LOT 2 - Babe Ruth Single Signed Official A.L. Harridge Baseball w/a Miraculous PSA Gem Mint 10 Autograph

Includes Original Reach Box - Full PSA/DNA 8.5 LOA (Gem Mint 10 Auto; Near-Mint 7 Baseball)

"Every now and then some athlete is touched for a moment with a kind of higher level of greatness which they may never achieve again, but at that moment, they were more than life allows... such was Babe Ruth's impact on baseball" - the iconic words of the legendary CBS Commentator Heywood Hale Broun

 Babe Ruth Single Signed Official A.L. Harridge Baseball

Most would agree that Christmas Day arguably stands as the most magical day of the year for a seemingly infinite number of America's youth, with children anxiously awaiting to open their gifts on the morning of December 25th. Indeed, there is nothing more innocent and precious than the "faith of a child", and some 73 years ago, the ultimate dream of meeting his baseball hero just happened to become a reality on Christmas Day 1947 when little 4-year old Rickey would stand face-to face and shake hands with none other than the immortal George Herman Ruth!

So the story goes, Rickey's Aunt Blanche (his mom's sister) was a close friend of the great Bambino and asked him to stop by their New York home that fabled day to surprise her young nephew Rickey. As a side note, Rickey's grandfather lived with him and bred several dozen chickens in a coop on their property, whereby Aunt Blanche from time to time would give "The Babe" fresh eggs from those chickens. We cannot even imagine the unparalleled excitement of this star-struck young boy as a captivated Rickey met the incomparable Ruth.

In typical Ruthian fashion, he had brought along a brand new Official American League Harridge baseball in its unopened REACH box to sign for the boy, since Aunt Blanche had informed Ruth in advance that her nephew might be present to meet his unequivocal idol. It was then that the "Sultan of Swat" scripted on the ball in extremely bold blue fountain pen the following inscription on a side panel: "To Blanche's Nephew Rickey – From Babe Ruth", also adding "Dec 25th 1947" on the sweet spot (directly to the right of the salutation).

While most of the vivid details of this "once in a lifetime" meeting with Ruth remain vague (Rickey was only 4 years old), what we surely know is that a childhood dream came true on a day so apropos for miraculous occurrences. Rickey's parents would preserve the ball throughout his childhood, keeping it in the original Reach box to preserve its awe-inspiring condition. Now, some 73 years later, Rickey has ultimately decided to part with his world-class heirloom, willing to "pass the baton" along to another passionate collector and have them likewise feel the overwhelming enthusiasm he has been blessed with for the past three quarters of a century. Speaking of "excitement" you cannot imagine the exhilaration felt by the Memory Lane staff when this "one of a kind" and "fresh to the hobby" gem was presented to us for auction.

This wonderful feeling turned into sheer ecstasy when the PSA authentication team informed us that the hallowed Babe Ruth script had justifiably received the perfect "Gem Mint 10 grade!" Incredible as it may seem, that is indeed the case for this timeless memento that now stands as one of the mere handful of single signed Babe Ruth baseballs depicting a near-impossible PSA "10" autograph grade. Furthermore, due to the baseball's aesthetically brilliant attributes (obviously well preserved by residing in its original box for 73 years), PSA has also assigned a stellar 'NM 7" assessment for this A.L. Harridge baseball, resulting in a spectacular "NM/MT+ 8.5" overall grade. As advanced enthusiasts are well aware of, such an assessment rarely surfaces in the hobby and is extremely valuable, substantiated by the fact that a personalized single signed Babe Ruth baseball reflecting a similar PSA "10" signature and overall "8.5" grade recently fetched a staggering $184,000 at a public auction!

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It is no secret that any formidable Ruth autographed keepsake stands as one of the foremost collectibles in the hobby due to the unparalleled dynamic charisma and diamond excellence of the incomparable Babe Ruth. The "Bambino's" amazing accomplishments have set the ultimate benchmark for any professional baseball player, with his remarkable mystique placing him as the ultimate idol for a countless number of aspiring fans. During his majestic career, Ruth absolutely loved signing baseballs for his adoring worshipers, taking an abundance of time before and after games to script his name on a horsehide sphere. Arguably, no signed Ruth collectible is more exalted than a brilliant single-signed baseball, and this pinnacle-like offering carrying a miraculous PSA "10" signature and overall "8.5" grade proudly stands tall one of the finest of its kind predominately due to the "Perfect 10" Babe Ruth blue fountain pen script.

The preservation in its original REACH box (likewise included in this lot) has kept this Official A.L. Harridge baseball in extraordinary condition, with the original dazzling white horsehide cover, tight red stitching and Harridge stamp still retaining a majority of their original factory issued qualities. Only minimal toning is present, and while the "7" baseball grade suffices as a strong assessment, this ball certainly would have been awarded the higher "8" grade had it not been for a diminutive soiling spot near one of the factory stamps. You can even make a strong argument that the illustrious PSA Authentication Company could have issued an overall "Mint 9" assessment, providing a well merited half-grade bump due to the ball's breathtaking eye appeal. Yet, more significant than the already monumental PSA 8.5 overall grade is its imposing presence and premier aesthetics, with this exalted horsehide-sphere literally transcending time to an era when the "Sultan of Swat" was larger than life.

To reiterate, virtually no collectible could be more desirable than a breathtaking Babe Ruth "single-signed" official baseball. The sheer thought of placing such a hallowed artifact on one's favorite mantelpiece or curio cabinet shelf spurs a "spine tingling" feeling from any sophisticated enthusiast; for no player past, present or future could possibly compete with the Bambino's larger than life persona. Each passing day his popularity increases profoundly, with avid collectors actively seeking to capture any of his most valuable treasures.

As a testament to his mighty power, the great Walter Johnson was once asked if anyone hit the ball harder than Babe Ruth with the "Big Train" responding: "I can't say for sure if Ruth hit the ball the hardest, but his batted balls got smaller a lot faster than anyone!" The Babe has set the ultimate benchmark for all of his peers to be measured against, substantiating why he stands tall as the embodiment of a National Hero. Synonymous with that notion, we cannot imagine a finer "Ruthian" collectible to capture than one of his premier single-signed baseballs that ironically sports the perfect PSA "10" assessment.

True, while Christmas Day 2020 is some seven months away, now is your golden opportunity to treat yourself to an early Xmas gift by capturing one of the pinnacle Babe Ruth signed baseballs on the planet. Originally gifted to Rickey on that enchanted 1947 Christmas Day, its fortunate new owner would immediately recapture the splendor of their bygone youth via a simple final bid!

Full PSA/DNA 8.5 LOA (Gem Mint 10 Auto; Near Mint 7 Baseball)

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