(LOT 25)
1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams PSA 8 NM-MT
1941 .406 CAMPAIGN!!! One of the Splendid Splinter's most cherished card heirlooms is his hallowed 1941 Play Ball #14 subject, with this outstanding PSA 8 NM-MT marvel only bested by a meager nine PSA examples! Locating PSA 8 specimens is no easy task, especially considering only 4% of 1,250+ PSA encapsulated examples have managed to achieve this pack-fresh assessment. As a grand testament to this card's resounding stature, over the past several years, Memory Lane has fetched $28K-$31K pricing points for three different PSA 8 copies. Truly residing as one of Teddy Ballgame's most formidable baseball cards, hobbyists crave this particular issue most likely due to both the season it was issued as well as the super eye-pleasing Williams portrait pose that is a bona fide collector favorite.

The 1941 campaign saw The Kid become the last MLB player to bat .400 or better, with Ted posting an unfathomable .406 average courtesy of his extraordinary six hits in eight at-bats compiled in a doubleheader played on the final day of the season. The Kid's unparalleled hitting prowess has placed him as our National Pastime's greatest hitter ever, and it's not every time that we have the opportunity to fulfill our lifetime dream. Indeed, the great Bo-Sox slugger did achieve his ultimate dream of "walking down the street with people passing me and saying there goes the greatest hitter who ever lived". This notion is supported by most baseball historians, substantiated by Ted's .344 lifetime average, 521 home runs, nearly 2,000 RBIs and the 2nd highest OPS (1.115) and OPS+ (190) figures that sit only behind the immortal Babe Ruth. All of these amazing achievements were compiled with Williams missing five years of his prime in WWII and the Korean War as a fighter pilot, with Ted actually playing in an incredible four decades (1939-1960).

Similar to the Thumper's sensational batting exploits are the breathtaking aesthetics of this PSA 8 NM-MT Play Ball subject that has easily earned the lofty assessment. This museum-worthy masterpiece provides a brilliant and colorful portrait pose of the fearsome slugger, revealing impeccable clarity and contrast. Slightly toned borders frame the classic image that, atypically, reveals near-perfect positioning, stubbornly defying the unsightly off-center stigma commonly associated with this issue. Safe to say, attempting to find a virtually spot-on centered '41 Play Ball Williams is a tougher task than trying to slip a fastball past his speed of light bat. An immaculate surface ends at razor-sharp edges and right-angled corners revealing only some slight touching, with the flipside's bold black print registration and accompanying surface nearly flawless. For full disclosure, there is some spotted discoloration along some of the borders, none of which is obtrusive.

One of the finest looking Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball subjects extant, its pack-fresh attributes lend itself to spectacular aesthetics, proudly boasting virtually all of its pristine attributes over the past 83 years. An overwhelming testament to Ted Williams' unequivocal legacy, it conjures up vivid memories of how this magnificent hitter elevated himself to a pinnacle level in his gifted craft. Similar to Ruth and DiMaggio, Ted Williams will forever be categorized as an American hero, solidified by Ted being the best at his particular skills, both in the batter's box and as a fighter pilot who shot down 16 enemy aircraft in the Korean War in defense of a grateful nation. To reiterate, his 1941 campaign resulted in an amazing .406 batting average, solidifying the notion that this Beantown hero truly resides as baseball's finest all-time hitter, tantamount to this world-class offering's captivating eye appeal and lofty PSA grade!

MIN BID $5,000
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