(LOT 154)
1926-29 Exhibits Babe Ruth Batting Follow-Through Pose Pink Tint (Postcard Back) SGC 4 VG-EX - POP 1!
RARE PINK RUTH PC!!! Here is one you simply don't see very often! This miraculous SGC 4 VG-EX Babe Ruth 1926-29 Exhibits with a postcard back and Batting Follow-Through 1920 Charles Conlon image boasts the virtually impossible-to-find pink tint variation. SGC's prestigious census report lists only a SOLE 4 VG-EX example for ANY of the various available tints (black & white, blue, red, yellow, purple, green, pink, etc.), with only a single SGC 6 specimen graded higher. Considering the pink tint variation suffices as the irrefutable rarest of all color versions, it just might be a safe assumption that the SGC 6 example does not reflect a pink-tinted surface. While we cannot verify that statement with 100% certainty, what we can state is that we have only encountered one other low-grade pink hued subject over the past decade.

Indeed, we cannot remember the last time a 1926-29 Ruth Batting Follow-Through Pink Exhibit sold at a public auction, especially one boasting the outstanding mid-grade esthetics of this museum-worthy masterpiece. By 1926, the great Bambino had established himself as baseball's greatest player, a distinction he still holds with unequivocal standing. Exhibit cards were first distributed by the renowned Chicago Exhibit Supply Co. in 1921 via penny arcade vending machines, and it is inconceivable to think that over this postcard's four-year distribution period, the Sultan of Swat blasted a whopping 207 homers or an average of nearly 52 dingers per season! The Babe would lead the Yankees to two world championships during this period (1927-28), with his seemingly unbreakable record of 60 round-trippers in 1927 paving the way for that mighty Yankees squad, arguably residing as baseball's greatest team.

Of course, a number of players would ultimately eclipse Ruth's magical 60-mark, with Roger Maris being the first to surpass that esteemed figure in 1961. Due to his unparalleled popularity, 1920s manufacturers scrambled to utilize Babe Ruth to market their product brands, for there wasn't a more distinguished and captivating individual in America during that era. This outstanding heirloom boasts one of the most iconic Ruth images on the planet, originally taken by the legendary photographer Charles Conlon in 1920 at the Polo Grounds. A bona fide Ruth first-year Yankees illustration, the mighty Babe has just completed his colossal swing as he watches another majestic home run sail towards the grandstands. Donning his classic Yankee home pinstripes, this is the exact same pose utilized on Ruth's ultra-rare 1929 Star-Player Candy subject, with this particular illustration revealing superb clarity and contrast.

Beneath his knees is an extremely vivid "Babe Ruth – OUTFIELDER NEW YORK AL." caption, with the subtle corner wear, lack of any notable wrinkles and relatively clean obverse side surface consistent with any 5 EX card. Most likely preventing a higher grade is the verso's modest miscut, as some of the "POSTCARD" caption has been cut off at the upper edge. Interestingly enough, the fine print states: "NOT TO BE USED IN EXHIBIT MACHINES", with the unmarked flipside also eluding any notable surface blemishes. One of the rarest (via its pink tint) and most distinguished Ruth 1920s issues, it turns back the clock to an era when the majestic Bambino revolutionized baseball via his prodigious home runs, literally saving our National Pastime in lieu of the infamous Black Sox scandal. Worthy of a solidified place in any advanced Ruth collection, its breathtaking aesthetics, renowned Ruth 1920 Conlon batting pose, scarce SGC 4 assessment, and virtually impossible-to-find pink tint surface all combine to substantiate its undisputed world-class stature!

MIN BID $7,500
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