(LOT 271)
1948 Leaf #3 Babe Ruth SGC 5.5 EX+
LEAF RUTH!!!... Synonymous with the Sultan of Swat's pinnacle all-time baseball stature is this superb SGC 5.5 EX+ Leaf offering that stands as one of his most hallowed cardboard mementos. Every elite enthusiast actively seeks the most prominent Babe Ruth cardboard keepsakes since the Bambino, via his coupled batting and pitching prowess, set the benchmark that all players would be measured against for centuries to come. He is the one player that is considered above the game itself, and with the hobby currently realizing incredible pricing points for elite Hall of Famers, there is no Cooperstown inductee that could come close to filling Ruth's shoes. Ironically, 1948 would be the year that the Babe would ultimately succumb to his battle with throat cancer at the still young age of 53 (August 16, 1948), with his illustrious Leaf #3 subject the final card issued during his celebrated life.

It is for this reason that hobbyists gravitate towards Ruth's '48 Leaf subject, standing tall as his most coveted post-playing days cardboard issue. Ruth's iconic portrait image portrays super resolution and contrast, set against a vibrant orange-red background that appears as flawless as its original 1948 distribution date. While most would agree the overall central image aesthetics are consistent with a higher grade, it is the somewhat skewed centering (the image favors the lower right edges) that prevents an EX-MT or better assessment. Right-angled corners, and relatively clean surfaces are the final superlatives for one of the finest mid-grade '48 Leaf Ruth subjects you will ever come across!
MIN BID $1,500
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