(LOT 4)
1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM-MT
SULTAN OF SWAT GEM!!! Other than a few of his first Boston Red Sox issues, no card could more effectively represent the unparalleled "Bambino" than a 1933 Goudey Gum card. This prestigious Boston, Massachusetts based 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 one of those momentous cards just happens to be presented here in an extraordinary PSA 8 NM-MT holder. Currently, only 2.7% of the 1,200+ PSA encapsulated copies have managed to achieve this hallowed assessment, with a fractional seven examples graded higher! It is hard to imagine any 88-year-old cardboard relic sustaining a majority of its original pristine factory-issued qualities, let alone one representing America's most popular baseball icon. The "Sultan of Swat's" significance to baseball cannot be overemphasized, with his mighty home runs revolutionizing baseball at a point in time directly after the "Black Sox Scandal" when our National Pastime desperately required a momentous "boost".

It is the general consensus amongst baseball historians that Babe Ruth saved the game during this dark period, and he continued on with his record-breaking feats to become America's undisputable finest all-time player. The hobby is currently in the midst of a remarkable pricing uptick with some of the greatest sport stars realizing record breaking prices each and every day. In fact, it is no longer a miraculous occurrence for even modern stars fetching "seven-figure" price tags, with various Mike Trout, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady issues leading the charge. Vintage cards have likewise experienced that same pricing phenomena, spearheaded by an SGC 3 T206 Honus Wagner fetching a record price of $6.6 million for any sports card, a PSA Mint 9 '52 Topps Mantle privately trading for $5.2 million and a PSA 7 M101-5 Babe Ruth Rookie realizing $2.4 million in a public auction! Synonymous to an uncontrollable brush fire, roaring prices for iconic cards are setting records each and every day, including another PSA 8 #181 Goudey Ruth securing $344K in August 2021. Undervalued for the longest time, high-grade Babe Ruth Goudeys are finally beginning to hit their stride, and it would come as little surprise if PSA 8 examples eventually reach the exalted seven-figure+ mark.

The soaring card prices of Babe Ruth cardboard treasures issued during his esteemed playing days has literally "rocked" the collecting community, with the ultimate prestige of any high-grade 1933 Goudey Ruth only surpassed by the Bambino's sanctified pre-1920 cardboard subjects. Interestingly enough, the #181 Goudey Ruth reveals a "unique" pose not offered on the other three Ruth Goudey subjects (the #53, #144 & #149 Ruths depict a similar batting pose). In fact, this #181 image, to the best of our knowledge, is unique to the card industry and not utilized on a single other Babe Ruth cardboard issue. Of course, the most captivating concept for this exalted offering is the seldom seen "8 NM-MT" assessment that places the card as one of the most significant "Sultan of Swat" cardboard keepsakes extant. Virtually every aspect of this Cooperstown worthy memento is synonymous with a pristine card starting with a brilliant Babe Ruth "sitting/half body" image depicting the finest possible crystal clear clarity and sparkling hues. The "unique" Ruthian pose literally projects itself in "3D" style primarily due to an awe-inspiring bold green background that is among the finest we have ever encountered. Atypical for this subject, the centering is virtually perfect, revealing only a slight trace of partiality towards the lower edge.

Furthermore, it certainly appears this particular example exhibits extremely wide bright white borders, with most #181 Ruth Goudey specimens reflecting a somewhat thinner frame. Additional superlatives include sharp corners, impeccable surfaces and the verso's bold green typography. In lieu of the staggering pricing points currently being realized for the most coveted sport cards, projecting a final pricing point for this museum worthy masterpiece is an extremely difficult task. Yet, what we can safely assume is that an anticipated bidding war will surely develop, with a considerable number of elite enthusiasts ready to wage battle for this Cooperstown worthy marvel. Indeed, any PSA 8 Goudey Ruth subject defines the sheer essence of everything this colossal slugger truly represents. Our National Pastime's uncontested "king of kings", the Babe's amazing batting and pitching exploits are a testament to his immortal stature. We highly advise our valued customers to maintain the "faith of a child" philosophy, for the ultimate dream of owning such an incomparable Bambino heirloom may transform into a bona fide reality via a simple final bid!

MIN BID $50,000
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