(LOT 2)
Extraordinary 1933 Goudey #53 SIGNED Babe Ruth Subject (PSA EX 6 Auto) – One of Only 5 PSA Authenticated #53 Goudey Examples/Also Includes a JSA LOA
The emergence of signed iconic sports cards needs no introduction, with staggering price tags knowing no boundaries. In 2020, the hobby realized some incredible pricing points for some of the most coveted issues, spearheaded by the unprecedented Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig sales from the legendary "Uncle Jimmy Collection." In a Fall 2020 auction, a signed #181 Goudey Ruth realized an absolutely amazing $437K sale, a record setting number for any pre-WWII signed sports card. Previously, other Ruth signed Goudey subjects from the Uncle Jimmy Collection had sold for numbers ranging between $153K and $325K, and there certainly appears to be no end in sight for this spiraling up-tick. It would make total sense for these previously undervalued Babe Ruth Goudey cards to finally "hit their stride", especially considering modern signed cards such as Mike Trout and LeBron James rookies in 2020 fetched remarkable $3.8 million and $1.8 million figures, respectively. Indeed, the floodgates have opened for the signed sports card market, and we cannot imagine any player meriting more respect than George Herman Ruth, who easily stands as our National Pastime's greatest all-time player.

One of the key aspects of the Uncle Jimmy Collection was the undisputed provenance associated with the sales, and that feature coupled with PSA's ironclad stamp of approval, provided bidders with an ultra-sound sense of security. With that in mind, it is Memory Lane's distinct pleasure to present this extraordinary autographed 1933 #53 Ruth yellow Goudey, with the Bambino providing his "Babe Ruth" script in bold led pencil across the classic Yankees pinstripe uniform. PSA has assigned a solid "EX 6" grade for this legendary signature, and its ultra-rare standing is substantiated by PSA's illustrious population report that only lists 4 other signed #53 Ruth Goudeys! Furthermore, this world-class offering is not some simple random signed card offering, for it was first offered to the collecting community some 4+years ago in a public auction as part of a "fresh to the hobby" 156-card signed Goudey compilation.

So the story goes, 156 autographed 1933 Goudey subjects were purchased by an anonymous collector in the 1980's from a family who retained the cards since they were originally signed in the 1930's. It should be noted that a vast majority of the scripted cards were signed at Fenway Park and Braves Field in 1933 and 1934, and were originally authenticated by JSA/James Spence Authentication. Since the 2016 sale of these cards, many examples have found their way into PSA holders, such as this miraculous Babe Ruth offering. While both the original owner and the individual who purchased the entire collection in the 1980's have chosen to remain anonymous (the direction most consignors typically choose), it has been documented that this Babe Ruth offering was part of the aforementioned 156 signed Goudey collection, with most of them scripted during the c.1933/'34 era. It is that type of provenance, couple with the PSA encapsulated authentication that the sophisticated hobbyist pursues, with this museum worthy signed Babe Ruth Goudey offering meriting a final resting place in the most esteemed collection.

Regarding the condition of this hallowed marvel, as previously stated, the signature has retained a majority of its original strength, a quality very typical with bold pencil scripts since vintage led pencil is not subject to the degree of fading typically experienced by period fountain pen. Equally significant is the superb eye appeal of this revered gem that includes an extremely well-centered image revealing no glaring surface flaws, whatsoever. Clearly, this offering portrays solid "VG/3" aesthetics, with its only noteworthy flaw being even corner wear consistent with VG examples. Of course, the momentous PSA 6 autograph is the critical highlight of this time-tested Babe Ruth Goudey that has stubbornly defied "father time" for the past 87 years. As previously stated, the Uncle Jimmy Ruth Goudey pricing points need no introduction, yet as further evidence of the escalating values for signed Babe Ruth Goudeys, a recent auction realized $183K for a #181 subject with zero provenance that had previously sold for $132K only a year earlier.

This further justifies how signed Goudey Ruth's have a seemingly infinite-like pricing potential. When you consider Babe Ruth's unparalleled standing in baseball history as both a stellar pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and unprecedented New York Yankees slugger, his overall stature cannot be overemphasized. Simply stated, the "Sultan of Swat's" sheer existence resides above the game itself, so it should come as little surprise that his scarce signed Goudeys (only 21 signed examples on the PSA "Pop" Charts for all four subjects) are finally receiving the recognition they truly deserve, with each passing sale surging forward similar to the force of an uncontrollable tsunami. That said, presented here is a golden opportunity to capture the obscure #53 Goudey signed Ruth for which PSA lists only four other specimens, before the value of this momentous prize escalates to a stratospheric level!

MIN BID $40,000
_