(LOT 259)
1933 World Wide Gum #80 Babe Ruth BVG 2.5 G-VG (GOOD+)
BAMBINO GUN CARD!!!... No pre-WWII baseball card can match the popularity of the highly coveted 1933 Babe Ruth gum cards, distributed by both the American Goudey and Canadian World-Wide Gum (WWG) companies. While Goudey Ruth's are extremely plentiful, comparatively speaking, his WWG issues are significantly more obscure. There are 94 cards in the WWG set, anchored by only two Babe Ruth subjects (as opposed to four Goudey Ruth subjects). Furthermore, the PSA census report reveals only 100+ examples for the WWG #80 full-standing Ruth which is a meager 6% of the nearly 1,600 Goudey #144 Ruth examples!

That said, presented here is an eye pleasing BVG 2.5 G-VG WWG #80 Ruth, with the highlight of this card being the iconic full-body batting pose originally struck by none other than the immortal Charles Conlon. Fresh off the heels of his legendary "Called Shot" homer that was the highlight of the Yankees four-game sweep over the Cubs in the 1932 World Series, the WWG company issued two Ruth subjects in their '33 set, with the full-standing card arguably the most desirable of the two. This superb 2.5 offering reveals fine clarity and brilliant hues, with the verso including a brief Ruth bio in English and French. While even corner wear and a diminutive soiling spot within the upper right quadrant are the primary culprits for the grade, the central Conlon image and near-perfect side-to-side centering steal the show. A fabulous memento from Ruth's later Yankee years, it serves as a sheer reminder of how the Bambino dominated America's Pastime in unparalleled fashion!

MIN BID $1,500
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