(LOT 684)
1933 Inaugural All-Star Game – Babe Ruth Crosses Home Plate After Belting First All-Star Game Home Run! - ACME Newspictures Type 1 Photo - Measures Approx. 7" x 9" – PSA Type 1 Encapsulation
On July 6, 1933, baseball's greatest stars would assemble at Chicago's Comiskey Park to compete in our National Pastime's inaugural All-Star game that was an integral part of the 1933 Chicago's World Fair in celebration of the city's centennial. The true architect of this inspiring "mid-summer" classic was Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, who insisted a festive event including baseball's grandest players would boost the morale during the Great Depression, with a seemingly infinite number of Americans still experiencing the excruciating pain of our Nation's economic collapse. Dubbed "The Game of the Century", the players would be selected by both the fans (starting nine) and managers (additional nine players). Originally intended to be a one-time event, 55 major U.S. newspapers would post player ballots in their respective periodicals, and the proceeds from the game would be given to a charity representing "needy and disabled" MLB players.

Interestingly enough, a majority of baseball's greatest players were on the American League squad including Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Grove, Gomez, and Simmons, with the National League stars boasting Frisch, Klein and screwball specialist Carl Hubbell. The teams were managed by the arguable finest two manager's in baseball history, Connie Mack and John McGraw, and the game itself couldn't have included a finer Hollywood script for in the bottom of the third inning, the incomparable Babe Ruth would step to the plate and belt a game decisive two-run homer! Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez took credit for the 4-2 A.L. win with Redbirds southpaw Bill Hallahan taking the loss. As a grand testament for this monumental event, the extraordinary Type 1 offering depicts the "Sultan of Swat" crossing home plate after walloping his historic inaugural All-Star game round-tripper, congratulated by captivated White Sox bat boy John McBride who is donning the Chicago White Sox home uniform. Magnificent too say the least, this world-class image captures an epic "moment in time" as baseball's unquestionable all-time player once again places a stamp on a significant event.

Indeed, Ruth hit the first homer at the new Yankee Stadium, belted three World Series dingers in games on two separate occasions, and only a year earlier, blasted his alleged "Called-Shot" home run into the deepest confines of Chicago's Wrigley Field! So, it should have come with little surprise that the Bambino would likewise place his resounding stamp on the baseball's inaugural All-Star game. Remarkably, this classic image shows little ill effects from its 86-year existence, emulating the finest possible clarity and contrast as well as a relatively clean surface. The final exclamation points are the flipside's ACME NEWSPICTURES credit stamp and a significant caption that details the events of this historic game including Ruth's unfathomable homer. Most would agree that George Herman "Babe" Ruth will forever stand as baseball's supreme "larger than life" figure, and this astonishing museum worthy masterpiece stands as the perfect testament for his unparalleled stature!

MIN BID $500
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