Lot # 19: Sensational 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM-MT – Only 5 PSA Examples Graded Higher!

Category: 1921-1939

Starting Bid: $100,000.00

Bids: 19 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Rarities Premium Auction",
which ran from 11/12/2022 8:15 AM to
12/3/2022 7:00 PM




(LOT 19)
Sensational 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM-MT – Only 5 PSA Examples Graded Higher!

RUTH ROYALTY!!! Presented here is an absolutely breathtaking PSA 8 NM-MT 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth gem that has only been bested by a meager five examples on the prestigious PSA census report. While only 2% of the nearly 1,600 PSA encapsulated examples have achieved the momentous 8 assessment, what makes this grand offering extra special is its virtually impossible to find near-perfect centering. Indeed, most meticulous enthusiasts would surely agree that finding an extremely well-centered Goudey #144 Ruth is easier than finding a needle in a haystack! Pop quiz: 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, the #144 Goudey Ruth just may suffice as another legendary image meriting stature right alongside these cardboard masterpieces via its iconic full-batting illustration 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 to choose from, but his most coveted cards just happen to be Ruth's 1933 Goudeys, with four different subjects to choose from. Three of those subjects just happen to portray the hallowed Charles Conlon batting pose, and arguably speaking, the most popular of those four Ruth's is the aforementioned #144 Babe Ruth "full body swinging pose" subject. As previously stated, it is this Charles Conlon pose that also graces two other Ruth Goudey subjects in half-body images (#'s 53 & 149), with this offered #144 Ruth possibly residing 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 $437K pricing point for a PSA 8 example realized in December 2021. 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.

Arguably 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 dominating 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 crème of the crop baseball stature were achieved via his on-the-field achievements that evolved into 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 baseball's premier all-time southpaws. No sports personality has ever, nor will ever, achieve 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. Stellar clarity as well as a sparkling array of yellow, green and brown hues all combine to elevate this sparkling "Ruthian" image to a world-class level. The aforementioned virtually dead-on 50/50 centering is a near-impossible feature for this subject, with the classic image somewhat skewed for a majority of the existing subjects. Both surfaces reveal pack-fresh quality, and the right-angled corners have retained a majority of their original sharp formations. Indeed, the overall aesthetics are beyond outstanding, and we are rarely afforded the golden opportunity to encounter such a formidable example. To reiterate, 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 $437K in 2021. Since that sale, several PSA 9 and PSA 8 #53 Goudey Ruth's have sold for $4.2 million and $942K, respectively, a resounding indicator that high-grade Babe Ruth Goudey subjects continue trending upwards with regard to their seemingly unlimited investment potential!

MIN BID $100,000
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