(LOT 151)
1953 Hank Aaron PSA Type I Original Photo From the Baseball Magazine Archives - "One of the Earliest Aaron Photos Extant" - Measures Approx. 8" x 10" - PSA Encapsulated Type I
"He's sitting on 714... Here's the pitch by Downing... Swinging... There's a drive into left-centerfield... That ball is going to be out of here... It's Gone... It's 715... There's a new home-run champion of all-time and its Henry Aaron!" Such was the iconic call of Henry Aaron's historic 715th home run by Braves legendary announcer, the late Milo Hamilton. On April 8th 1974 at Fulton County Stadium, Aaron stepped into the batter's box in the bottom of the 4th inning against the Dodger's hard-throwing southpaw Al Downing. After taking ball one in the dirt, Aaron crushed Downing's next fastball into the bullpen as Dodgers outfielder Bill Buckner helplessly watched the ball sail over the left-centerfield fence. The unthinkable had happened with Aaron finally surpassing Babe Ruth's magical 714-mark!

Long before that magic moment took place, Aaron was displaying his skills for the Jacksonville Braves in 1953 (Milwaukee's Class A Minor League Affiliate of the South Atlantic League), with the 19-year old slugger belting 22 home runs, knocking in 125 runs and tallying 208 hits to the tune of a sensational .362 batting average. Capturing the MVP, he would join the Milwaukee Braves in Spring Training in 1954, with an injury to starting outfielder Bobby Thompson paving the way for Aaron to earn a starting nod that would lead an unparalleled career! As a testament to his professional baseball origins, this miraculous 1953 PSA Type I original silver-gelatin offering portrays the 19-year old sensation as a 1953 Jacksonville Brave. Measuring approximately 8" x 10", it depicts "Hammerin Hank" in a classic batting stance as he dons his seldom seen Jacksonville "J" cap and uniform.

The crystal clear and superbly contrasted image is extremely well centered between four white borders, the surface is relatively clean, and the even corner wear actually reflects an eye pleasing uniformity. Originating from the "Baseball Magazine Archives", the verso reveals a "BASEBALL P-23" red notation as well as a scripted "Henry Aaron". A remarkable heirloom that precedes Aaron's 1954 rookie season, this extremely momentous PRE-ROOKIE masterpiece portrays the youthful Aaron long before he would turn the baseball world "upside down" by surpassing the "Sultan of Swat's" 714-homer mark, eventually ending his fabulous career with 755 round-trippers! - LOA – PSA/DNA Type I

MIN BID $200