(LOT 1301)
c.1952 Ted Williams PSA Type 1 Encapsulated International News Photo - Measures Approx. 7" x 9"
No baseball player could possibly boast the myriad of batting accolades achieved by the legendary Red Sox slugger Ted Williams who stands as the last player to hit .400 (.406 in 1941), posted a .344 lifetime batting average, blasted 521 home runs, claimed two Triple Crowns, tallied an incredible 1.16 lifetime OPS (second only to Babe Ruth by a mere few decimal points) and accumulated an unfathomable .482 lifetime on-base percentage that stands as baseball's all-time high! Indeed, "The Thumper's" batting exploits arguably supported his lifelong dream of having people walk past him on the street and stating: "There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived". From an "American Hero" perspective, even more impressive is that William's served in both World War II (three years) and the Korean War (nearly two years) at the peak of his career, utilizing his uncanny eyesight as a fighter pilot and shooting down sixteen enemy aircraft.

This PSA Type 1 offering measuring approximately 7" x 9" portrays Williams in a neat kneeling on one knee pose as he leans against a myriad of bats utilized by baseball's greatest all-time hitter. Taken in 1952, the International News Photo Service must have struck this image early in the '52 campaign since Ted played in only six games before he was called to serve his country in the Korean War. Spectacular contrast and vivid resolution highlight this black & white marvel that only reveals some modest spoiling along the upper and side borders. The final superlative is the critical International News credit stamp on the flipside, with this hallowed offering serving as an incomparable testament to the man they called the "Kid"; whose unparalleled batting feats and war-time courage place him as a true American icon!

MIN BID $200