(LOT 251)
1933 Blue Bird Babe Ruth "Front View" SGC 5 EX – "POP 4"; Only 6 SGC Examples Graded Higher!
SCARCE BLUE BIRD!!!... If you are looking for an oversized Babe Ruth card from his illustrious playing days, then this 1933 Blue Bird SGC 5 EX marvel is the one for you. One of only four SGC examples at this desirable mid-grade plateau, it has only been bested by six SGC specimens. In 1933, the Blue Bird soft drink manufacturer produced two separate Babe Ruth photo postcards with their brand advertisement on the backside. For 29 bottle caps and $1.39, anyone could receive a Babe Ruth model glove, while the same number of bottle caps and $0.89 was good enough to purchase an official Spalding baseball. With similar back advertisement, the two separate Ruth issues are distinguished by a front and sideways batting pose. The front image should be widely recognized for it is the same Charles Conlon image portrayed on his 1933 and 1934 Goudey issues (R319 and R309-1 Premiums), with this illustration arguably residing as the most iconic Ruth batting pose on the planet. Any card of the great Bambino immediately arouses interest amongst the memorabilia circuit, let alone an imposing issue portraying the classic Charles Conlon batting pose originally taken in 1927.

Babe Ruth is the ultimate baseball immortal, our National Pastime's uncontested greatest all-time player which is why a seemingly infinite number of vintage enthusiasts are constantly seeking his most prestigious artifacts. Only a handful can compare to this oversized marvel that has somehow defied father time for the past 90 years. The Babe's sparkling batting pose is breathtaking to say the least, with its legendary black & white image revealing a majestic Bambino swing that offers superior contrasts and clarity. One look at this "Ruthian" pose literally freezes time, transcending the viewer to a bygone era when the Babe ruled the diamond in unparalleled fashion. No obtrusive surface blemishes are evident, and the diminutive corner wear only modestly compromises the original right-angled corners that are consistent with the assessment. The final exclamation point is the verso's imposing Blue Bird advertisement and prize redemption affixed to a super clean white background. One of the most underrated Ruth cards for the longest time, it is finally receiving its due recognition with a PSA 7 fetching a record-setting $37K in a May 2022 Memory Lane Auction!

MIN BID $2,000
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