(LOT 544)
1923 Williard's Chocolate V100 Babe Ruth (PSA NM-MT 8) - The Finest Example on the Planet!
ONE AND ONLY!!!... Every so often a baseball card appears that defies logic, a card whose sheer existence serves as an absolute "shock" to the collecting community. Such is the case for this breathtaking PSA 8 1923 Willard's Chocolate Babe Ruth that stands ALONE at the top of the "Pop" Charts for any grading service! Interestingly enough, any 1923 Willard Chocolate Babe Ruth example is extremely scarce regardless of the grade. The COMBINED PSA and SGC census reports only list 22 encapsulated copies, of which the closest competitors to this hallowed PSA 8 memento is a single SGC 6 and two PSA 5 specimens. All of the remaining copies reside in 'Authentic" to "VG/3" holders, substantiating the extreme condition sensitivity of the 1923 Willard Chocolate subjects.

Seldom does the hobby experience such a disparity in an issue's highest graded specimen versus its "inadequate" peers, and considering the card represents baseball's irrefutable greatest player ever, this astonishing offering merits the highest hobby accolades. The set's history is traced back to 1923, when the Willard Chocolate Co. of Canada produced a 180-card set with one subject inserted with each package of their candy brand. Categorized as V100, sepia toned images were placed on the front side with the reverse side depicting a blank back. Ultra-popular with collectors due to their unique images (poses not seen on any other baseball card issues), any subjects are considered ultra-scarce, with this "unique for the grade" Ruth marvel the most miraculous V100 subject ever encapsulated by any grading company.

Any early 1920's Babe Ruth card merits the utmost attention from the most sophisticated enthusiast, let alone a card that has obliterated its competition with regard to grading levels. Ironically, in the early 1920's, Babe Ruth made it a habit to "out-homer" virtually all of the major league "teams", and likewise this museum worthy masterpiece has seriously outdistanced its competition. The "Sultan of Swat" set the ultimate benchmark for any baseball player via his world-class achievements from both the batter's box and pitching rubber, and his unparalleled stature will "echo for eternity". One look at this grandeur gem reminds us of the "Bambino's" diamond dominance, starting with the classic Ruth batting pose as he completes his mighty swing; most likely watching another mammoth home run sail towards the upper deck. Rich sepia-toned hues are complimented by near-perfect contrast and resolution, with the classic image modestly favoring the right edge between four super bright white borders.

Pinpoint corners complete a razor-sharp perimeter, no glaring surface blemishes are evident and the "blank back" is super clean, with this card miraculously defying "father time" for the past 94 years. Incredible to say the least, this high-grade Ruthian anomaly's sheer existence is synonymous with some of sports most monumental supernatural achievements. Its "one of a kind" grading superiority places it's esteemed stature right alongside Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point masterpiece against the helpless Knickerbockers; Joe DiMaggio's remarkable 56-game hitting streak; Secretariat's unfathomable 31-length Belmont Stakes win when the big red horse annihilated his competition as if the other thoroughbreds were running on a different race track; Mickey Mantle's mighty round tripper blasts including two off of Yankee Stadium's facade that exceeded the physical limits of human strength, and so many more of sports sensational achievements.

Simply stated, even the most extravagant adjectives are rendered fruitless to appropriately define this extraordinary offering, with a vast number of elite collectors "skipping a beat" via its unequivocal paucity level. Synonymous with Ruth's hallowed status, this PSA 8 gem resides as the undisputable "best of the rest" Willards Chocolate subject, and one of the foremost Ruth cards for ANY issue on the planet. In the past several years, we have seen Goudey Ruth PSA 8's sell for six-figures+, with their population far exceeding this one of a kind prize. With that in mind, we will let you, the advanced enthusiast, ultimately decide what this astonishing 1923 Ruth "Rembrandt" is truly worth!

MIN BID $10,000