(LOT 996)
c. 1920 Babe Ruth "First-Season Yankees" PSA Type 1 George Grantham Bain Photo – Measures Approx. 5" x 7"
1920 RUTH FIRST NYY SEASON!!! The incomparable Babe Ruth never looked better than in this 5" x 7" classic 1920 PSA Type 1 George Grantham Bain image as he dons his classic Yankee pinstripes uniform at the Polo Grounds, Ruth's temporary home from 1920-22. Indeed, Yankee Stadium (The House That Ruth Built) was not yet constructed, and the Sultan of Swat would share his home field with John McGraw's N.Y. Giants. A world-class "first-season Yankees" Ruth photo, it's no secret that 1920 Ruth artifacts are soaring in value, with several other 1920 Type 1 images (struck by Paul Thompson) fetching $87K, $96K and a whopping $153K over the past several years. The official "Birth of the Curse", the early 1920s would see the iconic Bambino revolutionize baseball with his record-setting home runs, belting 54 round-trippers in his first Yankee season, and breaking his own record in 1921 when he walloped 59 dingers. This 1920 image certainly conjures up memories of Ruth's inaugural Yankees campaign that saw the majestic Babe adding a remarkable 135 RBIs, .376 batting average, 158 runs scored, and off the chart 1.379 OPS to his mighty 54 homers! This incredible heirloom portrays the Bambino in his seldom-seen early 1920 pose struck by the renowned Bain.

The central Ruth image depicts breathtaking contrast and clarity, with the only negligible flaws being a lower left corner chip, even corner wear, and some faint surface wrinkles barely visible to the naked eye. Ruth's hallowed name is affixed along the image's upper frame (a standard Bain photo trademark), with an additional numerical notation near the illustration's right corner. The verso reveals several CULVER PICTURES, INC. credit stamps, typical for many George Grantham Bain photos, and the final compliment for one of Ruth's most fascinating Type 1 photos. As previously stated, any 1920 Babe Ruth image portraying him in his classic Yankee pinstripes for his inaugural Big Apple season are realizing staggering price tags, with these exalted heirlooms serving as a sheer reminder of how this Beantown pitching star traded Bo-Sox red flannels for Yankee pinstripes to ultimately become our National Pastime's greatest all-time player. Add to that the fact that this museum-worthy masterpiece was originally struck by the legendary George Grantham Bain, we highly expect a significant number of elite photo enthusiasts to wage a fierce battle for its ultimate ownership!

*NOTE: PSA's photo expert's research now pinpoints this Ruth image as being taken by George Grantham Bain at the Polo Grounds on July 23, 1920.

MIN BID $5,000
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