Lot # 381: 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 7 NM

Category: 1921-1939

Starting Bid: $15,000.00

Bids: 41 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Newman Auction",
which ran from 6/12/2021 11:00 AM to
7/10/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 381)
1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 7 NM

No baseball card could possibly entice an elite enthusiast more than a prestigious Babe Ruth specimen. The "Sultan of Swat's" legacy is not only tied to being the finest player to ever grace a baseball diamond, but arguably, the most popular domineering athlete in world history. His unfathomable records and off the field charisma governed baseball for two decades, establishing an unparalleled benchmark for our cherished National Pastime. Regarding Ruth's cardboard keepsakes, there are certainly a myriad to choose from, but his most coveted cards just happen to be Ruth's 1933 Goudeys, with four different subjects to choose from. One of those highly coveted Goudey Gum cards is the #144 Babe Ruth "full body swinging pose" subject, and it is this majestic heirloom that is presented here in an awe-inspiring PSA Near Mint 7 holder.

Seldom surfacing for the taking at the near-mint grade or better, less than 3% of the nearly 1,450 PSA encapsulated examples have achieved the hallowed "7" assessment, with only 2.6% reflecting a higher grade. One of the critical aspects of the #144 Goudey Ruth is the majestic full body swinging pose originally struck by none other than illustrious photographer Charles M. Conlon. In fact, it is this pose that also graces two other Ruth Goudey subjects in half-body images (#'s 53 & 149), and arguably speaking, the presented #144 Goudey Ruth just may suffice as the Bambino's most popular baseball card. Babe Ruth's unequivocal fame and "crème of the crop" baseball stature were achieved via his "on the field" achievements as well as his incredible persona. Before he was swatting baseballs into Yankee Stadium's upper deck, he was manhandling hitters as a Boston Red Sox ace southpaw, and had he continued pitching, he would undoubtedly have been enshrined in Cooperstown as one of the premier all-time southpaws. Ruth's majestic Charles Conlon swinging pose is a testament to his immortality as he watches another mighty long-ball sail towards the grandstands.

Outstanding crystal-clear clarity as well as a brilliant array of yellow, green and brown hues all combine to elevate this sparkling "Ruthian" image to world-class stature. Atypically, the classic image reveals magnificent centering between four bright white borders, with skewed images a standard stigma for the #144 Goudey Ruth. The obverse side surface is super clean, free of any glaring blemishes, the corners exhibit solid right-angle formations, and the verso only reveals a diminutive area of soiling between the "B" and "I" in "BIG". The overall bright/pack-fresh aesthetics are absolutely astonishing, and one could make the argument this world-class keepsake has actually been under-graded. To reiterate, the four 1933 Goudey Ruth's hold a special place in collector's hearts, with the #144 subject an unquestionable "fan favorite". That said, we cannot imagine a better scenario than capturing this most significant memento depicting the "Sultan of Swat's" iconic swinging pose while offering the hallowed "Near-Mint 7" assessment!

MIN BID $15,000
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