faded squiggle to hundreds of thousands for clear signage on baseball cards, balls, and bats. eBay has quite a few autographed cards that are similar in size to Costco's, but the only mint 10s I could find were priced between $21,000 and $28,000.

The fact that I can find Babe Ruth's autograph so easily, however, tells me Costco's index cards aren't as rare as, say, buying Babe Ruth's original Yankees contract. It's neat that Costco is selling this. But don't have high expectations that the card's value will grow exponentially, if you're looking at it as an investment.

For Yankees fans who can't pass up a mint 10 Babe Ruth autograph, you might want to ask yourself a few questions before buying this (or any other collectible).

• Where will you store it? The card may be in a tamper-proof case. But that doesn't mean it's fire-proof or theft-proof. Since it is a physical card, you'll want a secure place to store it, such as a safe.
• Will you have to buy insurance? Some home insurance policies will cover collectibles, but they usually impose a limit. If your policy doesn't cover the card, you might have to buy additional coverage.
• Can you actually afford it? Sinking $20,000 into an index card might not be the smartest personal finance decision. For instance, if you don't have a solid balance to pay for your retirement, it would be better to invest this money for the long term.

All in all, if your finances are solid, and you collect autographed sports memorabilia, this could be a good deal. It is, after all, an autograph of a baseball legend and is at least 75 years old, if not older. Better yet, if you're a Costco Executive member you can earn $400 in cash back on this purchase alone. Add in Costco's generous return policy, and you might not find a better place to buy your autographed collectibles.