(LOT 209)
1924 Willard Chocolate (V122) #5 Babe Ruth PSA 6 EX-MT
In 1924, the Toronto, Canada-based Willard's Chocolate Candy company released the Sports Champions (V122) multi-sport set highlighting some of greatest athletes in their respective sports. This 56-card set traversed all walks of sport including surfing, swimming, wrestling, basketball, tennis, golf and, of course, baseball. Baseball was represented by a mere three Hall of Famers in #2 Eddie Collins, #5 Babe Ruth and #39 Ty Cobb, with the "Sultan of Swat" obviously the most desirable and valuable subject in the entire set. Presented here just happens to be a high-grade Babe Ruth PSA 6 EX-MT marvel that is one of only four examples at this plateau with a mere five specimens graded higher! Any early 1920s Babe Ruth card merits the utmost prestige, let alone a card that has bested a majority of its inferior peers. Ironically, in the early 1920s, Babe Ruth made it a habit to "out-homer" virtually every MLB team, and likewise this museum worthy masterpiece has outdistanced a vast number of its competition.

The "Bambino" set the ultimate benchmark for any baseball player via his world-class achievements from both the batter's box and pitching rubber, and his unparalleled stature will "echo for eternity." Fresh off the heels of the Yankees inaugural World Championship in 1923, "The Babe" had now established himself as baseball's undisputed greatest player. His 1924 campaign justified that notion with Ruth continuing his onslaught of overmatched hurlers by pacing the Junior Circuit in homers (46); batting average (.378), total bases (391), and the critical OPS (1.252). If that isn't enough, he tallied 130 R.B.I.s to put the final exclamation point on one of his finest seasons. The 1-3/8" x 3-3/8" black and white card is printed on very thin cardboard stock with the blank-backed gem numbered #5 beneath his classic batting pose.

Indeed, the Toronto based company truly chose one of the most imposing Ruthian images to grace the obverse side as the Babe completes his mighty swing and watches another colossal blast sail towards the grandstands. The lower caption boldly reads "BABE RUTH - HOME RUN CHAMPION", with a youthful Ruth having already led the American league in round-trippers in six different seasons including 1923 and 1924 when he clouted 41 and 46 home runs, respectively. No glaring surface flaws are evident on either side, and the iconic image reveals outstanding clarity and contrast. Preventing a higher grade is minimal corner wear and an upper edge that reveals a somewhat rough factory cut.

It is no secret that early 1920s black and white Babe Ruth cards are realizing staggering pricing tags, with Memory Lane's prior Spring Auction setting a number of records for issues such as Ruth's PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ 1922 Neilson's Chocolate ($91K) and PSA 4 VG-EX 1922 E121 Holding Ball ($44K). Undervalued for quite some time, their utmost scarcity and sudden popularity are now catching up to collectors who have already spent a boatload of money on Ruth's 1933 Goudey subjects that are excessive in quantity compared to their significantly rarer 1920s black and white peers. An example of this extraordinary PSA population disparity is this obscure PSA 6 V122 Ruth is one of only 35 PSA encapsulated copies, while EACH of Ruth's four Goudey subjects reveal over 1,000 graded examples on the illustrious PSA Pop Chart. That said, this momentous offering is anxiously awaiting a home in a sophisticated "Colossus of Swat" gathering, with its overall scarcity, PSA 6 assessment and breathtaking Babe Ruth batting image meriting it undivided attention!

 

MIN BID $5,000