(LOT 215)
Magnificent 1933 Goudey #144 SIGNED Babe Ruth Subject (PSA 2 GOOD; AUTHENTIC AUTO) – One of Only 6 PSA Authentic Signed #144 Goudey Examples!
The emergence of signed iconic sports cards needs no introduction, with staggering price tags knowing no boundaries. In 2020 and early 2021, the hobby realized some incredible pricing points for some of the most coveted issues, spearheaded by the unprecedented Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig sales from the legendary "Uncle Jimmy Collection." In a Fall 2020 auction, a signed #181 Goudey Ruth realized an amazing $437K sale, a record setting number for any pre-WWII signed sports card. Yet, that spectacular record sale would soon be a distant memory when in February 2021, an autographed #149 Goudey Ruth fetched an extraordinary $761K, a $74% increase from the previously mentioned $437K record sale. Indeed, the floodgates have surely opened with regard to purchasing a signed Goudey Ruth, with virtually all presentable examples selling in the $150K - $400K range. It would make perfect sense for these previously undervalued Babe Ruth Goudey cards to finally "hit their stride", especially considering modern signed cards such as Mike Trout and LeBron James rookies in 2020 fetched remarkable $3.8 million and $5.2 million figures, respectively. Since George Herman Ruth merits more accolades than any player who ever graced a baseball diamond, his signed Goudey cards should rightfully be an integral part of this infinite-like pricing surge.

With that in mind, it is Memory Lane's distinct pleasure to present this remarkable autographed 1933 Goudey #144 Ruth, with the Bambino providing his "Babe Ruth" script in bold black fountain pen across his classic Charles Conlon full-standing batting image. One of the finer signed Ruth Goudey subjects extant, PSA has graded the card an extremely conservative "2 Good", with the authentic "Babe Ruth" signature revealing "6/7" strength. Most significantly, it's ultra-rare standing is substantiated by PSA's illustrious population report listing only five other signed #144 Ruth Goudeys! Many hobbyists would agree that it is the esteemed #144 Goudey Ruth that resides as the most popular of the four "Sultan of Swat" Goudey gum cards. It is the full body pose that truly captivates collectors, effectively turning back the clock to an era when "The Babe" was walloping baseballs towards the furthest confines of any ballpark at a record setting pace. The most enthralling aspect of this Cooperstown worthy offering is that Babe Ruth actually held the card in his own hands, eloquently signing it with a black fountain pen in his colossal-sized right hand (although Ruth batted and threw lefty, he actually wrote with his right hand). Simply stated, it may be easier to "find a needle in a haystack" than to find a signed Goudey Ruth revealing BOTH a super eye pleasing card and superb signature.

Our utmost compliments to its prior owners, for they all chose to meticulously protect this awe-inspiring marvel from any serious damage over the past 89 years. The 1933 campaign would see the immortal Babe Ruth produce his final array of outstanding batting exploits, as the "Colossus of Swat" blasted 34 homers, knocked in 104 runs, batted .301 while posting a formidable 1.023 OPS. In typical Ruthian fashion, that summer he would wallop the first home run in the inaugural All-Star game, and it was fitting that the Goudey Gum Company awarded his ardent fans with four different cardboard subjects in their landmark 1933 set. Regarding the condition of this hallowed heirloom, the signature has retained a majority of its original black fountain pen strength, with only some modest skipping in the two "B's". As previously stated, we would grade the signature a "6/7", and of critical importance, the Ruthian batting illustration portrays superb aesthetics. Indeed, the iconic Charles Conlon central image and bright background hues "steal the show", and it is most apparent that this offering emanates solid "3 VG" eye appeal (as opposed to the rather harsh "PSA 2" assessment). Atypical for any of the four Goudey Ruth's is the highly-coveted near-perfect centering, and it is no secret that finding any well-centered Goudey Ruth is an excruciating task, let alone one that has been neatly scripted by the incomparable Bambino. Additional highlights are even corner wear reflecting fine uniformity, no glaring surface flaws on either side and superb image clarity.

While the "Uncle Jimmy" Ruth Goudey pricing points need no introduction, further evidence of the escalating values for any signed Babe Ruth Goudey can be traced to a Winter 2021 auction that saw an autographed #149 subject with zero provenance realize $359K. Regarding the signed #144 Goudey Ruth, the past several years have produced several strong pricing points of $289K and $215K, further justifying how the value of an autographed Goudey Ruth carries unlimited potential. When you consider Babe Ruth's uncontested standing in baseball history as both a stellar pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and unparalleled New York Yankees slugger, his uncontested stature cannot be overemphasized. Simply stated, the "Sultan of Swat's" sheer existence resides above the game itself, so it should come as little surprise that his scarce signed Goudeys (only 23 signed examples on the PSA "Pop" Charts for all four subjects) are finally receiving the recognition they truly deserve, with each passing sale surging upwards with the force of an uncontrollable tsunami. Before scratching your head as to why a signed Ruth card could possibly achieve the previously mentioned $761K price tag, keep in mind that modern signed cards such as Tom Brady, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Mike Trout (just to name a few) have easily surpassed the 7-figure mark. That said, the current pricing points of scripted Babe Ruth cards continue to be significantly UNDERVALUED, qualifying this esteemed offering as a golden opportunity to capture the elusive Goudey #144 signed Ruth before its value escalates to an unprecedented level. In closing, considering the outstanding eye appeal of this well-preserved heirloom, it merits the highest hobby accolades and a final resting place as the centerpiece attraction in any world-class Babe Ruth gathering!

MIN BID $30,000
__