(LOT 3)
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Signed Bustin' Babes & Larrupin' Lou's 8x10 Photograph - Beckett & JSA LOAs Included
Virtually every sports enthusiast can agree that the 1927 New York Yankees was the greatest team of all time. What team in history has earned a nickname more ominous than the appropriately named "Murderers' Row"? They did just that, terrorizing every pitcher in the American League. Led by Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri and Earl Combs as well as Bob Muesel and Mark Koenig, the slugger-rich squad threatened the confines of each and every ballpark blasting an astonishing 158 home runs, nearly three times the league average (55), including 60 from Ruth and 47 from Gehrig. Sports agent Christy Walsh immediately capitalized on the potential opportunity that Ruth and Gehrig could offer, considering few people in the West were lucky enough to see the superstars play in person.

In 1927, Walsh established the aptly-named Bustin' Babes and Larrupin' Lou's Barnstorming Tour featuring his clients for a nine-state trek across the United States. Teammates turned rivals, team captains Ruth and Gehrig played throughout America alongside local ballplayers in each town/city before a crowd of eager and deprived fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the bigger than life sports heroes. As a memento of this "once in a lifetime" tour, Walsh also produced Souvenir Presentation photographs of his two stars, arm-in-arm, with facsimile signatures from each and the salutation "Yours Truly" above each autograph. With Babe clad in his Bustin' Babes dark uniform and Lou donning his light Larrupin' Lou's attire, the two stand together grinning from ear to ear mugging for the camera and ready to play. A handful of lucky fans from town to town were fortunate enough to have the two diamond icons sign their photos, memorializing their visit with the simple sweep of a fountain pen.

The offered is one such photograph with both Ruth and Gehrig signing directly below their facsimile inscription. Examples of this iconic photo have surfaced over the years, autographed by Ruth and Gehrig, featuring various directed salutations, but few have displayed bolder signatures from the two. Signed directly below his facsimile auto, Babe Ruth's penning easily warrants a 7-8 strength while Gehrig's (also under his printed sig) appears slightly bolder with an 8-9 strength. This Beckett encapsulated presentation photograph reveals slight toning with expected edge and corner age apparent and minimal unobtrusive surface abrasions. The reverse is likewise clean with light age foxing from 90-plus years of storage. This is a tremendously iconic and recognizable relic autographed by two of the greatest players in the history of baseball that will unquestionably enhance whatever collection in which it lands. Beckett LOA and JSA LOA included.
MIN BID $5,000
__