(LOT 133)
Babe Ruth 1939 Cooperstown First Day Signed Envelope PSA Auto 9 MINT
With today's climate of trade show autograph pavilions and limited access to players, aside from during spring training, the days in which fans all across the country can request a player signature by mail have long since passed. New York Yankees slugger and baseball's greatest player, Babe Ruth, understood made it a point to fulfill virtually every fan request for a signature, whether in-person or by mail. By 1939, The Babe's historic and record-setting career was long over, having retired in 1935. But his impact on the game and its fans resonated for another decade and a half until his passing in 1948.

Ruth left the game with as the unopposed home run champion with 714 dingers, 180 more than his nearest contemporary Jimmie Foxx's 534; he was second in runs scored and total bases behind Ty Cobb; and his .342 batting average was in the top-10 of all time when he hung up his cleats. In the wake of the tragic 1919 Black Sox scandal, Ruth was often credited for saving baseball and rejuvenating fans nationwide and across the world as he tested the limits of every ballpark and its outfield fences for nearly two more decades. He was arguably the most recognizable person on the face of the earth during his playing days. But Ruth never forgot his humble beginning and knew that a handshake or a signature could brighten anyone's day.

Presented is a wonderfully preserved correspondence envelope signed by the Bambino in bold blue fountain pen. Only 15 days after his induction into the newly opened national Baseball Hall of Fame. This still-white letter holder from "Charles Henry Fletcher" of Newburgh, New York has been encapsulated and assessed with a 9 MINT autograph of the Sultan of Swat. The envelope remains in fantastic condition with only the slightest bit of expected aging on the reverse with the glue bleeding through. Light handling soiling at the periphery is visible on the front and a crease is evident at center where Mr. Fletcher likely folded the envelope in order to mail it to his hero. This is an absolutely beautiful signature from Ruth to one of his adoring fans that he never forgot!

MIN BID $2,000
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