(LOT 5)
1928 R315 Babe Ruth "Yellow Tint" with Scarce "FIELDER, YANKEES A.L." Line at Bottom SGC 3.5 VG+ - Only 3 Yellow Tint Examples Listed on the Combined SGC & PSA Pop Charts (all SGC)
RARE YELLOW TINT BABE!!! One of the Bambino's most desirable 1920s cardboard heirlooms is the eclectic 1928 R315 subject, presented here in an outstanding SGC 3.5 VG+ holder. Of utmost significance, this grand offering not only includes the scarce variation "FIELDER, YANKEES A.L." caption across the lower border, it also reflects the near-impossible to find Yellow Tint surface, with SGC's prestigious census report listing only three Yellow Tint copies. Only bested by a single SGC Yellow Tint example, PSA's Pop Chart does not list a single Yellow Tint specimen, and while a sparse ungraded few may be tucked away in private collections, we can only speak for the examples that have been definitely listed on professional grading services' population reports. While the adjective "outstanding" rarely applies to a VG+ card, the extremely low count of documented R315 Yellow Tint Ruths speaks for itself, truly meriting its worldly complements via an undisputed paucity level, placing it as a scarcer card than his illustrious and likewise rare 1914 Baltimore News and 1921 Frederick Foto issues.

It was only some 16 months ago that a mid-grade black and white example revealing the same Line at Bottom fetched over five figures, substantiating the ultra-desirability for any mid-grade Ruth, and we cannot even begin to estimate the potential price tag for this aesthetically pleasing Yellow Tint rarity that has not surfaced in a public auction for quite some time. By 1928, Babe Ruth had literally turned the baseball world upside down via his remarkable 60-homer 1927 campaign that paced the Yankees to their second world championship, including a four-game Fall Classic sweep of the overmatched Pirates. Indeed, the Babe was the now toast of the Big Apple as well as the entire baseball community, and he would once again lead Murderers' Row to another championship in 1928, this time sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. What makes this card extra-special is that other than some 1928 Ruth ice cream issued cards (E.G., Harrington's, Tharp's, Yuengling's) and a few exhibits, the Sultan of Swat's R315 subject remains one of his few late 1920s mainstream cards and a highly coveted Ruthian keepsake. His immortal yellow-hued batting pose provides the finest possible contrast and clarity, somewhat favoring the left edge, and including the "BABE RUTH – YANKEES" text box within the lower left quadrant.

No glaring surface flaws are evident on either side, and other than a negligible stray wrinkle and some areas of diminutive toning, we can only assume this card was downgraded due to even corner wear arguably consistent with a VG-EX+ example. Most importantly, Ruth's hallowed image has eluded any notable blemishes over the past 95 years, as the mighty Bambino watches another colossal blast sail towards the Yankee Stadium grandstands. The final exclamation point is the atypical "FIELDER, YANKEES A.L." caption that joins forces with the overwhelmingly scarce yellow tint surface to create a super rare dynamic duo. Ruth's irrefutable stature as baseball's greatest all-time player is set in stone, and it is an inconceivable thought that this swashbuckling ballplayer would have been a Hall of Fame pitcher had he not been moved from the pitching rubber to an everyday outfielder in lieu of his incredible batting prowess. His iconic stature stands above the game itself, and his world-renowned stature is a thunderous testament to his pinnacle diamond superlatives. No wonder the Babe's rarest cards are highly coveted by some of the hobby's prestigious collectors, and considering there is no recent benchmark pricing for this ever-elusive yellow-hued offering, we will defer to the sophisticated collector to ultimately determine its true worth!

MIN BID $3,000
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