(LOT 220)
1939 Play Ball R334 #92 Ted Williams Rookie Card PSA 8 NM-MT
Rookie card mania continues to dominate the card hobby, with virtually all iconic Cooperstown inductees' inaugural cardboard heirlooms realizing earth-shattering pricing. One of those highly coveted rookie marvels is the illustrious 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams that is presented here in a spectacular PSA 8 NM-MT holder, with only fourteen examples or a meager 1.2% graded higher! Unquestionably, this world-class Williams offering truly resides as one of the hobby's most significant rookie cards, with its illustrious stature synonymous with the "Splendid Splinter's" unparalleled hitting prowess. Regarding Ted Williams incredible legacy, it is not every time that we have the opportunity to fulfill our lifetime dream; for the great Boston Red Sox slugger ultimately achieving his relentless goal of "walking down the street with people passing him and saying there goes the greatest hitter who ever lived".

Indeed, most baseball historians firmly agree that "Teddy Ballgame" is the greatest hitter of all-time, substantiated by his .344 lifetime average, 521 home runs, nearly 2,000 R.B.I.s and the 2nd highest slugging percentage ever (behind Babe Ruth), with all of these amazing achievements compiled while the "Thumper" was missing five years in WWII and the Korean War as an amazing fighter pilot! The last baseball player to hit .400 or better when he achieved a .406 average in his famous 1941 season, Williams accomplished all of his incredible feats in four decades (1939-1960). Similar to Ted's sensational batting exploits are the breathtaking aesthetics of this rookie card that has justifiably earned the hallowed PSA 8 assessment.

The cardboard marvel reveals a brilliant black & white batting pose as Ted completes his immortal swing, depicting spine-tingling clarity and contrast. Bright-white white borders frame the classic image that like most of these subjects, exhibits a somewhat skewed image (in this case some partiality towards the upper left edges). Pack-fresh surfaces end at razor-sharp edges/right-angled corners, and the verso's bold black print registration is outstanding. A bona fide testament to Ted Williams resounding legacy, it conjures vivid memories of how this incredible 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 Williams being the best at his particular skills, both in the batter's box and battling enemy fighter air craft in two separate wars.

Little did people realize back in 1939 that when a young "kid" stepped to the plate, they were witnessing the emergence of the greatest hitter in the storied history of America's Pastime. Recently, the hobby has seen a hoard of revered rookie cards explode in value, and not to be outdone, PSA 8 Ted Williams' subjects are part of that tsunami-like surge with their lofty price tags ranging in the $40K - $56K range over the past 18 months. No wonder this grand offering of the "Thumper" stands right alongside the most significant rookie cards extant, with its iconic stature worthy of an esteemed place in any world-class cardboard collection!

MIN BID $10,000