(LOT 28)
1934 Goudey R309-1 Babe Ruth Premium (SGC 45/3.5) – "1 of 1"; Only 2 Graded Higher!
In 1934, the renowned Goudey Gum Company initiated a promotional redemption process effort whereby Goudey bubble gum baseball wrappers could be mailed in to the Boston, Mass. Office in return for an over-sized thick cardboard stock Goudey premium. The four possible cards included American and National League All-Star team photos, a sole portrayal of the immortal George Herman "Babe" Ruth, and a team photo of the World Champion 1933 New York Giants. Extremely condition sensitive and consisting of ultra-thick cardboard stock, each card measures approximately 5-1/2" x 8-13/16", featuring a black & white image framed by an ornate gold border. While the verso originally revealed a cardboard pull-out stand to display these keepsakes, many of the remaining specimens exclude the stand that has been typically removed from the card.

Seldom surfacing for the taking, the most desirable/valuable of the four nebulous premiums is Babe Ruth, and it is his remarkable SGC 45/3.5 R309 Goudey Premium that we are offering here; the sole copy at the VG+ plateau with a mere 2 specimens graded higher of the nearly 60 encapsulated SGC examples (it should be noted that due to the size restraints of PSA's existing holders, PSA CANNOT encapsulate/grade any 1934 R309-1 premiums). The Goudey Gum Company sure knew what they were doing when they decided to include four Babe Ruth subjects in their landmark 1933 set, and it is no coincidence that the "Sultan of Swat" was the sole player offered in their oversized premium campaign.

Babe Ruth continues to reign supreme as the undisputed greatest baseball player ever, with his uncanny diamond exploits from both the pitching rubber and batter's box forever etched in our National Pastime's glorious history. For those reasons, enthusiasts actively seek his most eclectic cardboard gems, and this miraculous R309 Goudey suffices as one of those obscure and desirable keepsakes. Ruth's revered full standing swinging pose is the exact image affixed to his #144 Goudey subject, with his #53 and #149 Goudey issues also portraying "superimposed half-body" illustrations of the iconic Charles Conlon batting pose. Certainly one of the most imposing Babe Ruth pictures affixed to any card, this underrated type issue also resides as one of only a handful of oversized Babe Ruth cabinet sized issues (along with his "Bluebird" and "M101-6 Felix Mendelsohn" subjects).

Crystal clear clarity and impeccable contrast project this seemingly "larger than life" image to stratospheric heights, with the gold hued frame completely intact and atypically exhibiting no glaring chipping. The four corners are consistent with any mid-grade cardboard specimen, no obtrusive surface flaws are evident, and the reverse side uncharacteristically includes a non-impeded/fully attached stand. Unquestionably, this imposing collectible merits serious attention from any sophisticated collector, depicting baseball's pinnacle icon in a full body swinging pose in what stands as one of the finest preserved R309 Goudey Ruth's on the planet!

MIN BID $500
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