Lot # 1700: Extraordinary c.1920s Babe Ruth Batting Image – One of the Finest Ruth Batting Type 1 Photos Extant – Measures Approx. 8” x 10-1/4” - PSA Type 1 Encapsulation

Category: Photos

Starting Bid: $1,500.00

Bids: 15 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Rarities Auction 2021",
which ran from 9/25/2021 12:00 PM to
10/9/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 1700)
Extraordinary c.1920s Babe Ruth Batting Image One of the Finest Ruth Batting Type 1 Photos Extant Measures Approx. 8" x 10-1/4" - PSA Type 1 Encapsulation

Babe Ruth made his "Big Apple" debut in 1920 and via his tape-measure home runs and flamboyant personality literally "stole the hearts" of the die-hard New York fans, who like millions of Americans, were downtrodden over the 1919 World Series "Black Sox" scandal. While the integrity of our National Pastime's was certainly at stake, it didn't take the Bambino long to make the World Series "fix" a distant memory. Incredibly, Ruth clubbed a record 54 homers in his inaugural 1920 Yankee campaign, and the following season he would quickly re-write the record books by smacking 59 dingers. Baseball was now revolutionized forever via the emergence of the "long ball", courtesy of George Herman "Babe" Ruth. The "Sultan of Swat" would continue clouting balls into the grandstands at an alarming rate until 1927, when he finally achieved his goal of hitting 60 home runs while leading the World Champion Yankees to their second World Series title. Ruth finished the decade with an astonishing 467 homers, averaging an amazing 47 round-trippers per season!

It therefore comes as little surprise that collectors actively seek Ruth mementos from his 1920s tenure with the Yankees, and this absolutely extraordinary c.1920s PSA Type 1 Ruth batting photo fits right into that niche. Measuring a somewhat oversized 8" x 10-1/4", "The Babe" has just completed one of his mighty batting practice swings as he firmly grips his mammoth style lumber. Indeed, you can literally feel the 40-ounces+ weight of Ruth's gigantic bat that has just walloped another horsehide sphere towards the furthest confines of his opponent's stadium. The central image reveals awe-inspiring resolution and contrast as Ruth dons his classic "NEW YORK" road gray flannels, intensely looking up towards the grandstands to follow the flight of the crushed baseball.

The well-centered image has eluded any notable flaws, with the only mild blemishes being a strong upper left corner crease/chip as well as an extremely faint vertical print line running through the center of the photo, barely visible to the naked eye. Most significantly, this rarity includes a Ruthian sized batting pose that nearly extends from the top to bottom borders, encompassing roughly nine inches of total length. A magnificent Babe Ruth Type 1 offering, it serves as a vivid reminder of how this swashbuckling slugger arrived in New York for the 1920 campaign, ultimately embarking on a career synonymous to a supernatural icon!

MIN BID $1,500
_

Views: 453