(LOT 433)
1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams PSA 9 MINT
One of the hobby's highly coveted Ted Williams cardboard keepsakes is his illustrious 1941 Play Ball subject that is presented here in an outstanding PSA Mint 9 holder, proudly standing tall as the finest of its kind! No doubt, this world-class offering truly resides as one of "Teddy Ballgame's" most formidable baseball cards, most likely due to both the season it was issued as well as the super eye pleasing Williams' portrait pose that is a favorite among collectors. The 1941 campaign saw "The Kid" become the last MLB player to bat .400 or better, with Ted posting an unfathomable .406 average courtesy of his extraordinary 6 hits compiled in a doubleheader played on the final day of the season. The "Splendid Splinter's" unparalleled hitting prowess has placed him as our National Pastime's arguable "greatest hitter ever", and it is not every time that we have the opportunity to fulfill our lifetime dream. For the great Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, achieving his dream of "walking down the street with people passing me and saying there goes the greatest hitter who ever lived" did become a reality.

This notion is upheld by most baseball historians, substantiated by his .344 lifetime average, 521 home runs, nearly 2,000 R.B.I.'s and the 2nd highest OPS (1.115) and OPS+ (190) figures that sit only behind the immortal Babe Ruth. All of these amazing achievements were compiled with Williams missing five years of his "prime" in WW1 and the Korean War as a bona-fide fighter pilot, with Ted actually playing in an incredible four decades (1939-1960). Similar to Ted's sensational batting exploits are the breathtaking aesthetics of this "PSA Mint 9" 1941 Play Ball subject that has rightfully earned the hallowed assessment. This museum worthy masterpiece provides a brilliant and colorful portrait pose of the fearsome slugger, revealing impeccable clarity and contrast. Dazzling white borders frame the classic image that, atypically, reveals near-perfect positioning, stubbornly defying the "off-center" stigma commonly associated with this issue. A super clean surface ends at razor-sharp edges and pinpoint corners, and the verso's bold black print registration and accompanying surface are virtually un-improvable.

One of the finest looking Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball subjects extant, its "pack-fresh" nature provides eye appeal consistent with the grade, retaining nearly all of its pristine attributes for the past 80 years. A "perfect" testament to Ted Williams' unparalleled legacy, it conjures of vivid memories of how this remarkable hitter elevated himself to a pinnacle level at his gifted craft. Similar to Ruth and DiMaggio, Ted Williams will forever be categorized as an American hero, solidified by "The Kid" being the best at his particular skills, both in the batter's box and battling enemy fighter air craft to defend a grateful Nation. Williams' 1941 campaign resulted in an amazing .406 batting average; solidifying the notion the "Thumper" truly resides as baseball's finest all-time hitter, and ironically synonymous with this iconic offering's undisputed stature as the "Best of the Best!"

MIN BID $30,000
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