(LOT 160)
1933 Blue Bird Babe Ruth Front View SGC 5 EX
CONLON BAMBINO IMAGE!!! This magnificent SGC 5 EX 1922 Blue Bird Bambino masterpiece is one of only four SGC examples at this desirable mid-grade plateau, with a mere six specimens graded higher! In 1933, the Blue Bird soft drink manufacturer produced two separate Babe Ruth photo postcards with their brand advertisement on the backside. For 29 bottle caps and $1.39, anyone could receive a Babe Ruth model glove, while the same number of bottle caps and $0.89 were good enough to purchase an official Spalding baseball. With a similar back advertisement, the two separate Ruth issues are distinguished by a front and sideways batting pose. The front image should be widely recognized, for it is the same Charles Conlon image portrayed on his exalted 1933 Goudeys, with this illustration arguably residing as the most iconic Ruth batting pose on the planet.

Any card of the great Bambino immediately arouses interest within the collecting community, let alone an imposing issue portraying the classic Charles Conlon image originally taken in 1927. The Babe's sparkling illustration is breathtaking, to say the least, with its legendary image revealing a majestic Bambino swing that offers superior contrast and clarity. One look at this Ruth pose literally freezes time, transcending the viewer to a bygone era when the Babe ruled the diamond in unparalleled fashion. The only notable flaws are some faint surface scratches and even corner wear, with the final exclamation point being the verso's imposing Blue Bird advertisement. The $37K sale of a PSA 7 in a Memory Lane 2022 auction clearly shows this oversized heirloom is finally receiving its due recognition!

MIN BID $1,500
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