(LOT 284)
1923 Babe Ruth Original PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Underwood & Underwood Photo Used for his Iconic 1928 Fro-Joy #6 "Ruth is a Crack Fielder" Issue - Measures Approx. 5" x 7"
FRO-JOY RUTH!!!... One of the hottest collecting angles in the hobby continues to be original Type 1 photos used for a player's baseball card, with none more popular than the incomparable George Herman Ruth. Over the past year, we have seen some staggering pricing points relating to baseball card images for the immortal Babe, with an original photo used for his 1929/30 Rogers Peet and 1932 Sanella cards fetching $16K, a Type 1 illustration representing his 1924 W511 subject realizing $17K, and a 1924 Willard Chocolate V122 "off-condition" batting image selling for $26K! Indeed, with tsunami-like force, the Bambino's original baseball card photos have exploded in value, and this spiraling pricing surge appears to be escalating each and every day. That said, we are ultra-excited to offer this extremely rare 1923 Babe Ruth fielding photo that was the EXACT image used for his highly coveted 1928 Fro-Joy #6 Ruth is a Cracker Fielder issue.

By the end of the 1923 campaign, Babe Ruth had captivated an entire nation with his mighty round-trippers, having already blasted 189 home runs in his first four Yankee seasons (1920-23) including a record setting 59 dingers in 1921. The 1923 season would also see the Sultan of Swat lead the Yankees to their inaugural World Championship in the newly constructed "House that Ruth Built" Yankee Stadium. His name was now being utilized by a myriad of manufacturers for marketing purposes, as well as his iconic images being affixed to a vast number of different caramel/candy related baseball cards. One such issue that capitalized on Ruth's unparalleled popularity was the Fro-Joy Ice Cream manufacturer who issued six Babe Ruth subjects in 1928 to promote their popular ice cream brand. This momentous offering is indeed the image affixed to Ruth's 1928 Fro-Joy #6 "Ruth is a Cracker Fielder" subject, and it's captivating fielding pose needs no introduction with regard to its immense desirability among advanced collectors. Encapsulated in a PSA Type 1 holder for ironclad authenticity and measuring approximately 5" x 7", it was issued on September 27, 1923, with the Yankees already having clinched the American League Pennant.

This immortal black & white portrayal of Ruth leaning over to field a baseball with his right glove is extremely well-centered and has retained a majority of its original luster, revealing only some modest surface wear near the top of Ruth's nose. No obtrusive flaws are evident, and Ruth's classic pinstripe uniform confirms the image was taken at the renowned Yankee Stadium. Stellar contrast and clarity, even corner wear and a verso revealing a significant caption that overlays the Underwood & Underwood credit stamp are the final superlatives for this time-defying marvel. Interestingly enough, the caption mentions that in addition to his majestic hitting, Ruth has also been valuable to the Yankees with his superior glove work. This is the first such Type 1 image we have encountered, with this extremely rare illustration's awe-inspiring aesthetics reminding us of how the Bambino's mighty skill sets elevated him to a pinnacle level during the Roaring '20s. It is no secret that finding an original Type 1 image utilized for a 95-year-old card is a near-impossible task, with this ultra-significant museum worthy masterpiece truly residing as one of Ruth's most hallowed photos extant!

MIN BID $1,000
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