(LOT 25)
Outstanding 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth PSA 5 EX
No baseball player, past or present, commands the unequivocal respect and admiration of George Herman "Babe" Ruth, justifying why cardboard keepsakes issued during his majestic playing days are widely sought-after within the collecting community. The "Sultan of Swat's" significance to the game itself cannot be over emphasized, with his mighty home runs revolutionizing baseball directly after the "Black Sox Scandal", truly a significant time when the game desperately required a momentous "boost". It is the general consensus of baseball historians that Babe Ruth saved the game during this "dark" period, and he relentlessly marched on with his record-breaking feats to become America's finest all-time player. Other than a few of his early Boston Red Sox issues, no card could more effectively represent the unparalleled "Bambino" than a 1933 Goudey Gum card. This prestigious gum company transformed the card market by inserting baseball players and gum in wax packs as opposed to manufacturers packaging cards with their candy and tobacco products. Unquestionably, Goudey chose the right player to produce four separate subjects, and subject #181 is presented here in an absolutely outstanding PSA EX 5 holder. Rarely, are we afforded the opportunity to use the adjective "outstanding" for a mid-grade example, but as you can clearly see, this spine-tingling offering portrays aesthetics far beyond the technical assessment.

The Bambino's classic sitting pose emanates the finest possible clarity and contrast, depicting a sparkling array of rich hues, especially within his stoic facial expression. Of utmost importance, the iconic image offers near-perfect centering, with only a slight trace of favoritism towards the upper edge. The relatively clean surfaces have eluded any glaring flaws (or major creasing), and we can only assume that modest corner wear (especially the lower & upper right corners) accounts for the grade. Yet, as you can clearly see, the presentation of this "EX 5" marvel is absolutely magnificent, arguably providing eye appeal consistent with many "EX/MT 6" or finer examples. It is no secret that the hobby is rapidly leaning towards "buying the card's aesthetics" along with the technical assessment, and this world-class Babe Ruth masterpiece certainly applies as one of those classic mid-grade specimens that merits superlatives beyond its seemingly strict grade. The past six months have seen an exponential rise in the prices of Goudey Ruths for all grades, with one "EX 5" example remarkably achieving a $90K pricing point. While Babe Ruth's pre-1920 Red Sox cards certainly reside as his most expensive issues, no post-1920 Ruthian cardboard memento carries the unbridled prestige of his mainstream Goudey subjects, with this sparkling #181 offering destined to become a centerpiece attraction in any prestigious Goudey or Ruth collection!

MIN BID $5,000
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