(LOT 141)
"Scarce for the Grade" 1921 Oxford E253 Babe Ruth (SGC VG/EX 4)
It is no secret to vintage enthusiasts that there are a minimal number of Babe Ruth cards issued during his 1920/'21 New York Yankee playing days, substantiating why his 1921 Oxford Confectionery E253 subject resides as one of Ruth's most obscure and highly coveted cardboard keepsakes. Furthermore, other than his 1920 "Headin' Home" theatre cards, few people realize that Babe Ruth's 1921 Oxford issue stands as his inaugural "mainstream" Yankee card revealing Ruth in his new Yankees uniform. Indeed, Ruth's 1920 Felix Mendelsohn and 1921 E121 American Caramel issues both depict the Bambino in a Boston Red Sox uniform, with only his extremely rare 1920 Headin Home cards portraying Ruth in Yankee pinstripes or road grays. In 1921, the Oxford, Co. of Oxford, Pa. produced a 20-subject caramel set, considered by most experts as one of the most eclectic pre-WWII issues. Synonymous with virtually every 1920's issue, the "cream of the crop" card is Babe Ruth, with the candy company appeasing Ruth's enthralled following by utilizing an image that reflects Ruth's NEW YORK" road jersey.

Presented here just happens to be one of the most spectacular Babe Ruth E253 Oxford Confectionery subjects you will ever see; a magnificent SGC VG/EX 4 example that is one of only 2 SGC examples at this plateau with only 6 specimens graded higher! One of the scarcest Babe Ruth issues, at the time this was written, SGC had only encapsulated a scant 30 copies. Any encapsulated E253 Ruth is highly coveted by the collecting community, let alone one that carries a VG/EX 4 assessment and resides as one of the finest aesthetically pleasing mid-grade examples on the planet. The 1921 Oxford Ruth's population is a mere fraction of the thousands of Goudey Ruth's distributed in the 1930's, and its sheer condition sensitivity is justified by this "VG/EX" example only bested by a handful of its peers. At the time of its production, Babe Ruth was in the midst of setting baseball's unparalleled home run standard and began a legacy that left him as the greatest ballplayer to ever grace a baseball diamond. His batting and pitching exploits speak for themselves, leaving an indelible mark on our beloved National Pastime. Unquestionably, this "Sultan of Swat" offering portrays eye appeal far beyond its rather strict technical assessment, aesthetics easily presenting itself as a solid mid-grade cardboard marvel.

Ruth's hallowed black & white image depicts crystal-clear clarity, literally transcending us back to the origin of his early Yankee playing days when he took the "Big Apple" by storm via his mammoth-like dingers. The corners depict even wear more consistent with an "EX" specimen, and no obtrusive surface flaws or glaring creases are evident on either side. The verso's 20-subject checklist is completely intact, the final stamp of approval for a card that is excruciatingly tough to find with this mid-grade assessment. Just staring at the "Colossal of Swat's" immortal pose would give any passionate collector a myriad of goosebumps. The "Babe" set the benchmark for all future sluggers, with no player able to match Ruth's iconic stature and overwhelming batting feats, one of which was "out-homering" virtually every MLB squad in the early 1920's. That said, what cardboard artifact could possibly be more rewarding than this early New York Yankee Ruthian keepsake that depicts the legendary Bambino in one of his earliest Yankee uniform cardboard poses, and via its seldom-surfacing SGC 4 grade and breathtaking visual appeal, resoundingly stands as one of the finest E253 Oxford Ruth's extant!

MIN BID $5,000
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