(LOT 1728)
1930 Babe Ruth PSA Type 1 Encapsulated International Newsreel Measures Approx. 6" x 8"
This rather unique 1930 PSA Type 1 Babe Ruth image depicts the "Mighty Babe" inspecting his somewhat injured left hand that has been considerably taped to assist in the mending process. In fact, the reverse side caption clearly states: "THE HAND THAT MAY COST THE YANKEES THE PENNANT". Fortunately for Ruth, this mild injury was only a minor setback in what turned out to be one of his finest seasons ever. The 35-year-old "Babe" was showing no ill effects of his mid-thirties age, walloping a league leading 49 round-trippers, knocked in 153 runs, batted .359 and also led the Junior Circuit with a staggering 1.225 OPS. It was the eleventh time in thirteen years that Ruth led the A.L. in homers (including five consecutive HR titles 1926 30), and the twelfth time in those same thirteen years he paced the A.L. in OPS.

Surely, the original concern stemming from this image's caption and/or Ruth's hand injury did not result in impeding the "Sultan of Swat's" amazing performance. However, unfortunately for New York, they did not win the 1930 pennant (through no fault of Ruth), finishing in third place 16 games behind the pennant-winning Athletics and eight games behind second-place Washington. Ruth's rather stoic dugout steps image reveals outstanding contrast and clarity, with a few negligible wrinkles including a diagonal light crease situated in the upper left quadrant not distracting from its world-class aesthetics. The well-centered illustration has stubbornly defied 91 years of potential wear, and a majority of the verso's caption cannot be read since it was folded over in the PSA holder. A sensational Ruthian photo from his peak playing days, it truly stands as a bona fide testament for this colossal slugger who dominated the game better than anyone who ever graced a baseball diamond!

MIN BID $400
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