(LOT 657)
c.1920’s Babe Ruth & Legendary Yankee Mascot/Batboy Eddie Bennett Type 1 Underwood & Underwood Photo - Measures Approx. 6” x 8” – PSA Type 1 Encapsulation
Presented here is a circa 1920’s photo portraying the incomparable Babe Ruth and the Yankees legendary mascot and batboy Eddie Bennett in a candid moment before a Yankee Stadium game. Labeled a Type I photo by PSA, this 6” x 8” Underwood & Underwood image has miraculously managed to retain a majority of its original quality, defying nearly a century of potential wear. It serves as a staunch reminder of how these two baseball icons donned Yankee pinstripes during a period when the Yankees claimed 5 pennants and 3 world championships from 1922 thru 1932, with Babe Ruth turning the baseball world upside down via his record-breaking home runs. There isn’t a single baseball historian that is unaware of Ruth’s imposing impact on our National Pastime, and while Eddie Bennett didn’t play professional baseball, his significant roll as both the Yankees iconic batboy and team mascot ultimately led to his incredible popularity with the fans and Yankee players. In 1922, Yankees team owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert hired 18-year old Eddie Bennett as their dedicated batboy, with Bennett eventually becoming their illustrious team mascot as well. Considered an extremely successful “good luck charm”, Bennett quickly became one of Babe Ruth’s closest friends, playing catch with the immortal Bambino almost every day before game-time. He also became a “confidant” for manager Miller Higgins, sitting next to him in the dugout and bringing attention to various game issues as a bench coach does today. Dubbed the “most famous mascot in the world”, he sadly passed away in 1935 at the age of 31 primarily due to his excessive alcohol intake to alleviate the choric pain he suffered from car-accident related lingering injuries sustained only four years earlier. An amazingly scarce offering, Ruth is holding his mighty lumber near the lower knob while Bennett gently grasps the end of the barrel, with both of these hallowed individuals portraying a stoic glare towards each other. The borderless image has miraculously retained razor sharp edging/corners, crustal clear clarity and no obtrusive flaws are evident. The violet Underwood & Underwood stamp is the final exclamation point for a photo that proudly stands as a steadfast reminder of Eddie Bennett’s eternal Yankees legacy, and his enduring friendship with the “Sultan of Swat” during the height of the Babe’s unparalleled career! See back of image on MLI Website.

MIN BID $500