(LOT 245)
"Scarce for the Grade" 1921 Oxford Confectionary E253 Babe Ruth (SGC EX 5); "1 of 2; Only 2 SGC Examples Graded Higher!
It is no secret to vintage enthusiasts that there are a minimal number of Babe Ruth cards issued during his 1920/'21 New York Yankee playing days, substantiating why his 1921 Oxford Confectionary E253 subject resides as one of Ruth's most highly coveted cardboard keepsakes. Furthermore, other than his 1920 "Headin' Home" theatre cards, few people realize that Babe Ruth's 1921 Oxford issue stands as his inaugural "mainstream" Yankee card revealing Ruth in his new Yankees uniform. Indeed, Ruth's 1920 Felix Mendelsohn and 1921 E121 American Caramel issues both depict the Bambino in a Boston Red Sox uniform, with only his extremely rare 1920 Headin Home cards portraying Ruth in Yankee pinstripes or road grays. In 1921, the Oxford, Confectionery Co. of Oxford, Pa. produced a 20-subject caramel set, considered by most experts as one of the most eclectic pre-WW1 issues.

Synonymous with virtually every 1920's issue, the "cream of the crop" card is Babe Ruth, with the candy company appeasing Ruth's captivated fans by utilizing an image that reflects Ruth's NEW YORK" road jersey. Presented here just happens to be one of the most amazing Babe Ruth E253 Oxford Confectionary subjects extant; a magnificent SGC EX 5 example that is one of only 2 SGC examples at this plateau with a meager 2 specimens graded higher! Any encapsulated E253 Ruth is highly coveted by the collecting community, let alone one that carries an EX 5 assessment and resides as one of the finest aesthetically pleasing mid-grade examples on the planet. The 1921 Oxford Ruth's population is a mere fraction of the thousands of Goudey Ruth's distributed in the 1930's, and its sheer condition sensitivity is justified by this example only bested by two of its SGC peers. At the time of its production, Babe Ruth was in the midst of setting baseball's unparalleled home run standard by belting 54 and 59 round-trippers in 1920/'21, respectively, embarking on a legacy that placed him as the greatest ballplayer to ever grace a baseball diamond. His batting and pitching exploits speak for themselves, leaving an indelible mark on our beloved National Pastime.

Ruth's hallowed black & white image depicts crystal-clear clarity, literally transcending us back to the origin of his early Yankee playing days when he took the "Big Apple" by storm via his mammoth-like dingers. The corners depict modest wear consistent with the grade (w/more notable wear on the upper right corner), and no obtrusive surface flaws are evident on either side. The verso's 20-subject checklist is completely intact, the final stamp of approval for a card that is excruciatingly tough to find with this mid-grade assessment. Just staring at the "Colossal of Swat's" immortal pose would give any passionate collector a myriad of goosebumps. The "Babe" set the benchmark for all future sluggers, with no player able to match Ruth's iconic stature and overwhelming batting feats, one of which was "out-homering" virtually every MLB squad in the early 1920's. That said, what cardboard artifact could possibly be more rewarding than this early New York Yankee Ruthian keepsake that depicts the legendary Bambino in one of his earliest Yankee uniform cardboard poses, and via its ultra-rare assessment and breathtaking visual appeal, proudly stands tall as one of the foremost 1921 Oxford Ruth's!

MIN BID $5,000
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