(LOT 686)
1927 Babe Ruth Holding America's Record Setting Egg Laying Hen "Lady Amco of Norfolk" - Type 1 Dewell Photo - Measures Approx. 8" x 10" - PSA Type I Encapsulation
The 1927 campaign not only saw the immortal Babe Ruth set the MLB record with his incredible 60 round-trippers, but it would also encounter a white leghorn hen named "Lady Amco of Norfolk" setting the world-record for consecutive days of "egg-laying"! Bred on the Norfolk, Nebraska chicken farm of A.R. Landers, this seemingly godly-like hen would lay at least a single egg over 171 consecutive days in 1927. Egg number 166 was laid on October 11, 1927 and broke the previous world-record of 165, with that famous 166th egg being delivered directly to president Calvin Coolidge to be used for his breakfast omelet!

With Babe Ruth's unprecedented assault on stadium fences that season, and Ruth eventually breaking his previous 59th homer mark when he belted a Tom Zachary offering into the Yankee Stadium right field seats on the last day of the regular season, it was a perfect "union" for the press to tie Ruth's magical record run to "Lady Amco's" consecutive day egg laying marvel. Indeed, this record setting hen was being dubbed "The Babe Ruth of Hens". It is so reported that egg#167 was delivered directly to Babe Ruth via airmail, and on October 16, 1927 in his famous Bustin Babe's barnstorming tour, Ruth would finally meet up with "Lady Amco" in Omaha, Nebraska.

Legend says that any eggs laid that day by the "Ruthian Hen" would be served to the Babe for a satisfying meal, and these two record setting icons would forever be linked via their world-class 1927 feats. This sensational photo of Babe Ruth holding "Lady Amco" on October 16, 1927 in Omaha, Nebraska is the perfect testament for this legendary story for it was the first time these two American heroes would meet. Ironically, the day after these two legends met, Lady Amco's record streak came to a sudden end, with this October 16, 1927 image taken the final 171st day of the record streak. The classic black & white 8' x 10" image portrays sensational eye appeal, with no noteworthy flaws other than some negligible notations on a few borders.

Included on the obverse side in the upper right quadrant is the bold black printed text: "BABE RUTH and LADY AMCO OF NORFOLF – 10-16-27". The verso reveals the "DEWELL" credit stamp as well as a pencil notation reading: "BABE – I'M SCARED TO LOOK – BUT I HOPE IT'S AN EGG!", certainly a fitting comment for the moment. Ironically, years later, two other Yankee legends would post world-renowned streaks of their own, with the Yankee Clipper's 56-game hitting mark and the "Iron Horse's" 2,130 consecutive games marvel two of baseball's most resounding "streaks" extant. One of the extreme rarities of photo collecting, this historical image captures two of our Nation's most captivating 1927 record-setting figures, even though one of them just happened to be a farm-bred hen!

MIN BID $500
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