(LOT 4)
Extremely Rare c.1920s Babe Ruth & Snookums/Lawrence "Sunny Jim" McKeen Green-Tint W-UNC-Arcade Card SGC 3.5 VG+ – One of Only 6 Encapsulated Copies on ANY "Pop" Chart & The Highest Graded Example!
The "Colossus of Swat" capitalized on his unparalleled popularity throughout his career, engaging in an abundance of marketing endorsements, movies and barnstorming tours. Indeed, Ruth was not only the toast of the "Big Apple", but an unequivocal icon of an adoring Nation. One of the movie corporations Ruth engaged with was the legendary Universal Studios in the mid-1920's, leading to this remarkable SGC 3.5 VG+ c.1920's green-tinted arcade card of him holding "Baby Snookums!" The Highest Graded example on any Population Report, it stands as one of only 6 known examples (all encapsulated by SGC). Nicknamed "The Little Angel from Hollywood", "Baby Snookums" full name was Lawrence Sunny McKeen, born on September 1, 1924.

He was one of the first child movie actors, working for Universal Studios from 1926 thru 1931 and receiving the iconic "Snookums" nickname in America while being noted as "Chuca Chuca" in Brazil. Extremely popular like Ruth with both legends under contract at Universal Studios, it comes as little surprise these two Hollywood celebrities would ultimately meet, eventually leading to this miraculous arcade/exhibit card. Sadly for "Baby Snookums", his booming acting career would not last long, tragically cut short when McKeen suddenly died on April 2, 1933 at the tender age of 8 due to an unforeseen battle with blood poisoning. Bitter-sweet to say the least, fortunately for "Snookums" his legacy will forever live on in the sports collecting world via this ultra-rare arcade card depicting the baby actor with the incomparable George Herman Ruth. The Bambino reveals his classic grin as he firmly holds the star child prodigy, with the 2-year-old "Snookums" sporting a Little Rascals "Alfalfa-like" raised hair piece.

This offering reveals superb central image aesthetics, with the somewhat even corner wear and modest toning consistent with the grade. No glaring surface flaws are evident on either side, and while SGC has labeled it c.1920's, its lineage traces it to the 1927 era, possibly issued during the "Sultan of Swat's" majestic 1927 campaign when he blasted a record-setting 60 home runs. Its incredible paucity level actually places it as a rarer memento than Ruth's 1914 Baltimore News "Holy Grail" subject for which there are 10 known examples. One of the most extraordinary "Sultan of Swat" exhibits extant, its overall low population (only 6 SGC examples), highest graded stature and historical significance all combine to place it as a bona-fide "keeper" for the most sophisticated Ruth collector!
MIN BID $2,500
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