Lot # 2: Breathtaking 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM-MT

Category: Baseball

Starting Bid: $75,000.00

Bids: 29 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Rarities 2022",
which ran from 4/29/2022 4:00 PM to
5/21/2022 7:00 PM




(LOT 2)
Breathtaking 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM-MT

HIGH-GRADE RUTH!!! What do the T206 Honus Wagner, T206 Ty Cobb, 1916 M101 Babe Ruth and 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle all have in common? Simply stated, they all portray the most recognizable vintage baseball card images known in the hobby, with their immortal poses etched in the hearts and minds of even novice collectors. That said, there just might be another legendary image that truly belongs alongside these cardboard masterpieces; the iconic full-batting illustration affixed to the 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth subject originally taken by none other than renowned photographer Charles M. Conlon. Indeed, this timeless pose effectively transcends time to roughly a century ago when the "Sultan of Swat" took the Big Apple by storm in 1920, embarking on a relentless path that ultimately led him to becoming our National Pastime's greatest all-time player. Regarding Ruth's cardboard keepsakes, there are certainly a myriad of examples, but his most coveted cards just happen to be Ruth's 1933 Goudeys, with four different subjects from which to choose.

Three of those subjects just happen to portray the hallowed Charles Conlon batting pose, and arguably speaking, the most popular of those four Ruths is the aforementioned #144 Babe Ruth "full body swinging pose" subject. It just happens to be this majestic heirloom that is presented here in an awe-inspiring PSA 8 NM-MT holder, one of the irrefutable highlights of the esteemed Manny Gordon collection. Seldom surfacing for the taking at this elevated tier, only 2% of the 1,500+ PSA encapsulated examples have achieved the momentous "8" assessment, with a mere five specimens graded higher! One of the critical aspects of the #144 Goudey Ruth is the majestic full body swinging pose originally struck by none other than Charles M. Conlon. In fact, it is this pose that also graces two other Ruth Goudey subjects in half-body images (#s 53 & 149), and as previously stated, the presented #144 Goudey Ruth just may suffice as the Bambino's most sought-after baseball card extant. Its immense popularity has now translated to an abundance of record-setting prices, including a lofty $400K pricing point realized in the spring of 2021 for a PSA 8 example. Similar to other landmark "Ruthian" baseball cards, the floodgates have now opened for high-grade #144 Goudeys, and considering the inspiring visual appeal of this extraordinary offering, we cannot even begin to estimate its potential value. Generally speaking, no baseball card could possibly entice an elite enthusiast more than a prestigious Babe Ruth specimen issued during his playing days.

The "Sultan of Swat's" legacy is not only tied to being the finest player to ever grace a baseball diamond, but arguably, the most domineering athlete to ever walk the globe. His unfathomable records and off-the-field charisma governed baseball for two decades, establishing an unparalleled benchmark for our cherished National Pastime. Babe Ruth's unequivocal fame and "cream of the crop" baseball stature were achieved due to his "on-field" achievements that evolved into a world-renowned fame. Before he was swatting baseballs into Yankee Stadium's upper deck, he was manhandling hitters as a Boston Red Sox ace southpaw, and had he continued pitching, he would undoubtedly have been enshrined in Cooperstown as one of the premier all-time southpaws. No sports personality has ever, nor will ever, achieved Ruth's unparalleled legacy, a true global icon who set the bar for all his inferior peers. His 714 round-trippers will forever stand as a majestic mark, and his remarkable power led him to revolutionize baseball in the early 1920s when he nearly out-homered every individual MLB TEAM! Therefore, it came as no surprise that the illustrious Goudey Gum Company of Boston, Massachusetts chose to place his immortal image on four of their 240 subjects, with the full body #144 pose possibly residing as the "Sultan of Swat's" most desirable cardboard heirloom.

Ruth's majestic Conlon swinging pose is a testament to his immortality as he watches another mighty long-ball sail towards the grandstands. Superb registration as well as a brilliant array of yellow, green and brown hues all combine to elevate this sparkling "Ruthian" image to a world-class level. The classic image reveals fine centering between four bright white borders, with only a modest favoritism towards the lower right edges. Both the front and back surfaces reveal pack-fresh quality, and the right-angled corners have retained a majority of their original formations. For full resolution, there is a microscopic soiling spot situated near the verso's upper left corner, the only negligible surface imperfection worthy of mention to the naked eye. The overall aesthetics are absolutely astonishing, and we are rarely provided the golden opportunity to encounter such a formidable example. The four 1933 Goudey Ruth's hold a special place in collector's hearts, with the #144 subject an unquestionable "fan favorite". Therefore, it came with little surprise that another PSA 8 example fetched a record-setting $400K in 2021. Since that sale, a PSA 9 #53 Goudey Ruth has sold for an unfathomable $4.2 million, a resounding indicator that the high-grade Babe Ruth Goudey market continues trending upwards, showing no signs of slowing down in its relentless quest for achieving infinite pricing points!

MIN BID $75,000
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